Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-01-12
Htistellaneuus 8Mding.
INSTRUCTION IN THE HOME.
Bible lnfalible Guide to Spiritual,
Moral and Intellectual Perfection.
(By Rev. E. E. Gillespie.)

Moral and intellectual Perfectlon.
(By Rev. E. E. Gillespie.)
Three reasons exist why this sub
ject should claim the thoughtful atten-
ton of every parent, viz, prevalent ig-
norance of the Bible, prime Importance
Of Gods word, and parental opportunity
and obligation to give religious instruc-
| ton.
Prevalent Ignorance of the Bible.
Do the facts warrant the statement
that there is widespread ignorance
of the word of God? We would gladly
answer in the negative If we could, but
Investigations reveal such superficial
and inaccurate knowledge Of the Scrip
lures and such appalling ignorance of
the simple facts and historical events
of the Bible as to fully justify the as
sertion. An educational institution
noted for the prominence given to the
Bible in it's curriculum, included in Its
entrance examination last year few
simple questions on the English Bible.
One hundred young men averaging -
years Of age stood the examination.
More than rs per cent Of them had
attended Sunday school an average Of
six years. Thirty-five per cent came
from homes in which family worship
was observed. In intelligence and ad-
vantages they would compare favorably
with the youth of our county. The fol-
lowing startling facts were revealed
and given out by the professor con-
Quoting the examination. Only fifty
five were able to name any five books
of the Old Testament, and only thirty
five of these could tell the subject or
leading actor in the five books named.
One gave as five books Of the Old Tes-
lament, Luke, John. Isicak, Peater,
Paul." another, "Genesses, Luke, Math-
eve, Mark, John," and another, Il & II
Judges, / & II Ruth, Galatians, Jacob
and Saul" They were asked to give
the first and fifth commandments.
Seventy four missed the first and eigh-
ty- four the fifth. Only sixty-nine could
tell who were saved from the flood, and
twenty-five only, knew who tried to
save Sodom and Gomorrah, and not one
was able to tell who lost his life on
Mt Gilboa. Some Of the guesses at
the last question were, Moses, Joshua,
Elijah, Aaron and Jesus" The ques-
ton was asked, What great event in
the history of Gods people happened at
the Red Sea? At Mt. Sinai? At Jeri-
cho?" Only fifty-eight knew the first,
thirty-five the second and twenty-three
the third. The guesses revealed ignor-
ance of both events and Biblical geog-
raphy. for example, THE ark rested
on Mt. Sinai," mt. Sinai was the
promise land" Moses was tempted
there by the devil" THE greatest SER
mon ever preached was preached on
Mt. Sinai," abraham offered up Isaac
there" 5000 people were fed there
Moses died there" Only seventeen
knew who built the tabernacle and only
twenty-seven had any clear idea Of
the temple. No one knew how thsl
northern and southern Kingdoms end
ed Only thirty-five could give an in
telligent account of any two important
events in the life of Christ, twenty-five
knew something about Peter, but only
one could correctly place Bartimaeus.
Just two were able to name the Pauline
One of the best attempts Of the ninety
eight who failed was, Romans, I & II
Corinthians, Ephisions, Coloshtians.
Glatians, Hebrews, I G. II Peter, I, II &
III James, John and Jude"
We have our Bibles in our homes.
we read a great deal about the Bible,
but Is it not fact as revealed by the
test given, that while our children
may be well informed on other books
and subjects, yet too often they are
woefully ignorant of the Book Of Books ?
Prime Importance of Gods Word.
There are some subjects and books,
ignorance of which may be esteemed
virtue, but not so of the Bible. 1t is
universally acknowledged to be pre-
has had such a phenomenal circulation.
When 100000 copies Of David Harum"
and 10000 copies Of Richard Carver'
were sold within q few months it was
considered most wonderful, yet during
the same period the British and Amer
lean Bible societies sold over 100000
copies of the Bible, and over 225,000,000
copies during the nineteenth century
Other books have their day and the
great majority sink into oblivion. Not
so with this book. An average of 14O
copies of the Bible are sold by one book
store in New York every day in the
year.
The wonderful circulation of the BIZ
Bile would not itself commend this
book to parents as worthy of a place
in the training of their children. 1t
stands on it's merit. 1t speaks to us Of
the great problems of life In manner
no other book can approach. Whence
came l, why exist l, whittier am l 60
ing, have been the profound questions
that have claimed the attention Of the
men OF thought in all ages. The only
consistent and satisfactory answer is
found in this book. How subllmely
simple is it's account Of mans origin!
so God created man in his own image,
and breathed into his nostrils the
breath of life; and man became liv-
ing soul" How clearly stated is mans
purpose here below! Fear God and
keep his commandments, for this is the
whole duty of man. How succinctly
expressed is mans destiny! And these
shall go away into everlasting punish
ment; but the righteous into life eter-
nal" This is not the place for an in
ductive study Of the Bible revealing all
it's literary, moral and spiritual beauty
and value to the child Of every home.
Let US take the testimony of men whose
opinion of other books we would not
question. John Quincy Adams: For
years | have read my Bible through
once a year read it an hour every
morning, as the best way to begin the
day. In whatever light we regard it,
of morality, revelation, or history-it