The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-09-08
CAN READ BIBLE
In PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Concluded from Page 81

Concluded from Page 81
63 Pa, 465, Justice Sharswood says:
1t is in entire consistency with this
sacred guarantee of the rights of con-
science and religious liberty, TO hold
that, even If Christianity Is no part
of the law of the land, it is the popular
religion of the country, an insult to
which would be indictable as directly
tending to disturb the public peace.
The laws and institutions of this state
are built on the foundation of rev err
ence for Christianity. To this extent,
at least, it must certainly be consid-
cred as well settled that the relation
revealed in the Bib'e is not 20 be CIen-
ly reviled, ridicuied or blaspnemed TO
the annoyance of sincere believers, who
compose the great mass of the good
people of the commonwealth"
There are numerous other cases along
the same line which could be cited.
However far one case may modify the
other, they all recognize the one gen.
eral underlying principle that the
laws and institutions of this state are
built on the foundation of reverence
for Christianity" other illustrations
of this principle are furnished by GUS
toms, laws and decisions relating to
other matters, such as the opening of
state legislatures and congress with
prayer, the custom, not now compuls-
ory, of swearing by the Holy Book. the
recognition of the Christian Sabbath
TO the exclusion of any other; the pro-
hibition of worldly labor on the Chris
tan sabbath; the refusal of courts to
excuse jurors and parties from at
tendance on days by them considered
sacred; the making of Good Friday a
legal holiday; the exemption of church
fpEt. H..
forms of oaths administered in courts,
and many other such instances of the
recognition of Christianity in our jur-
lsprudence which do not now occur
to us. And in a state where Chris
tianity seems to pervade it's laws,
customs and institutions, to such an
universal extent, can it be said for a
moment that the reading of the Bible
in the public schools, without COM
ment, is sectarian instruction, or that
such an act violates the rights of con-
science or is in derogation of any con-
stltutional principle? We decidedly
think not.
We do not understand how the read
ing of the Bible in the public schools
can be termed sectarian instruction.
The Bible is not a sectarian book. on
its broad foundations Christianity
ity. This proposition is recognized by
every division of Christendom through
out the whole world. 1t is not the book
OF any sect. Our attention is called
to the fact that there are two vers-
ions of the Holy Scriptures, the Douay
and the King James version, and that
they differ in many particulars. The
study of these differences is interest
ing to the theologian and the Bible
SCnOldr. nave noted
points OF difference, some minor and
some important, but they do not con-
Germ us.
The Bible in either version is SUBJ
stantially and essentially the same
book. The following definition of the
WORD sect taken from the Standard
dictionary is as good as any we have
seen: "A body of persons distinguished
py peculiarities of faith and practice
from other bodies adhering to the same
general system. Specifically, the adher-
ents collectively of a particular creed
or confession; a denomination: COM
munion; as, the Presbyterian sect;
the various sects of Jews. Moham-
medans. or Christians"
The assertion that the Bible, in eth
er version, is sectarian book, borders
on sacrilese, and this phase of the
question deserves no further consid-
Grafton at our hands.
But so far as the constitutional pro-
vision i'll Pennsylvania on this branch
or the case is concerned, it differs
materially from the provision in the
wisconsin constitution, the Wisconsin
case being practically the sole author
lty referred to by the counsel for plain
tif. Section 3, Article X, of the Wis
consln constitution is as follows:
The legislature shall provide by
law for the establishment Of district
schools' and no sectarian in
struction shall be allowed therein"
The provision in the Pennsylvania
court declares that no money shall be
appropriated to or used for the sup
port of any sectarian school. The term
Sectarlan schools" in PENNSYLVANIA,
mas definite meaning. The history
and development of the educational
system as we'll as the policy of the
state has fixed this meaning so that
there is no doubt about it, A sectar-
IAN school is a school controlled by a
particular denomination or sect
TO such school there can be no ap-
preparation of public money by the
state. And yet it is seriously argued
that the reading of the Bible without
comment at the public school in Way-
erly as part of the opening exer-
clses rs In violation of this provision
OF the court of Pennsylvania. The mere
statement of this proposition empha-
sizes its absurdity. But we do not
base our conclusion upon this conten-
tion. We go further and say that the
reading of the Bible as aforesaid would
not be sectarlan instruction under the
clause in the Wisconsin constitution.
VI.
The reading of the Bible in the pub
lie schools may also be allowed, and
even commended, from a standpoint
which does not involve the question of
sectarlan instruction nor the rights of
conscience. 1t is conceded by men of
all creeds that the Bible teaches the
highest morality. In this connection
we cannot do better than quote the
language of Justice Story i'm the cele-
brated Girard will case, Howard, u.
s., l27: why may not the Bible, and
especially the New Testament, without
note or comment, he read and taught
as divine. revelation in the college
its general precepts eXpounded, its evil