Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1885-07-11
from an aninvestigation Of this kind and will
condemn those who institute II y
IL SO, God save the commonwealth.
The Bible In the Public schools.

l0c DIDle I'D INC IuUllC SCuOOIbs
There Is very interesting case on trial in
Sharpsville, Mercer county, involving the
right of school directors to use the Pro-
testant version of the Bible at the opening |
of the daily school exercises. Judge Me- |
hard has not yet rendered his decision and |
1t is awaited with more than ordinary curl
osity. The plaintiffs in the suit are mem
bers of the Roman Catholic church, who
claim their children are required TO listen
to the King James version of the Bible,
which version their church teaches them
to regard as not authentic. The defendants
admit the use Of the particular version of
the Bible, but declare that as it is read
without note or comment, it cannot suc-
cessf ully be charged that IL is used with
sectarian end in view.
The question is by no means new one.
II has been argued in other states with
varying results. To study it in its proper
light il is necessary to examine the state
constitution in its bearings On the subject
of religious liberty. AS the burden of
proof rests upon the party maintaining
the affirmative of proposition, it is need
full that the defendants show that their act
of introducing the st. James version into
the schools is warranted by the constitu-
tion. This, we believe, cannot be done.
Section of the Declaration of Rights
declares the liberty of conscience that
makes it impossible to unite church and
state: "No man can, of right, be com.
PEELED to attend, erect or support any
place of worship, or to maintain any
ministry against his own consent" This
clearly evinces that the trainers of tht
constitution intended to preclude all posi-
bility of directing the individual member
of society in his civil and spiritual ca
pacity at one anG the same time. Will
this thought kept in mind, the step i
easy to section ., article \ of the constitu
ton: 'No money raised for the support o
the public schools of the commonwealth
shall be appropriated to or used for til
; support of any sectarian school," 1t
clear, therefore, if any public school CON
mits a sectaran act, the appropriation to
becomes wrongful, unless it changes j,
course.
The sectaran or denominational point
: the real kernel N the nut of the Sharpsvil
school question. The Roman Catholic
I taught to believe that the King James We
sion of the Bible is filled with error. 7
him the Douay version is the only Bible
Il and, moreover, he has been instructed thi
the Good Book can only be truly interpre
II ed by the priests of his church TO which
% bows in spiritual allegiance. On the oth'
'o hand, the Protestant views the Douf
!, version with suspicion; we suspect that
~ Catholic teacher who would read it in u
Nj schools would be the subject of complain
20 from the rigid Protestant parents of h
" " pupils.
~ The fact that neither the King Jam
=, nor the Douay version is universally a
~ cepted by Christians as the true one
~ conclusive that each is the possession
~ ~ sect or sects. Being the property of
=. " sect, its use becomes sectarian, and as
=. abstract question of law there seems TO
Nv no escape from the conclusion that the u
of particular version of the Scriptures
the schools is g sectarian " use that
not in accord with the law of the commo
u wealth. Practically, however, there a
y, few communities in which this question
o. disturbing one. Common sense al
:" neighborly amenities, mutual concesssi
=, and religious tolerance rule most plac
=: and, where these are not strong enough
;" prevent any disturbance, the best plan is
s' quietly avoid any occasion for offense.