Los Angeles herald., 1910-07-08
BISHOP TALKS ON
STUDY Of BIBLE
Address Delivered at Institute of
Teaching Sisters Held in
Santa Monica
DR.. JAMES DELIVERS LECTURE
Columbia Hall Crowded to Hear
Prominent Speakers on
Education
DR.. JAMES DELIVERS LECTURE

sion of the Teaching Sisters institute
of the diocese of Los Angeles ant
Monterey, over which he has preside'
for three days. The institute will clos
tomorrow with morning and Afternoon
sessions, following which the teacher
and priests will go into their annua
retreat of several weeks. The majorit.
of the priests of the diocese will go t
ST. Vincent'S college, while the sister
will observe this service at the va
rious converts.
The attendance at both morning ant
afternoon sessions today filled PRAGUE
ally every seat at Columbia hall, wher
the institute is being held. Nearly 10
teachers, representing all schools AM
academies of the diocese. are enrolled
ON TEXTBOOKS
Bishop Conaty opened the day will
remarks on textbooks, during which n
declared that the textbook is a sec
ondary consideration to the teacher
For this reason the teacher has beef
allowed to choose what books shall
be used in the schools of the dioces'
and this plan will be continued for an
other year.
1.-THE Moral and Religious Aspects o
School Work and History" was tn,
text of a discussion by Rev. James P
Morrissey of Santa Clara college,
Jesuit priest. Father Morrissey wa
followed by T. H. Kirk on THE Core
lation of Geography and History"
In his discussion of the Importance
of Bible study In the schools, Bishop
Conaty said in part:
BISHOPS ADDRESS
The Bible is the best book ever
offered to man for his reading
In all literature there is no history
so eventful, no poetry so rich In
imagery, no deeds of warriors so
deserving of imitation and praise.
1t is the story of our redemption
the poetry of Gods love, the rec
ord of a Gods death for us that we
might have our eternal Inheritance.
The Bible contains history and
prophecy, as we'll as moral teaching.
It is looked upon by millions of In
telligent beings with reverence and
love; its teachings are accepted as
facts and its commandments fol-
lowed with conscientious fidelity.
It is the greatest of all books be-
cause it alone is the written word
of God; of all books 1t is the only
one inspired and the inspiration is
from God. Men in every age have
reverenced it. The Jews listened
with uncovered heads, in the SOL
emnity of the temple, to the read
ing of it's Old Testament; Christians
In their churches and homes nave
read It's story on Bonded knees and
kissed it's sacred pages. The coun-
ellis of the Catholic church have
placed 1t on a throne of gold, while
lighted tapers attested that 1t was
light for the human mind and heart.
The Arc Of the Covenant was sa-
cred in the old dlspensation because
1t contained the tablets of stone on
which were written the command
7 wi Nl1n Ia
sacred book because written by the
inspired writer, 1t contains what
God did for mankind in the old law
and what Christ and his apostles
did in the new. The Bible is some
thing more than a school book-it is
the greatest of all books, it is di-
vine, and should be taught with de-
votion and read with piety.
AUTHENTIC HISTORY
It is the most ancient of authentic
histories, the standard Of our mo-
rality and the key to the history of
mankind. The ten commandments
antedate all legislation and are bet
ter known than all the codes writ
ten by men. The reading Of the
Bible, especially Of the New Tesla
ment, increases devotion and con-
firms faith. By 1t we learn the
story of mans creation, his fall and
redemption. 1t pictures to us
Christ promised and Christ pre-
figured, Christ born, crucified and
risen from the dead and redeem
ing mankind from sin. 1t clearly
defines his divine and human ma
ture, the establishment Of his
church. the sacramento system,
and the means of authority by
which the work of redemption is
carried on until the end of time.
The intelligent and reverent read
ing of the Bible promotes devotion
and ediflcation, it presents to us
beautiful ideals of sanctified life.
From the point Of view of literature
1t gives life and light and around
and about 1t circles the literature
of the world. 1t is written in every
language, it is read by every peo-
pie, It covers the whole field of duty
from the first to the last of life, and
1t deals with earth and heaven. In
1t the student finds the poetic
thought, the historical narrative,
the word of oratory, and the note
of music. But greater than all this,
the Christian finds in 1t the inspired
word Of God. One by one the great
characters of the Bible pass before
him to tell of faith, charity, bravery
accomplishing all the virtues of
true manhood and womanhood,
while its many writers, inspired by
God, bring to the work a beauty of
scholarship which has made the
Bible synonymous with the highest
inspiration of learning.
Bishop Conaty then spoke Of the place
which the study Of the Bible might
have in the higher schools and said
that the history of the Bible, in its
simple form, easily enters into the low
er grade work, while the New Testa-
ment might be used as a means of
familiarizing the children with the his
tory of Christ. The Bishop then spoke
of the different methods and manuals
and urged very strongly the careful
study of the Bible, and said that it was
important that in all the study
of the Testament in the higher
school work the spirit OF the church
should be dominant as the interpreter
of the Bible meaning.
DR.. George Wharton James followed
Bishop Conaty with an instructive
talk on 1.-THE California Literary
Spirit" He said:
DIR. JAMES ADDRESS
When one considers the great
number of names of Californians
who are prominent in various lit
erarv spheres, there need be no fear
In the use Of the term california
literature" JOACHIM Miller, Edwin
Markham, John Phoenix, Mark
Twin. Bret Harte, Dan de guile,
Ina Coolbrith, Charles warren