The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-11-11
IT is NOT JUST.
Topeka Preacher Opposes Bible
in School Movement.
Says 1t is Not Fair to the Cath
Olics.
BE A STEP BACKWARD.
Would Indicate Return OF
Church and State Union.
Thinks There Are Better Ways
of Learning Bible.
BE A STEP BACKWARD.

II am very much opposed to the read
ing of the Bible by requirement in the
public schools and other institutions of
learning supported by the state said
Rev. Abram Wyman, pastor of the First
Unitarian church. during the course of
the sermon at the morning service
Sunday
why am I opposed to the plan?" he
continued. Because the reading of the
Bible even without comment is sec
tartan exercise. 1t is the Protestant BIZ
BILE that is read. The members of the
Catholic church receive another YER
sion than the one used by the Protest
ants. The Catholics would object to
the public schools more if the King
James version or the revised version
now used were read. than if the Bible
were not read at all. 1t would be an
injustice to a large portion of citizens
who are taxed to support our school
system. and especially to our Catholic
friends.
ct might be said that the two YER
sions are so nearly alike that the Cath
olics ought not to object. But turn
the situation about Suppose we Pro-
testants a minority in this country,
and the Catholics largely in the ma
jority as the Protesants are. Suppose
that they required that Christian scrip
lures be read in our schools in their
version. / think the opposition pro-
voked would a. once remind us of the
origin of the name in Luther's day,
protestant
Further / am opposed for the reason
that the adoption of the plan is a step
towards undoing one of the fundamen-
tai principles of our government, the
separa ton of the church and the state.
To order the Bible to be read in public
schools would be a step towards the
union of the church and state and even
of the domination of the state by the
church. And it is all the more danger
Gus because apparently 1t is so little
and simple a thing. 1t is an attempt to
coerce unduly private individuals in the
matter of religion. 1 believe that this
principle of the entire separation of the
church and state is so dear to the hearts
of our people, and so deeply in accord
with their best intelligence; and that
they are so convinced that in the end it
is better for the church that it be I'M
connected with the church; that the in
terests of Christianity are best served
SO and believe in it so thoroughly, that
any attempt anywhere to make the
Bible read by requirement in our pub
lie schools will be defeated.
81 confidently expect that the board Of
education in this city will not pass any
regulation requiring that the Bible be
read in the schools Of the city, but as
heretofore will leave the matter to the
teachers to decide each for himself.
Superintendent DavidsonS action
and attitude in the matter. I gather
it from the reports in the papers of
his talk before the Ministerial Union
last Monday, seems to me eminently
sane and wise.
1.-The action of a school board or of a
superintendent in no case go beyond
recommending the reading of the Bible
in the schools. 1t can we'll be left TO
the intelligence of the teacher what to
read as best fitted to impart moral ed
ucation. Perhaps it might be necessary
to require that comments should not be
made. At any rate they should not be.
Ignorance of the Bible exists; and it
is too bad. But what are the remedies?
The answer is to have the churches,
and in particular the parents, do their
duty in the matter.
1--WE need to make Sunday schools
more efficient, and this is a hard task
under the conditions that exist But 1t
can be done.
so I say again, parents should re-
alize and fulfill their duties on the SUBJ