The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-02-28
TO SUIT ALL CREEDS.
Chicago Achieves a Biblical Wonder
for All Religions.
so TREATED THAT IT OFFENDS

Neither Christian, Jew Nor MOham'
medan.
After years of agitation and study an
eclectic Bible for the public schools OF
Chicago has been prepared and will soon
be submitted to the educational board for
approval Twenty-Five years ago the Gus
tom of opening the daily exercises IN
school by reading selections from the
Bible was discontinued, and ever since
then the matter of preparing Bible which
should meet with the approval of Chris
tian. Jew. Mohammedan, Buddhist and
aenostic has been made matter of serious
Importance. The volume has at last been
compiled and the proof sheets show Wha5
the result is.
The Bible or Bible reader, as it is called,
is made up from the version recognized by
English law when appeals to the Bible arc
made. In its arrangement it is graded to
suit the mental development OF the pupil,
the first selections being adapted to the re-
uuirements of the lower grammar school
grades and the latter part of the book to
more mature minds.
Over each selection is headline in n
measure explaining the meaning of wha5
follows The first selection appears under
the heading 1.-The Two Great Command
1nents'' and consists of the thirtieth and
thirty-first verses of the twelfth chapter OF
Mark: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God
with all thy heart. and with all thy soul,
and with all thy mind, and with all thy
strength; this is the first commandment.
And the second is like-namely, this,
Thou shalt love thy neighbor as myself.
There is none other commandment greater
than these
"You children blessed" is the title of an
excerpt from the tenth chapter of Mark,
in which occurs that much used text,
''Suffer the little children to come unto
Of Of iG the
kingdom of Cod
The Psalms and Proverbs are extensively
drawn on throughout the book, especially
the first part. One of the most striking
compilations from those sources is ''Morn-
ing and Evening Meditations.' Then
follow selections from Proverbs. Under
the heading 1.-THE Universal Prayer" is
given the Lords Prayer set to music, which
is followed by the twenty third psalm.
"a Contrast is the title of selections
from Eoclesiastes and part of the first
psalm. Short, terse precepts from the
Psalms are given under the head Depart
From Evil and Do Good Words of cheer
setting forth the consultations of religion
are most admirably selected, and the Re
ward of Benevolence" and an opinion of
''Gratitude'' are set forth in quotations
from the Psalms and the prophecies OF
Isaiah. The Ten Commandments are given
in full, and the beatitudes are given under
the head, 1.-The Blessed
The story of Joseph is given in strict ac-
cordance with the text, but appears after
the fasaion of a serial story. The true OBJ
ject of the book is tersely set forth in a
quotation from Isaiah, which, it is claim
ed, explains exactly what the publishers
and compilers of the book aim to do. 1t
is in these words:
For precept must be upon precept, pre-
cept upon precept, line upon line, line
lima h6ra q, little and there little
for with stammering lips and another
tongue will he speak to his people. To
him he said, this is the rest Wherewith ye
may cause the weary to rest, and this is
the refreshing, yet they would not hear.
But the word of the law unto him is pre-
cept upon precept, precept upon precept,
line upon line, here little and there lit
tie"
The volume sets forth the ancient laws
for governing the conduct of people, which
is shortly after followed by the new law, -
as taken from Matthew V, At, 4S. Job is
used as a means to call attention to the
beauties of nature, and various books of
the Bible are drawn upon to illustrate the
uselessness and sin of idle words. Love
and wisdom taught, as is also the per-
sonal responsibility for sin, and effort
is made to show just why Christ, the
Physician came to earth. Diligence in
business is advised, and jeremiah is drawn
upon TO 1llusGrabo W0aG True naGlOQa1
calamity is
The entire work seems to be devoted to
intoxicating all the principles which tend
to ennoble human nature and giving ma
terial, not superstitious, reasons for obey
ing the divine law. 1t is evidently hoped
by the colnpilers to make the precepts of
the Bible and action consistent Herewith
so much matter of second nature that
they will be employed in daily life much
are the rules of grammar and mathe-
matios.
The publication of this volume is due to
a suggestion of the late Professor David
Swing, and the details of the work of COM
piIation to the efforts of the Chicago
Woman's Educational union. A commit
tee composed Of representatives of Jews,
Catholics, Professionals, Free Thinkers and
others completed the work, which will
make a volume of 200 pages of large, clear
type. Advice and suggestions were freely
asked, and the whole world may be said to
have assisted in the work. The intention
is to have the pupils repeat the words OF
the book over and over until they shall
have committed them to memory.-New
York Journal.