The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-10-15
LATEST FAIR HAVEN NEWS
REV. DIR. .lITCHELL ON THE PUBLIC
 SCHOOLS.


 1 church last evening Rev. pr. Mitchell
 preached on the topic, "The Public ! School Absurdity." In part, he said: Tn his separation of church from state, in his ever growing cosmopoli l tanism, ever seeking to avoid the an 1 tagonism of the individual conscience | in his respect for the rights of the mi 1 nority, the American citizen has fell l himself unable to insist on the teach ! ing in public schools of g. book so va | riously regarded by the public-the | Bible. This exclusion of the Bible from 1 the public schools so far from being a 1 condition that must be accepted, is an absurdity by every standard by which education is tested. It is an absurdity by the lowest practical standard. Large
 as is the multitude who take advan- tage of the public schools to give their children a glimpse of the life of mind, the great majority are sent there to
 learn three old things, without which
 the stupidest European peasant knows
 they can't get on In this country, read ing, writing and arithmetic.
 Judged by the standard philosophical an education emitting the Bible is ab-
 surd, You are very much mistaken if you think philosophy is not a part of public school education. Children are the most instinctive and inveterate of all philosophers. They make phllosoph- ical systems of their own and live up to. them. They absorb all the uncon- scious and Irresponsible philosophy floating in the air.
 Judged by literary standard an education which leaves out the Bible is absurd and going out of it's way to be absurd. Nobody disputes that in the literature of mankind there is nothing superior to the English Bible and all immortal writers have been steeped in its styles and masters of it's methods of narration and argument.
 "A nineteenth century education which makes the words of Asamemnon
 king of men, the object of the analy- sis parsing and interpretation of the student and banishes the words of Jesus, King of kings, which studies the commentaries of Caesar and omits the epistles of Paul, is an education throw ing away the meat and making soup out of the bones and if it is doing 1t in the name of toleration, then to be con- sistent it ought for this meridian to go to bed at noon because it is night in Siberia and it is bigoted to be awake when Siberia is asleep
 So far from being toleration there is no bigotry on the face of the earth equal to the bigotry which excludes this Book of books from at least the same privilege which is accorded to all other books. If it is asked how, nevertheless it can be taught. Are we to have at the Bible hour teachers of many sects introduced into the school and the pupils allowed to go where they or their parents want them to? I reply, nonsense. Why make the subject ridiculous? Let regular teachers teach in their own rooms and teach the Book just as they teach any other book. Such portions of the Book as most readily lend themselves to popu- | lar study. And if it be said that there | is no time, there is no doubt but that | a vote of intelligent parents in this city would reveal 8 number of things | that could be we'll left out of the days | exercises whether anything were put in their place or not. But the Bibles place is not with the fads but with the 
 Henry M Butterfield, formerly of Houston street, was here Saturday wis ting his son, Marcius F. Butterfield of Welcome street. He was accompanied oy his brother, George Butterfeld of Jefferson county N. Y, who is visiting |, ot l,J1 I1 ;,,
 Miss Josie Peters, who has been vis- ting since January her sisters, Mrs. NJ. J. Barnes of Houston street and Mrs John Gridley of Brooklyn, has re- turned to Westport, N. s. She was ,alled home by the serious illness of Ter father, Captain Maurice Peters.
 Miss Etta L. Avery of East Pearl street went to New York Saturday night, where her mother is visiting a brother and sister; Miss Avery will re- urn early this week.
 Attorney William P. Niles of the ast side will be at his branch office on Cast Grand avenue every evening this month from to 9 o'clock. He will make a speciality of assisting property ,wners In making out their tax lists
 
 chool room of Miss Carrie M. Chap nan, S7 Pierpont street, Saturday, un- Ter the direction of Miss Holladay. Thirty have joined, more are to attend nd there Is prospect of forming a sec nd class.
 Mrs. F. Kranebell of 2S0 Grand ave- tue has returned from a vacation trip f three and one-half months spent at onia, Mich, where she has visited her larents. During her stay there was a amily reunion, her brothers and sisters home to celebrate the occa- ion, which was very pleasant for all. James Girken, who has been living at 576 State street, has removed to 246 Worth street, where he has opened a rocery store. MT. Girken while resid- lg in Fair Haven several years ago be- anne blind and has had hard eXperi- nee in supporting himself and family hus handicapped in life It is to be oped that as many of his friends as ossible will patronize the new store
 
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