The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-09-08

dences explained, and its glorious prin-
ciples of morality inculcated?
What is there to prevent a work,
not sectarian, upon the general evil
dences of Christianity. from being read
and taught in the college by lay teach
ers? Certainly there is nothing in the
will that proscribes such studies.
Above all, the testator positively en-
joins, That all the instructors and
teachers in the college shall take pains
to instill into the minds of the scholars
the purest principles of morality, so
that on their entrance into active life
they may from inclination and habit
evince benevolence towards their fell
low-creatures, and a love of truth, So
briefly and industry, adopting at the
same time such religious tenets as their
matured reason may enable them to
prefer
Now, it may we'll be asked, what
is there in all this inconsistent with
the spirit or truths of Christianity?
Are not these truths all taught by
Christianity, although it teaches much
more? Where can the purest princi-
pies of morality be learned so clearly
or so perfectly as from the New Tes-
lament? Where are benevolence, the
love of truth, sobriety and industry
so powerfully and irresistibly incul-
Gated as in the sacred volume?"
The principle underlying these words
of so great a jurist as Justice Story,
is applicable to our public schools.
Apart from religious instruction it
must be admitted that sound morality
is one Of the foundations of good char
acter. An education which does not
involve the inculcation of moral prin-
ciples is incomplete. And why cannot
the common precepts of morality be
taught by the reading of the Bible
better than in any other way?
1t is instructive in this connection
to examine the opinion in the Wis
consin case, III Wis, 213. Although
against the reading of the Bible in the
public schools the judge who writes
the opinion admits the position we
have taken, in these words: 1T should
be observed, in this connection, that
the above views do not, as counsel
seemed to think they may, Danish from
the district schools such text books as
are founded upon the fundamental
teachings of the Bible. or which con-
tain extracts therefrom. Such teach
ingS and extracts pervade and orna-
ment our secular literature. and are
important elements in its value and
usefulness
such text books are in the schools
for secular instruction, and rightly so:
and the constitutional prohibition of
sectarian instruction does not include
thtlii' even liloubli tHty may toHldlil
passages from which some differences
of sectarian doctrine might possibly
be drawn. Furthermore, there is much
in the Bible which cannot justly be
characterized as sectarian. There can
be no valid objection to the use of such
matter in the secular instruction of
the pupils. Much of it has great his
torical and literary value, which may
be thus utilized without violating the
constitutional prohibition. 1t may also
be used to inculcate good mOrals-that
is, our duties to each other-which
may and ought to be inculcated by
the district schools. No more complete
code of morals exists than is con-
tanned in the New Testament, which
reaffirms and emphasizes the moral
obligations laid down in the command
ments. Concerning the fundamental
principles of moral ethics, the religious
sects do not disagree"