The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-02-14
BIBLE IN THE SCHOOLS.
DR.. Mcneil Takes Strong Ground
Against Excluding It.

Is
In the last meeting Of, tho Ministerial
Union, Rev. Paul l.. Mcneil, d. D., read
a short paper concerning this much ven
tilatcd question, OF which THO follow
Ing Is an extract: N. ii &.{5
KS It is perfectly clearito my mind that;
to exclude tho Bible from our schoola
would BIO indcscrlba bly, detrimental to the
true educational principles which ought
to be kept up II we do not want to raise
a nation OF atheists and OF morally un-
scrupulous men or women. No morality
without a true religious foundation. But
this has already been better Demon
srtated than over would be able to-
do l, therefore, desire to call your ntten-i
ton Ito one special side OF the question
which has not been SO much discussed. i
believe It 10 be an indisputable factj
that our children grow up In an alarming
Ignorance not only OF religion generally,
but also OF everything which belongs to-
the sacred history OF the people OF Cod
Some few homes may be excepted. But
very, very few OF our. children know
anything of tho great men OF the ND
Testament and OF tho beautiful stories
contained in that dear old. books This is
deeply to be regretted for two reasons:,
Firstly, because these stories ought to be,
known by and familiar 10 every well
educated man or woman ns belonging to-
the elementary foundations OF our ciylll-
cation; secondly, because they also give
us the most useful and most striking IL
Illustrations Of what we consider our moral
duties. You teach a child what is obe-i
dicnce y is there any better Illustration 81
this duty than In Abraham's wlllingE css
to sacrifice his only son :? or to leave his
X n 0ys.
ing to what place God would guide him?.
UnsclfIshness: tell the children about
Abrahar1's parting with Lot when the
venerable patriarch left It to HIS younger,
nephew to make his choice. Chastity: the
example OF Joseph's temptation by Potl-
phar's wife, or fDavid's punishment and
repentance after his great sin with Beth
sheba. ETC.. etc. would not like any
children to grow up without having been
nourished with the examples given by
Noah, Moses. Joshua, Samuel, Saul,
David Solomon. Elijah Daniel and
others.
Now i do not see how 1t could inter-
fere with the principles OF rellgious Aiber-
ty IL that part Of the Bible which is
the common ground, on which all Chris
tlan as we'll as Hebrew children ought
to feel at home were taught at school,
condensed into a short and comprchen-
siye text book. This Is, undoubtedly. the
very best way to teach morality; to lay
before the eyes and the minds OF our
children the beautiful stories of the lives
OF these men with all their virtues and
l. their shortcomings
But Let mo go step farther, I earnest
| ~ believe that reading and learning py
heart Of such parts OF the Old Testament
as. for Instance, the Ten Commandments
selections from Isaiah and other books,
but quite especially the Psalms, Would
proye of very great benefit to our chill
! dren. or course, I would not leave II
| to any special denominations to make the
selection: our school authorities would
have to mako IT. and am sure they
would find ample material to do 1t salts,
factory to the parents Of all our children,
to whatever creed or denomination they
might belong. ~,
a q for ono. would be perfectly willing
and exceedingly thankful TO have my
| children instructed in all these things az
| school by any conscientious teacher.
Christian or Hebrew, even II had to ne
cent the condition OF eaylng the whole
New Testament to be taught at homo.
sunday school and church. Tho Old Tes-
tament lis the foundation OF the New
| Testament. 1t was tho foundation OF the
educatio Of Jesus, 4 our Master and Lord.
let then our children learn the law at
school. and the Gospel at home.' But Tor
Gods sake let us not deprive thcm OF the
great benefits to be derived from the tho
rough acquaintance with mt least that
mart OF our Holy Book which Is eiunlly
dear and equally sacred to all the classes
of our population. 73