The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-11-15


tho second hal . eNisli md chrls-I
I tan children could recite toget hers sir-
si,tt the atIfSE hall. and tho Jewish st.ii-5
drcn rosiid absent themselves IT hey
wished turing the second li.tlf This; q.
/ some other plan could be adopted, alld
the thing can be done with no possible
scctarian effect. $50
Any one must see that 1t would be an.
enormous gain to the nation II all those
{ OF the next generation Of adults il1d'
memorized the history OF creation. the ne
Ten Commandments, the sd Psalm, me
Goth Psalm. the 18th chapter OF Eccle-3
siastes, which begins Remember no "
thy Creator IN the days of thy youth.
and selections from the book of Proverbs,
as well as others OF the Old Testament
books. And likewise to have them know
the list chapter Of ST. J Ohm. the: Lord 8
prayer, the Sermon on the Mount, the
18th and 18th OF First Corinthians, etc.
For the mass of the nation toslearn these
passages by heart could not fail to have
a moral ard uplifting effect. And s;tlcn
passages as refer to do not need eX-
position. A child can understand them.
and having learned them by heart IL
would have them in his mind to ponder
during his whole life. and they would be
the element of moral strength in cn;i-
science, tie iron. In the blood OF his man
hood. zs4ss
We must do something to. develop and
instruct the moral part OF the youth Of
tho nation / do not ask that the State
do anything to help t he church, any
thing sectarian. or that the State teach
religion. but I do say that ifEthe State
undertakes to educate our youth the
State must educate the heart as well as
the head. the moral as we'll as the intel
lectual part: and you agree With me that
1.-The Bible is the only code of morals.
The only cure for socialism and conse-
quent anarchy is to teach men to love
and fear God and love his neshbor as
himself. The church has the children for
an hour on Sunday morning. and not Gil
of the children for that brief time, and
they are in the schools FIVE days out II
the week four or five hours. The educat-
ing is nearly all done by the State. AND
the State is bound to educate the whole
mind, intellectual and moral, to make
good citizens. It cannot be charged that
this involves a union Of church and State
any more than when q Legislature adopts
laws against immoral conduct and intiicts
penalties for immortality. The State for
bids men to steal, commit adultery, KILL
and bear false witness, and say The
State ought to teach them to obey these
laws. AS to our Jewish fellow citizens
they are extremely courteous and con-
siderate, and we have no reason to be-
iieve that they would object to such a
plan as I propose.
ROBERT P. KERR.
Richmond, Va, Nov. 18th.
We always feel that we have performed
a public service when we succeed in draw
munication on an important public ques-
tion. We have profound respect for DR..
Kerr's opinion on any question, and es-.
pecially on a question Of public morals
and education. But we are somewhat puz-
zled at the position which he takes on.
distinguish between teaching morals and
teaching religion says our friend. Re
ligion can hardly be taught, except in a
sectarian way, in any practicable manner
under existing conditions, but morals
can be taught without any sectarian eff
feet whatever It is not sectarian to teach
Thou shalt not KILL Thou shalt not COM
NIT adultery; or Thou shalt not bear
false witness 1t is not sectarian to teach
Thou shouldest do unto others as thou
woulst they should do unto you;' nor
Fear God and keep His commandments,
for this is the whole duty of man." Far
Their on in the discussion DIR. Kerr says
that he would have the children learn
the Ten Commandments, the twelfth
chapter of Ecclesiastes, which begins Re-
member now thy Creator in the days OF
thy YOUTH the Lords prayer, the Ser
mon on the Mount, and so on.
Surely our distinguished friend does not
mean to say that these selections are not
religious The First and Second Com
mandmeIlts, for. example, are the very
foundation of religion, and the Lords
prayer is pre-eminently religious and de-
votional. The twelfth chapter of Ecclc-
siastes and the Sermon on the Mount ara
also religious, and DR.. Kerr cannot mean
that they are only moral
The Doctor seems to think it strangely
inconsistent that The Times should agree
with him that the Bible is the only code
of morals: that ne should also agree with
him that education should be of the heart
as well as of the mind. and yet be opposed
to Introducing the Bible as a textbook
in the public schools. There is nothing
inconsistent in this. We believe in heart
education. We believe in the Bible and
in Bible instruction. but we believe that
Under existing conditions such instruc-
ton must be confined to the Sunday
schools and the private schools and the
home. We feel sure that if the Bible
were introduced as a text book in the
public schools there would be not only
religious teaching, but sectarian teach
ing: and that would be a departure from
the fundamental principles of Democracy
and lead to endless confusion and COM
plications.
But, says DR.. Kerr. let us introduce in
to the schools sort of expursated Bible,
let us require the children to read and
commit to memory certain parts OF the
Bible here and there without any COM
nents or instruction from the teacher.
Wa ,.o1 not know that that would do i.nv