The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1890-03-22
BARS THE BIBLE.
The Book Not to be Read In Public
SchOols-Supreme Court Decides the
Edgerton Case-Fuil History Of the
Important Case, with Ftndinys.

| OF the whole question, and it is de-
cisive victory for the Catholics. the
court holding that the constitution in
terdicts bible reading in the public
| schools.
The opinion says:
| In considering the question whether such
| reading of the Bible III Il e public schools
| is Il seciarian instruction. the books will he
| regarded as a whole. because the whole
| Bible, Mlthout exception. has been
| designated as a text book for
use in the Edgcrton schools. and
| the claim Of the school Board is that the
! whole contents thereof may lawfully be
| so read. This being SO. it is
| quite immateriai If the portions
| thereof set ouf III the return.
as only the portions thrs far read
are not stctarian. Yet il should be oh
| served that some OF the portions so read
| seem to Indicate doctrine. and the diyin-
| ity Of Jesus Christ and punishment of the
| wicked after death, which doctrine is not
| accepted by some religious sacts.
Court refuses t. affirm or deny that
| the Catholic Church opposes common
schools. The court further says:
/ That reading from the Hihlc in the
| schools. although Without comment on the
part of the teacher. is construction,
seem too clear for argument.
The court holds that the Bible con
| talns many doc.rinal passages, and that
| the reading of the whole OF it
is sectarian instruction. 1t also
holds that such text books as
are founded on fund mental teach ings
OF the Bible. or which NAV contain ex-
tracts theretrom, may he rsed III the
| schools. Says tie Court:
| Some of the i:inSt valuable instruction q
| person can receive may be derived from
reading alon Without amy intrinsic aid b.
| way Of comment on exposition The ques
| ton t'crefore seems 10 narrow down
to this: l. the reading of the Bible in liz
| schools. not merely selected passage
| thtrefrom bHl the whole OF il. SectarlaL
| instruction OF pupils In view
Of the fact already mentioned.
that the Biol, contains numerous
| docfrInal passages. upon some Of which
the peculiar creed al almost every religious
| sect is based. ami that such passages MAY
reasonably b" understood 10 lncttlcatt. doc
| rrlnes predirattd upon them Oh affirmative
| aDSHrr 10 the question seems ul4aS otl;,-
| bic. ANY pupil OF ordinary intel
| ligenee. Who listens tu The reading
| of the doc.linal portions of the bible.
| VIII be more or less instructed thereby III
the doctrine of the divinity IT Jesus Christ.
eternal punishment "f The wicked. thc
authority OF priesthood. the binding force
| and efficacy ot >itrraHcni>- and MANY other
conflicting Sectdfian sioctrineS.
/ As II especially follows that place
| where the Bible i read j. u place of Wor-
| ship. and that AZ taxpayers are compelled
| 10 erect and support school houses. and
children al" under a late law compelled to
attend the public >chooIs. constitutional
| clauses forbid sacl use 1T school houses-
The opinion is quite All elaborate &c
clesastical thesis, and concludes as fol-
lows:
j The order III til. circuit court oNerruIng
the demurrer Of REALTORS to the answer Of
! the School Beard must be reversed. and
the cause remaided. with directions Ia
that court tn give Judgment for the relatorS
| on the demurrer. awarding peremptors
| writ of mandamnS ~ prayed for IN the pc
tition.
Concurrent opinions are rendered by
Orton and Caseoday. The above is
quoted from an opinion by Lyon.
MApsoS, Wis, March lS.-The So
called Edgerton Bible case, decided TO-
day by the supreme court, is one of the
most important that has arisen in Wis
consin in many years. The litigation
has been closaiv watched hy persons
of all denominations. and the findings
of the supreme court hsve been awaited
with great interest. The suit was
pushed by the Catholics, the Catholic
Citizen newspaper, Of Milwaukee, rails
ing $500 to defrsv the expenses Of the
litigation.
The case is entitled the Sta'e ex rel,
vs. Frederick Weiss, John Corbett, W.
II. Morressey, Thomas Mooney. James
Mcbride and J. c. Hurnes, laintifls
and appellants, against the District
| Board of School District No. $. Of the city
of Edgerton, Rock County, Wisconsin.
| la1 Il lot ~,
said circuit court. praying that a writ OF
mandamus might issue out OF said cir
cult court, commanding SAID district
school board to refrain from the matters
complained Of, or show cause TO the con-
trary.
The matters complained of material 10
the questions are as follows:
That for manN wears past the taxpayers
| OF the city of Edgerton. including the
plaintiffs. have maintained public schools
III said city IN pursuance of the laws OF
this state. which schools have been and are
supported by taxation. That all the resi-
dents OF said city are equally entitled
to have the BENEFITS at Said common
schools. and are equally entitled to have
their children instructed therein IN ac-
| eordanee with the IaN. That said REALTORS
are parents of children. which children
they are deslrou> Of having educated i'll
sand schools. That certain teachers en-
ploSed in said public schools to instruct
the pupils therein. reld to said pupils, and
among them the children of the
relators. each day when the schools
hours tor instruction.. certain por-
tons Of the book called the Bible. the
teachers selecting the portions TO read: the
selections being from :he translation
known aS the klng James version.
That the relaior> and MANY others of the
nj Il
| !rlct. whose children attend said school.
and are under thr control and Instruction
of the teachers emptoNrd therein. are. to-
gether with either >a.u children. membe
of the Roman Catholic Church. and con-
sclenliousiy htllrNs IN iis dortrineS. faith
and forms If worship: and that by said
church the Version al the scriptures re-
ferrrd 10 is taught and believed TO he in
correct as tram l.tlon. and incomplete
BY reason of tile omission tberefrum
OF part of the books held by the
Roman Catholic Church 10 lie IN
tegral portions ri the inspired
canon: that il is further taught hy said
Roman Catholic Church. and believed by
its members. that The scriptures ought not
10 he read IndiScIlmuateiN inasmuch as
said church mas divine authority as the
only infallihle teacher and interpreter of
the same without note or comment. and
without being cNpounded by the only au-
| tl0Tlkea teachers anu interpreters thereof.
is not only moi Beneficial to tho chill
dren in said >cneal, hut is likely To lead
TO the adoption OF dangerous errors.
irreilciouS faith. practice ami worship.
That BY reason Thereof the kns Jane,
version OF the Biblta. eulN received a> IN
splred and true II The Protestant religious
sectS. is regarded ht the nl"nlpers of SAID
Roman Cathoi!r Church ~ contrary 10 the
rights OF conscience an,i wholly contrary
20 and in violation u law. That the re-
lators believe such exercise 10 bt sertaii-
an instruction. :,n interference with the
rights of conscience. and a violation ol me
| constitution Of this state.
That said rclaturs have requested sato
| board of directors and said teachers TO dis.
continue the readings OF said King James
version OF the scriptures in said district
school: which request said board has re,
fused to comply with
In the return to tie writ appear ma