The Washington times., 1905-03-18
WOULD REVISE THE COMMANDMENTS.

To the Editor o. The washington Times:
II the Ten Commandments IRE to be
taught IT, the public schools. should they
not be frs. revised to suit the higher
criticism?
The first Comma ndment is a dogma
tiSm and mo-: a Commandment, and is
certainly sectarian in conception You
will haze to prove a lot of details in
order 10 sustain tt. II ruay appeal to
pious Jews. but no Christian cares nyho
brought tzlc children of Israel out or
Egypt; In Sfact. many good Christians
wish that they hadn't gotten out. Ask
the deyout Russians.
The second Is by universal consent
ignored, because ligenesses OF things
on earth and In heaven ere made ali
the time and some are e,tsn bowed
down to-, and served by good believers
In every Christian church.
The third rs obscure and together with
the ninth was meant TO cover perjury.
but the civil law permits affirmation in
stead of the oath, and the Importance
OF tha Commandment is therefore
shrouded In doubt; and moreover 1t IS
notorious that perjury goes practically
unpublished in this country.
The fourth is defective, inasmuch as
1t does not state out Of what the Lord
made the world. I was taught 'out of
l-nothing," bat my preceptor probably
meant tout of next TO ncthing." And
who made that?
The fifth. sixth, seventh. eighth. and
ninth are 10 the point, although when
Moses proclaimed the seventh he lived
In polygamy.
The tenth is abstract and asks the
impossible, particularly of children. II
strictly observed, 1t would stifie anbi-
ton, because the desire to have what
others have, or the like. is at the bot
tom of nine-teflths Of the successes IN
lifc
On the other hand, some Command
ments. strangely omitted In the Deca-
logue, might well be substituted for the
doubtful ones, to wit: Thou shalt not lie,
thou shalt not cheat. thou shalt rot be
| a hyDocrfte, and finally. thou shalt be
charitable in judging other people
The japanese get along farnously with
out either the Bible or the Ten Com
mandrs1ents. They have much less re-
ligiOn than We have, but also less graft
less saving OF souls, but more saving Of
lives, less reverence for occult dogmas
but more for old age; and they are toll
Grant enough to leave to Russian pris-
oners their sacred ikoDs, who deserted
them and their holy Christian cause.
much patriotism as we, are most chastss
in art. most delicate in estnetics. and
| their country is justly named THE Chill
drens Paradise" They live the simple
! life IN all its glamour and fascination Is
not this ample proof that for bringing
forth a fine type of civilization neither
a Christian training. The Bible, nor
the Ten Commandments are required?
I do not say that there Is not much
af the spiritual In these writings which
might profitably be taught In the
setioois, but as a whole they are con-
fusing, fill the mind with doubts and
are far from being the unnixed bless
I ings which their advocates would make
Us believe Public schools are for the
purpose of making the children think
I logically, and if the school board. In its
currieuluns, put that which is open 10
rational criticism, they will be betray-
/ ing their important trust as officials of
| the people.
Revise the Ten Commandments, take
out OF them what is superfiuous, ana
add " hat Is necessary fer producing g
more complete code Of morals and then.
the laws permitting. you might place
/ tnen1 before the school children st large.
f. BERLINER
I Washington D. c. March H.