The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-11-03
Itespcct for Ln,x.

Editor OF The Tiues- Dispatch:
sir:-foui EDITORIAL on Respect for
Law" Is very serious and deserves the
not think that Police Commissioner
OMeara has got down to the real
groundwork OF the change In boys
nature In the last thirty years. He
mas struck the keynote OF rnct--that
But neither he nor you suggest d rem
edy. 1t Is well to try to trace what
has brought about this change, and
may ! not suggest that the cause is
a tine n, sanish annan, Of the BIBLE from
In this country. and i'll this city DUR
In. the past thirty years, have tried
to find out the cause.
The first reason assigned was this
was free country and everybody
must be free to make choice OF their
religion. My answer to this la. that
the Bible is not religion that Is taught
by the teachers of various dcnomina-
lions.
The second reason assigned was. the
Roman Catholics had such Influence
that they kept II out. Ny answer to
this las been, II that Is the case. why
do not the Roman Catholics Eend their
children to the public schools-instead
of which they support and keep up
their own schools.
The third reason assigned, me is that
1t isson account OF the Jews. who OBJ
tect to the Bible. This reason can
not answer. only by quoting my expo
rience' OF fifty-three years ago. II
went to the Getty of London School,"
school having 500 boys attending It.
There were Jewish boys In every class.
The bulk OF the teachers were clergy
men. Every class WAS opened In the
morning with q set prayer by the
teacher, the Jewish boys retiring to
the corridors during the prayer The
first half-hour OF the morning session
7 a pk,,.J,, 40 thnn anfa
ment, and the boys who were always
at the head OF the class were the Jew
ish boys: SO do not believe the obtec-
ton comes from the Jews.
II the Bible, or rather the Old Tesla
ment, was taught, children would learn
| to know the nature of God and Gods
| law, and thereby learn to respect tho
! law, which. according to your article,
| they do not know; and when we con-
| slider that the foundation of all the
laws OF the courts of this country Is
| founded on the Mosaic law. which can
| only be found In the Old Testament.
i is it surprising thar children should
| grow up to ignore the law when the
BOOK which Is the authority offs tho
| law is banished from the schools?
\ 1t Is serious matter for tho con-
| sideraticn of our statesmen to con-
\ slider III our children's nature has
changed for the worse In respect 70
| law and order" what is going to be
I the future OF the country In the next
| twenty or thirty years. when these
| children have come to maturity ana
| taken the place OF us who have been
| brought up in the knowledge OF God
/ and law?
! with respect to the answer that VIII
\ he made-that It Is the duty of par
! ents to see to it--so 1t is. but 1t Is not
/ done: and If education was left to par
] ents, would 1t be done? The States have
recognized that by their public educa-
! ton laws and prohibition Of chtld-la-
Dor. So the public should come In and
! demand that the Bible be made taSt-
4 book OF the. public schools.
I am Informed that two OF the prin-
/ cipal objects of the order or Junior
order of American Mechanics" is TO
have the Bible In public schools and
4 the American flag over the pubic
4 schools I want to ask, what are they
/ doing towards the first object? ! have
i lived In this city for over thirty years.
4 hut have never seen any effort by
i them towards that object; but only
! the second object, which they did not
/ have any trouble In CARRYING out. as
the American flag has waved over the
public schools for several years. My
opinion Is II they had made an ear,
4 nest effort TO carry out the first ob1ect
i as they did the second, they wouln
4 have been lust as successful IN TINS as
in the second. @ II. ?.
Y. Richmond. Va.