New-York tribune., 1912-04-21
IGNORANT OF THE BIBLE
Startling Results of a College
Examination.

I Professor Vernon Z. SQuires, professor ot
lr,a,i.b in the University OF North Dakota,
/ h,iu- struck with the ignorance OF the Bible
IdispIayed from time TO time In his English
classes. determined on written test OF
| freshmen. This was optional. but l39 stu
dents participated in IT. In THE Journal
! of Education" the professor describes the
results.
Tho questions were as follows
| +. What is the Pentateuch?
Name ten books in tho Old Testament
2 Name ten books in the New Testament
Into what groups or divisions is the
old Testament divided?
Who was % THE apostle 70 the Gen
tiles" 90 The beloved discpleT' 90
"Tbe wisest ot men? a. The strongest
man? 90 Tho first murderer?
What idea is suggested 10 your MIND
nv each OF the following proper nounsi (l)
A,ollos? 90 Cana7 go Carmel7 90
rather? (5D Hezekah7 90 lshmaehtes7
| y, Jeph,hah? 90 Jezebel? 90 Saul
! O0) Sinai?
the following passages:
N, when Lazarus left his charnei
Icave."-Ternyson.
mn And so the Word had breath and
wrought with human hands the creed OF
eeds."-Tennyson.
COZ "a hungry impostor practising ior
mess OF pottage
! (d) "The two ST Johns are the great In
stances of the angelic life."-Newman.
| (e, "He changes the sef-satisned PhaH-
see into the broken-hearted PuoIcah'
Newman.
CO THE man OF Uz"-Browning.
(o) "You stand stiff as Lots WIFE
Tennyson.
BabeI"-Tennyson.
! IN "Jonahs gourd.
(D Except they meant TO bathe IN
rocking wounds or memorize another Col
eotha. a."-Shakespeare.
6 Where did you learn what you know
of the BIble-at home. school. church. sun
dav school or elsewhere?
ONLY sI2 PER CENT PASSED.
- ryo regard Is per cent as the passing
mark writes Professor Squires, twelve or
IS1-2 per cent Of the whole NUMBER passeu
this test Nnety-one-65 per cent--recelVeu
less than 30 per cent; seventy-one-5o per
cent-received less than 40 per cent the
average standing Of the entire group was
about 40 per cent.
An ANALYSIS OF the answers 10 some OF
! tho questions Is rather interesting Ten
obout 7 per cent-could not name book
| In the Old Testament. and only slXty-eight
-Iess than 10 per cent-answered The ques-
,io, nroperly. This is, however, as mat
cor NJ fact. a too liberal allowance, as 1t
&c based on the acceptance OF such spell
i os "Dcuteromy," "Deuteromoty,"
.To,,teromepy." "Duderominy." "Goshua,"
"saIms." Nehemiah" "Joob," "Jobe.'
! E,ourtecn-lO per Cent-named 'lieZe-
Iiah" as one Of the Books OF Moses"
Amonr original ideas were the mention
ing as Old Testament books Of Paul
"rimothv." Titus" II and II Romans
"pbenecians." "Babylonians,' "Gentiles,
| "Philistines" and 'Nerxes.'
The answers In regard to the New Testa-
mont Uere still more unsatisfactory
,ruol,.e-Sls per cent-were unable to men
| ,io, = single book; only forty-six-33 l-3
nor ccnt-mentioned ten, as requested
Five put Samuel In the New testament
! ,hroe the Psalms; three. Ruth, and two,
Esther. one mentioned i and III Judges,
! co,.o,teen mentioned Paul" or "St. PauF'
| "pauls.' 1nTee SubbCSt'u Di'i'''i >
two "Jacob" There were also mentions
Of "Theleslans," "Philipi," Thomas
81 azurus" and Samson Agonlstes'
Tho answers to Question were TOO
varied and vague TO be reported here.
Professor Squres continues rather sadly
| as follows:
Question > brought several surprises.
will mention two. The expression the
apostle TO the Gentiles' is so common
| that at first hesitated TO include 1t. 1t
seemed TO me that every one would an
| sycr # correctly. To my surprise twenty
seven Cncarly 20 per- cent? made no at
tempt at an answer. seventy-two 'prac-
tically % per cent? replied correctly the
remainder voting for John d2)' Jesus uZ)'
| Abraham 90. Peter, John the BAPTIST
/ Judas, Moses Jacob and Mcthuselah' As
! 10 tine beloved disciple siNty-eIEht
! NEARLY - per cent? were right twenty
made no attempt; thirty seven lsCdhs'
10 say guessed Peter while oth5ra named
Paul, James. Jesus, Abraham aud DAVID