Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1896-08-22
CORRESPONDENCE.
\ Starter.

| II RoNtBl RG, NJ d., aug. 10, lSJb.
To the MINING JOURNAL.
| have no desire to "split hairs" NOR
to practice somersaults on trapeZiums :;
| but | have desire to get at the truth
Of things and to disabuse the Bible of
the erroneous idea that it is "sectari-
an bo0h."
And since my friend, Mr.. Stern, re-
fuses to prove the assertion he made,
| will r." 'boutship' and sail on another
tack.
In his letter of July =, 1896, he says ::
Permit me a little space in your valuable
paper in answer to Rev. Mr.. Haverstick's de.
mand for the Reading of the Bible in the
| Public Schools ~
That letter was, therefore, an an
swer to Mr.. Haverstick's demand, &C.,
and not q demand for proofs of the
wisdom of the Associations request
that the Bible be read in the Frostburg
public schools.
| have nothing to do with Mr.. Hav-
erstlcks letter, but with Mr.. Stern's
"Answer" to that letter.
One of his propositions in that an
sWer is ''th0t tile Bible is decidedly ont of
place IN the pu51ic schoo7s." Here are his
words-''but even if it be admitted
that this country is legally 'christian,'
nevertheless, the Bible, as 'the Bible
would be decidedly out of place in the
public schools. For the Bible is sec
TARTAN" How does he substantiate
his proposition Or, rather he sup
ports one assertion with another, (O
"the Bible would be decidedly out of
place even in Il christian country; U
because the Bible is sectarlan.' Ac-
cordlng to that reasoning, the Bible
would not be out Of place in the public
schools it it were unsectarian.
In order to get at my friend in some
way, | will make the assertion that the
Bible is not sectarian booh, and will prove
it; and if l prove it is not sectarian
book the other part of Mr.. Stern's
letter will need no REPUTATION. He
must find some other reasons against
the request to have the Bible in the
public schools of Frostburg.
A right understanding of terms is
essential to an argument, without
which. indeed, it is impossible to ar
rive at hight conclusions.
A sectarian book, evidently, is a
book that sets forth the doctrines and
practices Of sect, or an aggregation
of individuals who have made choice
--atreSiS of the doctrines aud practices
which obtain among that sect-wheth-
er in religion or philosophy, or any
| thing else and there are such books.
Can any sect upon earth say with Il
good reason the Bible belongs to us
and to no other sect whatever? If so,
who is that sect 1t would be equally
fatal to the assertion that the Bible is
sectaian We're every sect to claim the
Bible as its own, for what belongs to
al! in general belongs to no one in
particular.
But allow me to add few out of
many reasons that might be advanced
in proof of the position | maintain.
OF course, have nothing to do in this
argument with those who deny the
Bible.
|, The Bible is the word of God and
not the word of man.
| ., 1t is the word of God to man as
Gods creature aud not as IL member of
a sect.
3, 1t was delivered partly by the
mouth of God Himself, as to His SER
want, Moses; partly written by the
finger of God on tablets of stone, as
the Decalogue; all written by holy
men, who Were inspired by the Spirit
Of God.
4. The word Of God in the Bible-as
far rs it concerns man rs Gods crpa-
ture, is addressed to man indioduaily.
Every command is prefaced by thou
shalt, or a HOu shalt not.
| 5, The Bible is the only book that