The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-12-03
STARTS A BUZZ.
School Board Discusses Use of
Bible in Schools.
Exciting Discussion Precipi-
tated by Resolution.
ONE WORD THE CAUSE.
"Obligat0ry" Finally Stricken
Out and All Is Well.
Manual Training School Again
Up For Consideration.
ONE WORD THE CAUSE.

The meeting of the board of educa-
ton last night was divided between
discussing the adoption of a rule MAX
ing the reading of the Bible compulsory
in the schools, the preliminary discus
sion of the best means of relieving the
crowded condition Tof the high school
and discussing the ownership of piece
of lead Dipe.
The board finally decided that the
Bible should be read at the opening of
the schools each day and that some
steps should be taken with view to
erecting a manual training high school
to relieve the present school but the
question of ownership of the section of
lead pipe could not be SO easily set
tied.
Edward Wilder and Abe F'ulford were
discussing the lead pipe proposition
when DIR. j. D. Mcfarland appeared as
the representative of the Ministerial
Union. The lead pipe and its defective
title was side-tracked for the time be-
ing. DIR. Mcfarland read the lengthy
resolution passed by the Ministerial
Union. making the reading from the
Bible end the reciting of the Lord
prayer at the opening session of school
each day compulsory. The petition was
quite long and recommended the use of
an abridged version of the Bible.
81 move its adoption" said Mr.. Will
der.
II second the notion said Rev. J. E.
Mallory
II move the word obligatory be
stricken out said G.. W. Matthews.
II don't think we should decide this
question at once" said A. A. Rodgers.
LAS l understand it, this petition does
not say obliga tory" said Mr.. Wilder.
This petition provides for the use
of a story of the Bible, which relieves
the teacher from making the selection,
said DIR. Mcfarland.
II am in favor of the notion" said
DIR. Embree. II will tell you why.
Even supposing it makes it obligatory,
I wouldn't want the Bible read indis-
criminately. / think some of it unfit
to be read by anyone. say this with
all due respect. These books recon-
mended by the Ministerial union guard
against the reading of what some
teacher might thoughtlessly have read.
If it is made obligatory I shall vote for
it,
ct think we are servants of all the
people, said Mr.. Matthews, land for
that reason I think we should only rec
ommend and not make this obligatory.
I don't believe we should adopt any res
olutiOn"
This brought Mr.. Wilder to his feet.
This seems remarkable to me. We
don't fail to make it obligatory to use
any text-b book in the schools. Have we
reached the point where we have to
balk at the Bible? 1t seems we are not
is for the good of the children. 1t seems
that if any people take exceptions to
the Bible they are people we should
teach it to-
Amen said DR.. Embree.
1.-The Bible can be thrown aside by
atheists continued Mr. Wilder. THAT
is what the anarchists do. If the Bible
were read more we would have fewer
murders. If we can cause children to
grow up with reverence for the Bible
we can do nothing BETTER
MIR. Wilder's remarks are all right
as far as they co. said Mr.. Matthews
Il want it understood that what I say
is against the word obligatory. I think
it all right to recommend. We well
know that the question of religion and
the Bible is far-reaching. There are
people who will misunderstood our ac-
lions. so 1 think the word obligatory
should be stricken out"
What we want is an obligat tory read
ing from the Bible and repeat ting of the
Lords Prayer" said DR.. Mcfarland.
1--WE thought that would relieve the
teacher. If the teacher can say that
lieve the individual teacher, but the
burden will fall on him if you only rec
ommend."
You would prefer to place the re-
sponsibility with the board instead of
the teachers2" asked Mr. Rodgers.
YES" replied DR.. Mcfarland.
Il intend my motion to mean that it
shall be obligatory to open schools with
ing of the Lords prayer" said Mr.
Wilder. II move that we adopt the
recommendation of the Ministerial
Union and that the public schools be
opened with reading from the Bible and
the use of the Lords prayer and that
the matter of detail be left for further
consideration. I think there is enough
in the four gospels for our schools to
use for years without using the rest
of the Bible. 1t is certainly as harm
less and unobjectionable as anything
could be- No one can charge US with
sectarianism. I object to the word
Christian as I think there are good
Christians who never went to church
and who never read the Bible. Rather
call them good people"
II think the only harm is making it
obligatory" said Mr.. Matthews.
Seems strange that we have no hest
fancy in making the use of certain text
out of school who do not come UP to
the mark said DIR. Embree.
II understand that Mr.. Wilder's mo-
ton leaves open the question of what
part of the Bible shall be read" said
Mr.. Mallory.
Il move that we defer action on the
motion month";" said Mr.. Matthews.
Il second the notion" said Mr. Rod
'.Who is going to decide if we make
this optional?" asked Mr. Wilder. Shall
the teacher canvass the wishes of the
scholars. Making it optional is ride
ulous- We can not conduct the schools
on the basis of optional
Il am told by Superintendent David
son that nearly every school is opened
now by reading from the Bible and the
use of the Lords prayer" said Mr..
Rodgers. THE only objection 1 can see
is hasty action. We have no right to
force our opinions over those of other
people There are people who attend
our schools who think differently than
we do. This question has raised a diff
ference of opinion among US here but
we all think the same"
IF nothing had been said about this
all would have gone on. smoothly and
the reading from the Bible and the use
of the Lords prayer would have gone
on in the schools but this has come be-
fore US and a motion to defer month
will give out the i'm preston that we do
not care to look after the moral welfare
IL - ~