The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-03-13

That the Bible should not have place in
the public schoolroom is the opinion of the
Reverend Doctor Emil G. Hirsch Of Chi
cago. who last night delivered an interesting
which crowded the Central High School
auditorium. on Grand avenue.
The lecture was given under the auspices
of the St. Louis Society of Pedagogy.
with US, state and religion are d.
vorced." said Doctor Hirsch, ':and it would
be fatal day for this Republic on which
these TWO were reunited in unnatural we'd
lock.
''rhe argument that the introduction OF
the Bible s not In CONFIRMATION Of TINS TINS
is not difficult OF refutation." the speaker
declared. THE Bible is so closely interwov-
EN- with religion that the minds of many
who have honestly come to cherish convic-
tons that are opposed to the fundamental
teuets of religionists will take alarm when
their children are expected to read chapters
from the Bible"
The fact that these antireligionists are
taxpayers. Doctor Hirsch said, gives them
rights that cannot be ignored. and it would
be n queer comment on the spirit of those
that plead for the recognition Of moral prln-
ciples as vital to education If their means
should lead to the infraction of the rights
of the Golden Rule.
Moreover he declared. even the religion
lists themselves are not agreed as to what
parts of the biblical collection are included
In the canon. The Jews hold but one part
thereof to be canoncal. while the versions
differ that have the sanction of the
Protestant or Catholic communities. 1t is a
question whether all chapters shall be eX-
Guided which are not in the Jewish Bible.
and if so. what version shall be used, the
Vulgate or the King James.
CRITICISE PHRASEOLOGY.
1t had been suggested to have the Bible
read in the schools without comment. he
said. but it was impossible to see what good
could come Of the mere reading Of the BIZ
BILE. The educational value of such reading,
in his opinion, Is below par. Besides, the
Bible is an Oriental book: its phraseology
is strange to children, often incomprehensi-
BILE.
1.-The literature Of which the Bible is the
extract was that of a people not merely dis
tant from us by dint of the interval of time
between our day and theirs. but also on ac-
thought and mind
Ethical instruction, he said, must be a.ong
fuller lines than those opened by the mere
reading and memcrizing of Bible texts.
Without the Bible the public school may
be made 4 powerful agent of moral Gull
ever Its nearer purpose may be, may be
turned into opportunity for the inculca-
ton of vital ethical principles; the disci-
pine and amenities of the schoolroom it
self. the example of the teacher the rela-
tons OF the pupils to one another; in fact,
every incident of school life may be put into
service to develop strong and harmonious
characters, he declared.
History, the school reader, the discussion
or the lives OF great men, the sweet notes OF
the poets, pictures on the walls and other
expedients, said Doctor Hirsch, are ready to
seeds of moral beauty in the child's heart
and soul. These will be effective where the
perfunctory reading of the Bible much mis-
understood. must fail. he concluded.