The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-11-15
Dr. KERR REPLIES TO THE TINES.

Editor of The Times;
Sill have just read your interesting
editorial in to-day's Times on THE Bible
as Textbook, and beg leave to say
a few words in reply to your contention
that the Bible ought not TO be taught IN
the public schools on the ground that 1t
could not be done; in an unsectarian way.
In the first place. YOU agree with ME
that The Bible contains the only code
of morals" that is worth considering.
Now, if the public schools are for li,c
purpose of making good citizens, llo.v
can theys accomplish this object unless
tho children are taught morals as we'll
as mathematics? No one will contend
that teaching boy arithmetic will make
him a. better boy; it will make him
smarter. but neither better nor worse
as to his morals II education is incnai-
piete without moral development, and The
Bible is the only code of morals how
can You teach morals without teaching
the Bible? It cannot be done. Now. who
must, teach the youth lnorals2 say all
Who assume to educate him, because You
cannot educate him right unless you de-
Tclop his moral faculties. 1 aver that
it is q hazardous experiment to try to
make the millions of youth in this coun-
try good citizens without moral edyca-
ton Is it going to improve the charac-
ter CT the white and coiored youth TO
teach him arithmetic. geography. ETC.?
Will this pureejr mental development i'm
prove his morals?
Let us distinguish between teaching
morals and teaching religion. Religion
can hardly be taught except in a Ssctl-
lian way, in any practicable manner uG-
DER existing conditions, but morals can
be taught without any sectarian effect
whatever It is not sectarian to teach
Thou shalt not steal, kill. commit adul-
terry, or bear false witness" 1t is not
secsarian to teach Thou shalt do unto
others as thou wouldest that they should
do TO YOU: nor Fear God and keep His
commandments. FOR this is the whole duty
: OF man. .
What I desire is not that the Bible be
explained to the children: this would af-
ford an opportunity to the teacher to
seek sectarian results by intoxicating his
own views Of doctrine; but this could
be done: have the children ,nemorize Ger
tain passages from the Scriptures AID
give them no exposition of these pas
sages. Put into their hearts the great
precepts of God. and leave them there.
Ths Bible IS not SO much a book as it
is collection of books bound up in one
great volume; 1t is a library. Now, no
child can be expected to learn it all--nof
any adult. for that matter. l would say
select such passages as would be most
by heart. This can be done, and is done
in the schools OF the province OF Ontario,
Canada.
Furthermore. expressly declared in
my address which called forth your edi-
toTtai. that the moral part of the teach
Ing in school should not be compulsory.
and that any child ought to be exempted
therefrom on. the written request of par
cnts or guardians This is the case in
the Canadian schools; but in point Of fact
very few parents make any such request.
am informed that in one OF the largest
Canadian cities only seven parents have
asked that their children be excused from
Bible study.
The way to carry out This plan so that
there would ba no friction and no one. S
priderwounded would be TO have the a:-
BILE recitation during either the first half
hour or the last haif-hour of the school
day, or lie you please. for one ho,r ut
: the end of the last school day OF tl,e
week. Probably the latter would be saf-
ncicnt, and the children whose parents
!; objected To their studying the Bible
would be allowed to 80 home. You might
hare Cid Testament passages selected
I for the first half OF the school term and
passages fram the New Testament for