The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-11-04
PLEA FOR BIBLE.
Topeka Ministers Tell Why 1t
Should Be in Schools.
Canon Bywater Reads an Inter-
esting Paper.
MR.DAVIDSON REPORTS
Says There Has Been No Rule
With Reference to Use.
Rev. C. nj. Sheldon Thinks Too
Many Pagan Books Are Used.

At the regular meeting of the Topeka
Ministerial union this morning the lead
ing subject considered was that regard
ing the reading of the Bible in the pub
lie schools. The paper of the session was
on 1.-The Bible in the Public Schools"
and was read by the Reverend Canon
Bywater, who gave Henry Boies'
Science of Penology as authority. The
paper showed careful thought. He said
in part:
1T is not generally known, but it is
a fact CLEANED from personal interviews
with Prof. Davidson and many of the
teachers that the Bible is read at the
opening exercises at the schools by 60
per cent of the teaching force.
AT times teachers read from some
other book at the opening exercises 1
am pleased to say further that Prof.
Davidson has suggested for those
teachers who do not feel themselves
sufficiently learned in Bible work to
take it up without sufficient preparation,
list of five other books in the nature of
selection for schools and Bible stories
in the language and style of the author
lied revised version. Yet it should be
distinctly understood that this is only a
suggestion of the present Superintend-
ent and is not issued as an order, and
that the teachers are at liberty to follow
their own plans at the opening eXer-
cises. In the absence of any instruction
from the school board this is all that can
be expected at present; but hope that
the school board will see fit to direct
that the Bible be used in opening exer-
ciseS by all teachers in all the rooms of
the city schools, and l earnestly trust
that the plan may prove sporadic and
not simply local and that with this city
as an example it will spread throughout
this state and beyond its borders.
Let US give it to children in the
public schools. The children in the
schools today will be the citizens of the
state tomorrow. The degree of its public
morality is the only correct gauge of the
progress of a people in civilization
Literature, science, Inventions art,
wealth have brought in the past and will
still bring temporary distinction and
1.-The great nations and states of the
past all persisted of the disease of inn
morality. If the morals of children are
made healthy and sound then all else is
safe. Nature Will preserve physical
health, strength and numbers Moral
training must be made the predominant
ing purpose. All instruction should be
so designed as to develop and mold the
spiritual nature of the children in
preference to the intellectual The good
moral character consists of a correct
discrimination between right and wrong,
the power of Self-contrOl and a prefer
ence of right action as against wrong in
every temptation. These are the means
by which moral training is to be effect
ed. There can be wholesome moral
training of children which ignores God,
CT omits religious instruction.
Those parts of the Bible con-
corning which there is no dispute,
simple form of daily prayer and some
of the well known hymns of praise can
be so arranged that they may be pre-
scribed as a part of the regular daily
schools to effectively safe guard the
state and the people against the
gangrene of immortality or anarchy
After the reading of the paper the
Il owl +1r-1r <rla
Hal F. Smith, reported a recommends
ton that the union take steps looking
toward the introduction of the reading
of scriptural selections as a part of
the regular exercises of the public
schools, and that the union proceed to
make such selections as they shall
agree upon as suitable for that pur-
pose" This report was received after
long elaboration. In the interim the
ministers listened to talk from Super
intendent w. NJ. Davidson, of the city
schools.
Superintendent Davidson said that
he did not desire to give his personal
views or wishes concerning the reading
of the Bible in the public schools, but
that he would simply give a conserva-
tive statement of conditions as they ex-
listed. 1.-The rules of the board of edu-
cation" said he, "are silent on this sub
ject of Bible reading, with the excep-
ton that one clause states that partisan
or Sectarian doctrines shall not be
taught This in substance does not ex-
clude but rather leaves to each teacher
to suggest what might be provided for
the opening exercises. I presume that
these conditions have obtained for some
time, namely that the Bible has been
read in a way not official At no time
have felt that had the right to make
the order that the Bible be read as
a part of the opening exercises, but 1
have felt that it was safe to have the
opening exercises consist of appropriate
selections from the Bible followed by
appropriate songs and the recitation of
the Lords Prayer, all without comment
1t was not expected that there be
hour for this, but from five to ten
minutes spent in a wholesome manner
This has been usually followed. I took
occasion to investigate, and found that
it was carried out by about go per cent
of the teachers. OF those using the song