The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-10-06
Use of Bible in Public Schools
 is Decfied
GIVES VIEWS
Protest Comes From the Rev. Patrick T. Costello of Montgomery Rela- tive to Action of Superin-
 tendent at Greenville.

Catholic church in the state has ehtereo a protest against the use of the bloie and Bible reading in the public schools of the state. and makes it very plain to State Superintendent of Education H. .. Gunnells that a fight through all tne courts will be made to eliminate the prac- tice. which he says so far as Catholics are concerned, is an outrage. lie insists tbat if is not constitutional and that II has not been allowed in any ot the s'a'99 where test has been made.
 Replving Superintendent Gunnells lndl- oates that it will not be discontinued so far as orders from his office are con cerned until the courts hold that 1t must he. and he points out that the practlce is as old as the schools themselves lie saws that it is a local question with WHICH the sunerintendent has nothing to do anu exists without orders or instruction lroih bie office "This custom has grown up with the public school system, says MI Gunnells and it seems has actually pe- come part of 1t. It is almost uiii, versal custom except in those cities ana touns where there is considerable non Protestant population, to open school Wieh Rible exercises of some kind
 The trouble seems to have grown out of a difference of opinion at GreenVllle, where in the schools there is side course of reading that takes in some or the Bible. Pupils, 1t Is said, have been pun ished for failure to prepare taese courses and as a result the Catholics nave re- belled It is held by them that ths IS not only wrong but unlawful, and that it makes the public schools in a very tinOaI school. The protest on the part of the Catholic church Is made by the Rev. Father Pat rick T. Costello, assistant to the pastor of St. Peter's church in Montgomery, who also serves some of the smaller churches of the section. He tells MT Gunnells that he hopes that he will force the issue is 'it will cost the state a useless eXpendl- ture." Also that the American public school, like the American constitution, must know no religion
 The correspondence follows:
 Montgomery, Ala, September 20, 1907. "Hon. II. c. Gunnells, Superintendent of
 Education.
 My Dear Sir:--In the public school of Greenville Ala, the work of the day is begun by prayer, hymn singing Bible reading etc. Certain Catholic pupils have been punished (with others, no doubb, for not preparing their Bible work, etc. Of course as far as Catholics are con cerned, this Is an outrage. But is it not unconstitutional as well as contrary to all state laws regulating public schools, to have any kind of religious reading, prayer, hymn singing or discussion, in any slate school whether elementary, high, or collegiate? It is. indeed. uncon- stitutional therefore, we protest most vigorously, not so much as Catholics (for Jews, Free Thinkers, etc, would also protesD, but as American citizens, against a continuance of this abuse in our public schools.
 q have already lodged serious pro- test with Prof. P. w. Hodges, superin- tendent of the Greenville school But we are not content or disposed to let tho. mat ter rest there. Professor Hodges declares that he knows of no law forbidding such Bible reading, etc., and admits that such reading is common to all the public schools in Alabama. Of course, the pro- lessor Is In error. here because no re- lgious reading of any kind is conducted in some of our state schools Still, out side of the larger cities, know the abuse Is quite common; we might say the rule rather than the exception.
 ''Now in protesting against this intro duction of religion into the state schools, you will understand, Mir. Gunnels, that we are not opposing religious training or Bible reading On the contrary we think that religious education is of vaster importance than secular education; but the state schools are no place for more than mere secular instruction. Denomina- tional schools. the Sunday school and the home are the places where religious n- structlons, reading, hymn singing, etc, are properly conducted. From the mere introduction of the Bible reading into state schools, these schools become de- nomlnatlonal from the Catholic and Jew ish standpoint, and in fact are denomina- tional schools. Therefore. you see that we are reasonable and Just in our protest against a condition of affairs utterly at variance with the letter and spirit of our constitution.
 This abuse of American liberty, of con- science does not exist in all states but a few only. Some states have resisted protests like this, and have forced the issue in the courts. only to be defeated m every case, on constitutional grounds. The superior courts of the law have upheld our position, therefore, because 1t is ap- solutely right.
 Professor Hodges of Greenville insisted that he could not Cor would not) discon- tinue these objectionable practices until the question of their lawfulness had been settled in the courts. I hope that you will not push the issue that far, as 1t
 
 ture. A study of legal contests would convince you that no state has any chance to win on such a question: American schools, like the American constitution must know no religion.
 kindly do me the favor to take im- mediate action. way or another m this matter, and l will appreciate the honor of a reply to this letter of protest. Believe me, sir, with esteem, yours most sincerely.
 REV PATRICK T. COsTELLo.'
 Gunnells' Reply. Montgomery Ala, Oct 4, 1907. "Rev. Patrick T. Costello, Montgom- cry, Ala.
 My Dear Sir-I beg to acknowledge your letter of September 25, in which. for the Catholics of the state. you make protest against the reading of the Bible, singing of hymns, etc, in the public schools.
 q am informed that the question as to whether 1t is unconstitutional to have Bible reading and hymn singing in the public schools of this state has not been adjudicated by the Alabama courts.
 "rhe custom of reading the Bible in the public schools of Alabama and especially in the rural schools, is, understand. as old as the public school system This custom has grown up with the public school system and it seems has actually become a part of it. It is almost universal custom in our public schools, except in those cities and towns where there is con