The Oskaloosa herald., 1903-12-03
BIBLE IN EDUCATION.
Leading Subject Discussed by Con-
ference of Citizens.

most of Wednesday afternoon U on
interesting discussion on the Bible IN
schools and in education in general.
prof. S. j. Finley superintendent OF
oskaloosa schools, opened the meet
ing with the reading of the 1stn
Psalm.
Rev. Van Westenberg, Rev. JACK,
Rev. Wylie, Rev. Somerville, offered
prayers.
Raw. Hugh Jack, d. d., Of Des
Moines. was substituted for Rev. z.
H. johnson, of Ottumwa, and talked
on Place and Value of the Bible In
Education.
He said in part: Education is the
training of the whole man, complete
self-control. The great fault OF our
public school system, and colleges
and universities is too little contact
with the Bible. If you want to deVel-
Cd a fine sense of honor, teach him
the Book when child. Then last
ing impression will be made. Teach
ers are the most important factor in
the community. The child holds the
future" He spoke or the excellent
literature and beautiful construction
of the Bible, and urged the placing OF
the Bible in the high schools. Il
would as soon send my boy to a
Mahommedan college as to send him
to a school where there is no Bible
and no God" He spoke strongly
concerning the non-use of the Bible
at the State university. I'm the
west the Christian colleges are few
and feeble but in the east they are
larger and there are more Of them.
In our school work there should be
religious oversight and control"
Rev. Jack is a forceful and fluent
speaker; in fact, an orator, and was
thoroughly enjoyed by his audience.
Supt. Finley Question IF there
is objection to the use of the Bible
in public schools, what shall the
teachers do about it?'
Rev. Jack answered by saying that
all the teachers can do is to submit,
as the laws give the ruling to the ma
jority.
Christianity in Relation to Higher
Education-Rev. B. H. Kroege, Vice,
President Lenox College, Hophnton
This was one of the numbers on
the afternoon program, and at this
point Rev. Kroege arrived at the
church and, without having had any
dinner, addressed the audience. He
is an energetic speaker and said in
part: This is an intellectual age
The culture of the brain is the deyel
opment of man. Education alone
does not fit a man to live. Keen in
teIlectusl culture can not only make
a good man, but an excellent crimi
nal. We need more heart culture
Religion can not be taught, but is
impaired, and much depends on the
teacher. First choose the Christian
teacher and then surround the child
with other Christian influences in his
early life, If you would have him a
Christian man. First a man was
measured by his physical develop
ment, then the world used the brain
as its standard Of measurement, then
the heart, the soul, was the standard
The time is now at hand when the
world demands a man of all round de
velopment, the body, brain and soul
Character building is the education
needed to-day"
The Religious Element Insepara
bic from Education-Rsy. F. A. Gar
rison, President Of Iowa Central Col
lege, Pella, Iowa, was not given, as
the gentleman did not arrive during
the afternoon.
Rev. DR.. Wylie regretted that The
Day Of Prayer for Public Schools
Rev. W. ]. Van Kerson, Second Re
formed Church, Pella, could not be
presented, as the gentleman was not
present, and stated that The National
Reform Association are anxious to
enlist all the ministers in the United
States in the Christian education OF
the school children. A plea is being
made for a Day of prayer for the pub
lie schools. September 1st is the day
suggested.
The Present Situation in the Unit
ed States-General Discussion.
Supt. Finley read a part of ouI
Public School Manual, explaining
pTecepts and examples and that part
fngtructing the teachers to read the
Bible each morning and follow this
by singing. In the OskaIoosa schools
even in the teaching of the common
branches, there is a constant effort
to iropart proper moral training.
Prof Wiley, Of the Washington
schools, being present was called on
and said that az far ag he knew the
Bible had been and was read in the
public schools each morning, or the
Lords Prayer Is repeated. From
the families who do not have religious
training In the home come the trou-
bic, which Christian education in the
schools can net overcome"
Interesting and instructive taIks
were made by Rev. j. w. Din, OF ella.
rinda, Rev. J. A. Black and Rev wy.
man.
Rev. Wylie was asked how many
states in the Union had excluded the
Bible from the public schools. He
said: ''The states themselves do not