The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-10-06

. -, &F IF @7hA s. a
 can tie Bible be read in the States Schools7
 Must the Bible be read in the states Schools?
 The Supreme Court of Alabama will be asked to answer these questions.
 These questions are asked by Rev. Father Patrick T. Costello, of Mont- gomery in q letter he recently ad- dressed to Hon. Harry c. Gunnels. State superintendent of Education of Alabama. Father Costello advised that already he had lodged with the super intendent of the public school in Green yiIle complaint against the reading of the Bible. the reading of hymns and the speaking of secular prayers
 Superintendent Gunnels replied that he as the occupant of the office of Superintendent of Education, had mo authority either to order the reading of the Bible or to command the dfs- continuance of it..
 Rev. Father Costello, who is a priest in the cathedral of St. Peters Catholic Church, declined last night to offer for publication any information on the subject. From other sources. however, 1t IS known that his complaint to the states Superintendent of Education was resultant from the practice In the public school system of sGreenviile.
 There, 1t is said. Catholic pupils have been punished for not having prepared their allotted Bible work. which was expected to be part of the religious proceedings. including the saying or prayers and the singing or hymns. This practice. Rev. Father Costello IS understood to have called an outrage. ana he classed 1t as unconstitutional as well as actually contrary to stat utory laws to have the kind or res iigous worship he described.
 Rev Father Costello is said to have protested against it most vigorously. not only as Cathoic, but as an Ameri- can citizen.
 The Bible is read and prayers are said and hymns are sung in many schools, Rev. Father Costello says, but such things are done illegally and he indicates the purpose of the church he represents to have the matter adjudi- cated by the courts. He states very distinctly that he is not opposed to religious training or the reading of the Bible. On the contrary he advo- cates these trainings, but he thinks they should be maintained in the Sun day School. the home and in denomi- national schools.
 Rev. Father Costello holds that by reason of their teachings religious the public schools in many instances have become denominattonal.
 Rev. Father Costello hopes, so he said, to have communicated to Super intendent Gunnels that the matter will not be pushed to an issue. He states that the superior courts in most States have upheld the position he takes ana that a contest would result in an use- less expense on the part of the State
 American schools like the American Constitution" Father Costello is said to have stated, Must Atnow. no religion"
 Following is a copy of the letter from Superintendent Gunnels. in reply to that of Rev. Father Costello:
 Montgomery Ala, Oct. 4, 1907 ''Rev. Patrick T. Costello. Montgomery,
 Ala.
 My Dear sir:---I beg to acknowledge your letter of September 25 in which, forS the Catholics of the State, you make protest against the reading of the Bible. singing of hymns. etc., in the public schools.
 T 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 AIabama courts.