Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1881-12-19
l W. l n. 8 N. 6 m ] yr.
Huxley OH the Bible.

Il have s!asys," says Professor Huxley,
'besn strongly in favor of secular education 10
the ssnsa cf ed1c .tion witheui theology bus l
must confess have b,en DO less seriously pei
p!exed to kaow by what prso.ical measures the
religious feeling, which is Tho essential basis Of
conduc', WIS to DO kept ~, 10 the p'esen; u
tcrly ohsotio state Of opinion on these matters,
without the use Of the Bible. The pagsp
morais,s lack life srd color; snd evan the
noble S.oio, Marcus Antouius, is TOO high aud
rehded for sn orlipaly child. Tsxe the Bible
as whole make the seVtrest deduoion which
fsir Criticism can dictate for shortcomings and
positive errors; eliminate IS sensb:e 10y
teacher would do, il Left to himself, sl that is uot
desirable for children to tccup7 themselves
With,-sud there still ransins In this old ltert-
turs vast residuun OF moral grandeur. And
then consider tho great historical fsos thet for
thrse oepturi. this book has been wo7ca into
the life of ell that 10 best and noblest 10 El-
glish history that it has become the national
epio of Britain, end is familiar to noble sod
siup!s, from John O'Groats hcuse on Lends
God, as Dante and Tasso were once to the
Italians; that it ia written 10 the noblest and
pursst EoRl!sh, and aoonnds 10 exquisite beat
ties Of a merely literary form; and. foay,
that it fotti lis the verest hind. who never Isit
his vil!sg,. to bs igaorant of tho existence OF
other couGtriss nnd other Ciiiliz atoms, and q
great past, stretching back to the turtbest
limits of the oldest nations 10 the world. By tho
study of what other books c,ud children b5 so
muoh tunenizsd and made to feel that each 6g
urs 10 that vast historical procession fills, like
themselves, but momentarY s2aoo In the in.er-
val between the tTo eternitics, sod earns the
blessings or the curses tfa al time, acoc,dfg 10 its
effort to do good and hate evil, oven ra they are
esrpiI G their payment for their work?
AID if Bbl.-readiDg is not accompanied by
cons!rsint and solemnity, Us il it were q sicra-
mental operation. | do not believe there is
anythirg 10 which children take mora pleasure
At least, know that some of the peasautest
recollectiops of my childhood ore connected with
the voluntary study OF an ancient Bible which
belonged TO my grandmother. There were
splendid pictures 10 it. to be sure but reco.
lsct little or nothing sbou. them save a pot
trait of the high priest 10 bis y.smep,s,
What comes vividly back TO my mlod are re-
memhraoces of my delight 10 ths histories Of
Joseph AID David. acd OF my keen appreciation
OF the ohiValrous kindness Of Abraham 10 bis
dealings With Lot. Like suddea Gssh there
returns back upon me ny utter sc0ru of the
pattifcggiug msauuess Of Jacob, aud my syups
thetic grief over the tear;-breakDg Iausnte
lion OF the cheated Esau. HAS thou not a
bletsiDg for me rlso. O my father?' And
see, as 10 cloud, pic urea of the grand pbantst-
msgoria of the book of Ravea alton.
Il onumers.e, as they issue, the childish in-
pressions which o,ms osdiug OUT Of tho pig
eon-hOles in my brain. 10 which they hove lain
amcss undisturbed for forty year4. l ptizs
them as SO evidence that Child of Eve or s.x
yenrs old. left to bis owa Devices may b, daepy
interested 10 the Bible, aud draw souud mora
sustenaaco from it. it."-Contempora,y Rerieeo.