Mississippi leader. (Jackson, Miss.) 1892-1895, 1892-10-27
DIR. ROBINSON AND THE BIBLE IN
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

our observation, chiefly by per-
sons noted neither for their piety
nor reverence for Holy Writ(
that while member Of the Constitu-
tional Convention he introduced an
amendment OF resolution to prohibit
the use OF the Bible in the public
schools OF this State. In order to get
the subject fairly before the reader,
we copy In full the action taken in tho
Convention on this subject 1t Is
found on pages 500 and SOC Of the Off
cial Journal, and is as follows:
Section Sixteen (l6) was read,
Sec. Ii. That no religious test as n
qualification for office shall ever be rc-
quired: and no preference shall ever
be given by law to any religious sect or
mode OF worship, but the free enjoy.
ment OF all religious sentiments and
the different modes of worship shall
ever be held sacred PrOUided, That
the rights hereby secured shall not be
construed to Justify acts OF icentiouS-
ness injurious to morals or dangerous
to the peace and safety OF the State ;
or to exclude from use III any public
school of this State the Holy Bible, In
any version.
Mr.. Robinson Of Rankin, moved to
amend Section 10 10y striking out ali
after the word state" in the fifth line
of said section.
Mr.. Martin Of Adams, moved to
amend Section Sixteen 16) by strik-
ing out the words ANY version" and
insert the words "either King James
Bible. or the Vulgate."
Mr.. Chrisman moved to amend Sec
ton 16 by striking out the words lin
any version"
Mr.. Marett moved to amend Section
16 as follows: "and it is the mutual du-
ty of all to practice Christian forbear-
ance, love and charity towards each
other"
Mr.. Taylor called the previous ques-
ton, which was sustained.
On motion, the several amendments
offered by Messrs Martin of Adams,
Robinson of Rankin, and Marett, were
Severally taken up, and separately re-
jected.
On motion, the amondmont Of Mr..
Chrisman to Section Is was adopted,
and on further vote, Section 16 was
adopted as amended.
1t will be observed that the clause
which Dr. Robjnson's amendment
would have stricken out included the
objectional words ''in any rersion,"
which were afterward stricken out by
Judge Chrisman's amendment. II his
main idea was to get rid of this provis-
ion, the wisdom of his action Is ut once
since the introduction of
multiplicity of versions Of the Bible
into the public schools, by special con-
sanction, including the
King James version, the Catholic YER
sion, the Revised version, or any other
might in time lead to no end
Of religious and sectarian strife. Ii, on
the other hand, it was DIR. Robinson's
object to get rid Of the whole clause
relating to the Bible in the public
schools, he had abundant precedent
md high legal and ecclesiastical au-
hority on his side. Then the Consti-
,ution would simply have been silent
not prohibitory-on the subject, and
the Bible might have been used, or not,
according to varying choice aud cir
as will be the case as it is.
The compulsory use of the Bible can
not be enforced in any public school or
institution of learning supported by
the State, because that might interfere
with or impinge upon that absolute re-
ligious liberty and enforcement of
church and State which the national
Constitution guarantees. Many emf
nent legal and ecclesiastical authorities
might be quoted on this point, did
space permit, but we will give only one,
and that very recent one.
In an address before the Fair River
Baptist Association Oct. 18th, 1892, on
the subject of Mississippi College and
Christian Education, Rev. Dr. r. A.
Venable, the distinguished President
of that institution, made use of the
following language:
1.-The Supreme courts, wherever the
question has been carried, have decid-
ed that the teaching of the Bible in the
public schools cannot be maintained.
We, as Baptists, believe that is right.
e.. The time will come when the
use of the Bible will not be suffered in
the Girls Industrial College at Column
bus, because it is a State institution.
After awhile some Jew or Catholic will
make the issue and insist that it is vi
olation of the right of religious liberty
guaranteed to all by the Constitution
that right of religious liberty for
which we Baptist have ever commended
and it will have to CO."
The yeas and nays were not called
upon the adoption of DR.. Robinson's
nor any of the others, so
the official record does not show how
the vote stood, but it is learned from
unofficial sources that the convention
was almost equally divided on it.
The LEADER has thought it timely to
offer this statement of facts, because
many good and well-meaning men are
liable to be misled by misapprehen-
sion of the subject, as is manifestly the
design of those who, for partisan ends,
have raised the issue.
THE TIDE RISES, THE BANKS ARE