Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-09-09
SERMONS ON SCHOOLS
Two Ministers Make Good Pleas in
Favor of Public Education.
AGAINST THE PAROCHIAL IDEA.
The Vexed Problem Discussed From q
Protestant Standpoint.
SOME COMMENTS ON BIBLE READING

Rev. W. s. Williams preached to the
Universalist congregation last night in the
meeting room over the gas office on SlxtE
avenue, on ''The Public School Question. "
The text was from Ecclesiastes vii, IL,
Wisdom Is Our Defense" He prefaced
his remarks with some historical quotations
and allusions. He said that A. d. 1883,
which witnessed the plea of Columbus to
his royal master and mistress for money,
ships and men to discover the unknown
land, marked the opening of new epoch IN
the birth of Martin Luther.
Coming down to modern times ne said
this Government was founded not on
creed, religion, a body or an organization,
but on God. Every Government which had
been organized before had upheld State
religion, with us there was the most unre-
strlcted freedom in religious beliefs founded
upon the eternal God. Any sect, body or
organization which attempts to interfere or
assumes to dictate in opposition to this
liberty secured by the constitutional fathers
is traitor. The perpetuity Of our civil
and religious liberty is founded upon our
common schools, and whoever resists or op-
presses our schools or deprives large
number of inhabitants of the privilege Of
attending them, is a traitor ard should be
punished as such.
SOME DERIVE NO BENEFITS.
Every man should assist in paying toward
the support of our schools. There are
large number of people who, although not
Catholics, derive no personal benefit from
the schools. Some send their children to
other institutions of learning, very many
have no children, yet they pay cheerfully.
He then reviewed the history Of Catholic
countries. Trying to oust the Bible from
our public schools was only the entering OF
the Catholic wedge. The second wedge was
when Catholics took their children to separ-
ate rooms. Now they take them to their
parothial schools, and demand a portion of
the public funds.
That is not all. Three leading clergymen
of the Catholic Church in this city have
stated the Archbishop has threatened to ex-
communicate any Catholic parents sending
their children to the public schools. Thus
they sccept and enforce the dictation of a
foreigI potentate.
NJ Williams concluded with a passion
ate appeal to resist the encroachments of the
Catholic hierarchy upon American freedom
and tie public school privileges in every
way pssible, at the polls and everywhere
else.
MIR. LoCKE's SERMON.
Listeners to Rev. C. E. Locke at the
Smithield NJ. E. Church last evening heard
a yigoous sermon upon the subject Of the
Bible in the public schools, with an incl
dental attack upon the attitude Of the
Catholic Church in regard to free school
education.
The text was Proverbs I:2: '"The fear of
the brd is the beginning of wisdom"
After enlarging upon the necessity of
Christian education in order to subserve the
best Interests of citizenship, the speaker
stated hat, while he did not desire to stand
as an arraigner OF the Catholic church, as
the later had put itself in an indefensible
position BY its illogical opposition to the
reading of the Bible in the public schools,
he must say something in regard to the
church in question. E.F
He said: "The Romanists make con-
tinu3l fight against the use of the Bible in
pubic schools. and yet protest that they
schools in order to make sure of the relig-
ious elements in the education. Could any
thing be more absurd? The parochial school
There are over 5000 parochial schools in
his country, and at this very time several
are being built in this city. seriously look
Ior the day to come when national law
will be passed and enforced against the
toor o1 Thaca f0
The Bible in the public school are not en-
titled to respect for their objections are die
ated by prejudices in favor of the ignorance
IF the dark ages.
A MINORITY SHOULD NOT RULE.
'tIt is the general opinion of the Christian
world that the Bible should be read in pub
lie schools, and minority, however de-
hrmined, should not be allowed to obtain
the slightest foothold. The atmosphere OF
the schoolroom should be clarified by the
feading of Gods word. All Christians
s1ould deem it paramount duty to protect
the Bible against those who are the enemies
tf our souls. The Romanists have always
teen secretiYe. Mystifcation is cardinal
hature of their creed, and to have the
Jounger generation grow up in utter ignor-
nce of the teachings of the Bible would
SEEM to be their objective point
Rev. Mr.. Locke read number of extracts
from the utterances Of Romanist ecclesi-
astics, and closed with prayer in which he
thanked the Creator for free speech, religious
liberty and a free press; offering petitions
for "unbelievers who think they are liberal
but are most bigoted of all people," and
"any organizations arrayed against the
reading of Gods word in public schools"
A large audience was present.