The Irish standard., 1903-05-16
LEAVE PUBLIC SCHOOLS ALONE.


We learn from the Dumont Journal
that the Sunday school convention Of
Traverse county recently adopted the
following resolutions:
believing that the Bible is the book
of highest knowledge and the best
guide to conduct and character, and
realizing that it is not read in the pub
lie schools of our country, therefore,
Re it Resolved, That the Traverse
county Sunday school convention con-
siders this exclusion of Gods word
from our schools as unwise and I'm
necessary. That those who have charge
of the educational interests of the
county be urged to secure in the said
schools a daily reading of portion of
the scriptures
We learn from the same source also
that Mayor Rustad of Wheaton. in an
address before the convention. made
a plea for the use of the Bible in the
public schools. We agree with the con-
vention and with Mayor Rustad that
a knowledge of the Bible is Of the
highest Importance, and the Traverse
county Sunday school organization
ought to be encouraged in every way,
if its object is, as we assume, to spread
a correct knowledge and understanding
Of the Bible. But we cannot agree
with their resolution which urges the
school authorities of that county to
violate the constitution of the state of
Minnesota by introducing religious
teaching in the public schools. The
great majority of the people of Mime
sofa are Christians. but unfortunately
they are divided and then again, there
are many citizens who are not Chris
tians. Section 16 Of article / of the
state constitution grants to every man
the right to worship God according to
the dictates of his own conscience and
provides that no one shall be compelled
to attend Or maintain any place or
mode of worship against his consent.
Section 3 of article VIII provides for
the support Of public schools by gener-
nj taxation and provides further that no
public monies or property shall.be ap-
propriated or used for the support of
schools wherein the distinctive doc
trines, creed. or tenets of any particu-
lar Christian or other religious sect are
promulgated or taught. We assume
that some teachers at least are Chris
tians. and assuming that, we reach the
conclusion that some teachers must
belong to one or the other of the diff
ferent religious denominations. We al
so know that there is some difference
of opinion in regard to the Bible and
that there are different editions of the
Bible. The Sunday school convention
would probably object to the Vulgate
edition being read or taught in the
public schools by sister Of Charity.
There is a large portion Of the citizen
ship of the state of Minnesota which
would object to the st. James edition
being read or taught in the public
schools by any member Of the Sunday
school convention. Good Christians
ought to be good citizens. Good citi-
Zelfs ought to be familiar with the fun
damental law of the nation and tile
state Good citizens will not openly
urge any one to violate the law Of the
land. We do not mean to say that
Mayor Rustad and the members of the
Sunday school convention may not be
good citizens. We recommend to them
first. that they take course in civil
government. it need only be an ele-
mentary course; second. that they bring