Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-04-15

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the true idea of a free state and the relation
of such a state to education, because 1 did
not see how otherwise the main question of
my discourse could be properly treated. It
is in the light of the principles which I have
set forth that the question, What use should
be made Of the Bible in the public schools
must be answered. II is within the limits set
by these principles that the answer must be
found. The Bible claims to be volume of
sacred writings, which Jehovah, who is rep
resented in them as the one true and only liv-
ing God, gave to men by natural and super
natural means, including among the latter a
spiritual force called inspiration. Such vol
ume a large majority Of the American people
undoubtedly believe it TO be. All the other
books in the world put together, apart from
the influence Of the Bible upon their own
composition, have not had hundredth part
of the influence in forming the character of
the American people, and in giving shape and
substance TO the constitutions and laws of the
American commonwealths, which this one
book has had. To say that this book shall
have no place in the public schools of Ameri-
ca would be like saying that the sun shall not
shine and the rain fall upon the fields of this
continent, or that the constitution of the
United States and the Declaration of Inde-
pendeuce shall have no weight in determining
the proper training for citizen of the Re-
public. The religious, moral, intellectual and
political ideas of the book have been so
wrought by a hundred influences into the sub
stance of American thought and feeling that
American citizens could not possibly maintain
a school without filling it full Of these ideas.
American citizens, worthy Of the name, could
not be fashioned without these ideas. Igno-
rant slaves of superstition and authority might
but not American freemen. There can be no
doubtful question, therefore, with the free
citizens Of the American commonwealths,
whether the Bible shall have place and an
influence in the public schools. 1t is there.
They are built upon it and, when it ceases
to fashion them, they and the liberties which
they maintain will disappear together.
But in saying all this | have touched no
seriously -conlroverted point among American
citizens. So far we who are gathered here to-
day are certainly agreed. But the question
still remains What use shall be made of
the Bible in the public schools? We shall,
perhaps, cover the whole ground, If we en-
deavor to answer the following questions:
Shall it be used for liturgical purposes Shall
it be used as a textbook for instruction in re-
ligion Shall it be used as textbook in
morals Or shall it be left to hold its place
in the public schools indirectly by its inhu-
ence over all the instruction given in them
l scarcely need say that in my judgment only
the latter question eau be answered afiirma-
lively.
do not see how the state can require that
the Bible shall be used in the public schools
for the purpose of worship. When, in any
locality the parents are agreed, both in the
desire that school sessions should be occupied
in part by exercises of devotion and also as
to what the devotional exercises shall be- there,
the state would be guilty Of extreme
folly, not TO say tyranny, to forbid so much
of the time to be 30 used as would not dam
age the proper work of the school, provided
no reasonable doctrines were inculcated in
such exercises State officials, as such, might
say that such a matter did not re-
quiTe their attention. But it is certainly en-
tirely out Of the province of the state to pre-
scribe and regulate public worship in the pub
lie schools. When worship is not voluntary
and quick with genuine emotion, it is a mock
ery-the mockery upon which Jesus Christ
hurled the lightning of his most scathing re-
Dukes. Shall state officials, then, attempt to
impose upon our children the forms in which
this hypocrisy is sure to be cultivated, even
though inspired psalms be chosen for the
purpose? l might well ask Christian men if
they wish the Bible made Nehushtan by put
ting il to such use.
But, still further, though all have said
above concerning the Bible be admitted, yet
certainly not all parts Of the Bible are suita-
BILE for liturgical purposes, and there are wide
diversities OF opinion among us as to what
parts are to be chosen for worship. The use
of liturgy in worship involves also opinion
as to the meaning of the language of the lit
urgy. To prescribe q liturgy for public wor-
ship in school, and forbid those who conduct
the worship to expound the meaning of the
10 10 1ahnpnr th.a oh
it is proposed to conduct. But if teachers
are to expound the liturgy, then must the
state settle upon the nature and proper form
of true worship-a task certainly requiring
the authority of an infallibe church and the
aid of trained priesthood. Besides, wor-
ship may as easily become false and offensive
to conscience through its omissions as by its
observances. To the Christian, he who hon
oreth not the Son even as the Father, honor
eth neither Father nor Son. AS Baptist, 1
protest in the name of religious liberty against
bringing my child daily under the influence
of liturgy, though selected from the Bible,
if the selection be so made as TO make the
worship merely Jewish or deistical Just as,
in behalf of my Jewish and deistical fellow
citizens should protest against the use of
liturgy in the public schools, in which what
to them must be pagan worship of Jesus of
Nazareth is incuicated. 1t is plainly entirely
aside from the purpose for which the state
undertakes public instruction TO determine
and regulate public worship in its schools.
Only state which accepts the authority of
state church can do this, and such state can
never be free state.
2. Shall the Bible be used in the public
schools as textbook in religion? This ques-
ton is akin TO the last and has, perhaps, been
sufficiently answered but two specific ques-
L. - sah
deserve some attention. Some will ask if be-
lief in God and his moral government is not
necessary for the training of the good citizen,
and if, therefore, the state may not properly
use the Bible as a textbook TO teach such be-
lief in state schools, for that purpose? Many
and most weighty reasons conspire to answer
the last question negatively. We may all
agree that belief in God and the sanctions of
his moral government is needful to form the
best citizen. We may say with even more
emphasis that the love of God and of his ap-
proval is of still greater value in forming the
character of the good citizen. But who shall
give the state an authoritative Interpretation
of the Bible, as to the doctrine of God and
his moral government. We are all agreed
that the state is not competent to teach what
are the true sacraments, and how they shall
be observed but even this would be much
easier than for body of representative citi-
zens, all professedly believers in the Biblical
doctrine Of God and his moral government,
to agree upon statement of that doctrine
As Baptist 1 should protest, in the name Of
that religious liberty for which my Baptist
ancestors suffered martyrdOm, against my chill
dren being compelled to be taught in state
schools the Roman Catholic doctrine of Gods
moral government and, in the name of the
same liberty, protest in behalf of my Roman
Catholic fellow citizens against their. being
taught a system of Divine government from
which what they regard as the most hallowed
sanctions of the Divine law are omitted. Be
cause, therefore, our free state is not and can
not be an authority in religion, it cannot make
use of the Bible or any other book as a text
book in religion. Religion, as the worship
and service of God, is thing with which the
state has absolutely nothing TO do, except to
protect its citizens, without exception or dis
in their religious rights. Reli-
gion is indeed, necessary to the permanence