Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-03-27


schools. although unaccompanied by any
comment on the part of the teacher. is
instruction. seems to Us too clear for
argument Some Of the most valuable
instruction a person can receive may be
derived from reading alone, without any
extrlnslc aid by way of comment or ex-
position. The question, therefore, seems
to narrow down to this: Is the reading
of the Bible in the schools-not merely
selected passages therefrom, but the whole
of it-sectarian instruction of the pupils
In view of the fact already mentioned. that
the Bible contains numerous doctrinal pas
sageS, upon some of which the peculiar
creed of almost every rel glous sect is based
and that such passages may reasonably be
understood to incuicate the doctrines pre-
dlcated upon them, an Affirmative answer
to the question seems unavoidable Any pu-
pill of ordinary intelligence who listens to
the reading of the doctrinal por-
lions of the Bible will be more
or less instructed thereby in the doctrine
of the divinity of Jesus Christ, the eternal
punishment of the wicked. the authority Of
the priesthood, the binding force and
efhcacy OF the sacraments, and many Other
conflicting sectarian doctrines
IL IL lul ltldl llllS
does not furnish from the district schools
such text books as are founded upon the
fundamental teachings of the Bible
or which contains extracts therefrom,
and also that there is much in the
Bible, which cannot justla be character
lied as sectarian, and there can be no
valid objection to the use of such matter
in the secular instruction of the pupils.
Much of it has great historical and liter
airy value which may thus be utilized
without violating the constitutional pro-
hlbltion. 1t may alse be utilized to incui-
cate good morals-that is, our duties to
each other-wLich may and ought to be
inculcated by the district schools
Attention is called to sec. 3, ch 251,
laws of 1888, providing that in cities mo
text books shall be permitted in any free
public schools which will have a tendency
to inculcate sectarian ideas, and the opin,
ion is expressed that 1.-The use Of the
Bible as textbook in the public schools.
and the stated reading thereof in such
schools, without restriction, has ten
dency to inculcate sectarian ideas and is
sectarian instruction, within the mean
ing of the constitution and the statute
The order of the circuit court overrul-
ing the demurrer of the REALTORS to the an
swer of the school board must be reversed
and the cause remanded, with direction to
that court to give Judgment for the REALTORS
on the demurrer awarding peremptory
writ of mandamus as prayed for in the
petition "
Justice orion, in his opinion, said
"There is no such source and cause OF
strife, quarrel, fights, malignant oppres,
sion, persecution and war, and all
evil in the state, as religion
Let it once enter into our civil
affairs, our government would soon be de.
stroyed. Let it once enter into our COM
mon schools, they would be destroyed
Those who made our constitution saw this,
and used the most apt and comprehensive
language in it, to prevent such catas-
trophe. It is said, if reading the Protes-
tant version of the Bible in the common
school, is offensive to the parents of some
Of the scholars, and antagontic to their
own religious views, their children can re.
tire. They ought not to be compelled to
60 out of the school for such reason, for
one moment. The suggestion itself con.
cedes the whole argument"
The opinion further says: 1.-THE COM
mon school is one of the most indispensi-
BILE, useful and valuable civil institution
this state has. 1t is democratic and free
to all alike, in perfect equality, where all
OF the children OF our people stand on a
common platform and may enjoy the ben
etts OF an equal and common education.
An enemy to our common schools is an en-
en,y to our state government. 1t is the
same hostility that would cause any relig-
ious denomination that had acquired the
ascendency over all others to remodel our
constitution ana change our government
and all its institutions, so as to make
them favorable only to itself, and exclude
all others from their benefits and protec-
ton
The opinion concludes: 1.-THE connec-
ton of the church and state corrupts re-
hgion and makes the state despotic.
Another branch of the case was treated
by Justice Cassoday. He says: There is
no purpose of here indicating that the
Holy Scriptures, considered as whole
and fully comprehended, would exclude
from the premises therein contained any
of the human race complying with the es-
sential conditions therein prescribed; still
since every translation made by man must
be more or lessimperfect, and since the ap-
pllcation of particular passages is liable to
be made with partial apprehension and
biased, or even distorted judgment, it is
easy to see how texts of scripture (about
which there are differences of opinion)
may be read with such emphasis and tone
as to become excessively sectarian; and
while the members of any particular sect
may be willing to have one of their owl
number read the Bible in the pubic
schools, yet they are not always willing to
concede the same to member of a sect
believing in an opposite faith or doctrine:
but the law is impartial, and has given 70
right to any one sect that is not equally
secured to every other
The constitution provides o. ''the right
of every man to worship Almighty God
according to the dictates of his own con-
science shall never be infringed; (2) nor
shall any man be compelled to attend.
erect or support any place of worship, or
to maintain any ministry against his con-
sent; 81 nor shall any control or interfer-
ence with the rights of conscience be per-
mitted, or any preference be given by law
to any religious establishments or modes
of worship; a. nor shall any money eb
drawn from the treasury for the benefit
of religious societies or religious or the
ological seminaries" These clauses pre-
vent the state from infringing upon these
individual rights of persons or the giving
of any preference by law to any religion
sect or mode of worship. But the exercises
of such right cannot be SO extended as to
prevent the legitimate exercise of the po-
lice powers of the state in preserving
order, securing good citizenship, the adj
ministration of law and tie Sabbath as a
day of rest.
Discussing the question, whether or net
the reading of the Bible in school is wor-
ship: the opinion says: Certainly the