The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1911-06-02
The Bible in the Public
Schools.


daily sessions of our schools. has eX-
cited much interest aud adverse COM
ment
The published reports of the dis
cussion of the matter are not suffi-
GENTLY definite for the reader to de-
termine the ground on which the ac-
ton was taken. One member is stat
ed to have objected to the reading be-
cause he thought "the proper place to
learn the teachings OF the Bible was
at the parents knee or at the Sunday
School,"
This view ignores the fact that there
not read aud that there are many
children who are not found in the
Sunday School.
Two members are reported to have
objected to the designation of "a par
ticular Bible" for reading in the
schools. Whether such designation
was made in the original resolution
does not appear, as the resolution was
not included in the published report
OF the proceedings.
1t would be necessary, however,
that such designation should be made
or distinctly understood. The Mo-
hommedan has his Koran; the Chinese
the writings of Confucius; the Hindoo
his voluminus Holy Books; the Jew
does not accept the New Testament in
its entirety; while the Roman Catholic
Church has its approved version of
the Christians Bible, in which parts
of the text, rs interpreted by that
Church, set forth views peculiar to it,
which are not accepted by Professionals
who have adopted what is known as
the "Authorized" or king James"
Version
1t would certainly be difficult TO
designate "Bible" that would ac-
cord with the particular views of ev-
! cry member of our mixed population,
: but, to the people who founded the
institutions of this country and have
thus far cherished aud conducted
them, there is but one "Bible."
!, Many are attracted here from other
lands, by the freedom and good con-
dition which have grown up under
the fostering care of the institutions
he referred to, and men of every ma
tionality and creed are welcomed and
are free to establish aud use their own
places OF worship, as they see fit, and
to establish sectarian day schools, as
our Roman Catholic neighbors have
done, where children, in their earlier
years, may receive both secular and
religious instruction, from their owl
! trained teachers.
e But. it does not follow, from the
! presence of these INVERSE peoples
that this land shonld abandon the in
/ stitutions which our forefathers
founded and which their descendants
believe to be essential TO its perpet'
uity.
The American Public School is one
of the institutions of a Protestant
Christian country, founded by IA peo-
Pile who came to new land that they
might enjoy religious freedom which
was denied them on the other side of
the water, aud the institutions of this
free country are founded upon Pro-
testant Christian principles, with the
Bible rs the corner stone.
Respecting the importance of the
Bible, az our reliance for the very ex-
istence of our freedom, the following
expressions of some of our most dis
tinguished men, may be quoted:
Samuel Sloan, the great Railroad
magnate, said, 81 know of no better
guide for the young man who wants
to steer clear of failure. than the
Bible. The good old book has lost
/ none of its helpfulness in the onroll-
ing of the centuries, and is TO day
the best chart extant for the youth
full voyager on life's stormy seas.
, Let young man study the Bible aud
| acquaint himself with its naked siren
uous truth and he cannot so very far
wrong in his every day life. "
Says our great General Grant:
"Hod fast to the Bible as the sheet
anchor of your liberties. Write its
precepts in your heart and practice
them in your lives. To the influence
OF this book we are indebted for the
progress in our civilization, aud tC
this we must look as our guide in the
future"
The,stern old statesman, Andrew
Jackson. said, "The Bible is the
book upon which our Republic rests ;
In his Farewell address, Washing
ton spoke for the teachings of the
old book in the following strong sen
tence, "The perpetuity of this Gov
eminent will depend on the mora
and religious training of our youth. ;
The vital reasons for the reading o.
the Bible in our schools should b,
kept ever before us. No other bool
presents such clear aud exalted views
T OF the Supreme Being and Of the NOR
! al laws which He has gwen for tn,
\
, guidance Of mankind. These laws
r and the reverential recognition o
q their giver, lie at the foundation o
good citizenship and the well being
of the nation. The daily reading, t.
the children, of passages containing
5 the moral teachings of the Scriptures
d and mention OF Him who gave them
{ must tend to cultivate in the young
!, habit of generation for the God of thu
: Christians and regard for the mora
e precepts which His word conveys
{ and thus form the best preparation fol
y the exercise OF the duties which mus
soon deyolve upon them as citizens
This is why Christians advocate thu
| al m nj rite w hioh our Road ~ Edu