The National tribune., 1902-07-24
THE BIBLE IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THE BIBLE IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
At its recent session in Minneapolis the
National Educational Association passed
resolutions lamentinG the unfamiliarity OF
the present generation with the Bible. and
expressing a wish and hope that public
sentiment would turn in the direction OF
admitting its being read and studied in the
public schools, not as a theological text
book. but as Il model of the English Ian
guage. 1t pronounces it masterpiece OF
literature"
it is certainly lamentable that the study
OF the Bible has fallen into its present de,
cav. The worst infidel cannot dispute
that the earnest attention to the Scrip,
lures given by our race for centuries
helped amazingly to build up not merely
a strong. virile language. which has be-
come the worlds greatest and richest
tongue, but an exceedingly robust and as,
sertive morality. The Nations which stud
led the Bible most intensely and persist
entity have been the Dutch, Germans
Scandinayians. British and Americans
The undeniable result of this was to de-
yelop n strong, unequivocal moral sense.
vastly higher than that of the peoples who
did not study the Bible so strenuously.
and model their characters upon its teach
inss The German, Dutchman, Scandi-
nayian Briton or American is naturally
and inherently a more honest man than
one of Latin blood. and this cannot fail
to be attributed to the effect Of the Bible
IL coloring his character. The English.
Scotch and Americans studied the Bible
more earnestly than the other nations. Ii
became the very foundation stone of their
intellectual edifice and foreigners re-
marked with surprise that the English
speaking agnostics, like Huxley, Tyndail,
etc. used the language Of the Bible in at
lacking it. They did this because it was
the very fountain-head of the strongest,
purest and most forceful expression. The
orators and writers who have been nodded
by the study of the Bible have been the
very greatest the world has ever seen, just
as the men who have formed their morals
upon the true Biblical precepts have
given the ethics of the world an unpre-
cedented elevation. The fruits Of Scrip
tural study are an overwhelming reply to
all the sneers against the Bible.
1t is infinitely lamentable that so much
of this great force for good has been lost
to the world. There is no textbook of
morals before the rising generation which
can begin to take the place that the Bible
had in the minds of their fathers and
grandfathers There is no textbook of
literature that will so equip them for the
battle of life as the Bible did their fore
fathers.
1t was a great mistake to eliminate the
Bible from the public schools Most we'll
meaning people were drawn to consenting
to this in the hopes of bringing in the
children of Roman Catholics, but it failed
at once in securing this, for the prelates
generally replied by making their ban
against the public schools stronger than
ever. They said that goddess was even
worse than hereto"
The Jews, with more confidence in the
strength of their religious teachings, had
never hesitated to send their children to
the public schools.
They had sufficient largeness of percep-
ton to understand the immense advan-
tages of public schools for their children,
and that though the New Testament
might contain something repugnant to
them, it taught the most elevated morality
known. and that they could themselves ap-
ply the antidote to any teachings of which
they disapproved.
The expulsion of the Bible from the
schools however. was only a small part
of the decline in the influence of the Book
lncomparably worse was the influence of
that class of shallow opinionates who
made their attack under the guise of
higher criticism" The main object of this
was to show off their learning and acumen
rather than to arrive at great truths They
placed much more stress upon the gram
matte construction of phrase, and the
lack of correspondence between Biblical
concentrations and ascertained historical
and scientific facts than they did upon
the great and absolute truths which the
Book teaches as no other does or can.
Higher criticism is now seen to be a
mere temporary scholastic fad, and has
grown quite tiresome. Its influence is
diminishing even more rapidly than il
grew. The best thinkers are turning again
to the Bible as an Incompatible textbook
of Wisdom, which, more than any other
Aho"H' VIII iicuiy repay all tne STUDY auu
thought that can be given it
The recommendation of the National
Educational Association is entirely too
faint and academic. The Bible should be
restored to its place in our educational
system, not merely as "a masterpiece OF
literature" to be studied on the same
plane with Shakspere and Milton, but as
an authoritative source Of moral teachings
The plea that it is Theological text
book is and always was irritatingly falst
and feeble. 1t no more teaches Protest
antism than it teaches Methodism, OF
Presbyterianism. No man or child i.
made the less of a Catholic, Episcopalian
Presbyterian, or whatever he may be by
hearing chapter OF the Bible read ant
explained every day. He is not mad,
even less Of Jew. But he cannot hell
being made better man and American
citizen.
AGAIN an awful cyclone Of ill-tempe
among the South Carolina fre-eaters, an
mot thimble-full Of blood spilled. Es
Gov. John Gary Evans and Representativ
-Asbury c. Latimer, who are candidates 70
Senator, had collision" in Colleto
County, in which both We're white wit
rage -livid and nearly speechess," grit
ted their teeth" and tried to draw II