The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-03-16
PEOPLES FORUM
The Bible in the Public school.

Editor Richmond Virginian:
Sir,--A good deal, of late has been said and
written on the above subject This is we'll. 1t
Is subject that ought to be we'll ventilated No
honest, fair minded seeker after truth will fea
the consequences. The contention that Gods
word should not be read regularly in the pubic
school lest It promote sectarianism is to say the
least puerile. If the teacher doesn't express her
or his views need fear for the child to
hear Gods plain unvarnished word. Mr.. W. J,
Stone fears that Epscopalans. Presbyterians,
Methodists, etc, may object to stress being put
for sensible children will see at glance that
there is no analogy between baptizng person
humidity in water and hurying a corspe and let
ting it stay there will the little folks con-
clude that John the Baptist baptized by INNER
sion at Enon, Salem. account of there
being much water there, when the truth is there
many springs there instead of a pond or
river And, then, the Scriptures do not def
niteiy state the mode of Chrsts baptism every
body has right to form his own individual
opinion on the subject As to the reading of the
Bible in the schools. being displeasing to the Jews
and Catholics and others, it may be said in re-
ply, that all government and law have their gen
esis in the divine law and the Bible is Gods
word, not mans and as ours is a professedly
Christian republic 1t is proper that its public
schools showed honor and learn the only book
that God has given TO man. Immigrants COM
ing to this country, no matter what they believe
when they become naturalized citizens have TO
obey the laws of this country whether they be-
lieve in them not. They know this fact when
they come. and If they don't wish to do this
let them go back to the countries from which
they came. This principal ought to prevail in
our public schools with regard to using the BIZ
BILE In the. curriculum.
The argument that the reading of Gods word
in the school is infringement upon religions
any other liberty that man possesses how
ever. specious 1t may seem on the surface
doesn't hold water when closely scretinized. All
that we can boast of in the way of civil, So
cial intellectual and religious liberty a ma
ton is the direct product of the principles and
doctrines taught in the Bible.
Talk about liberty when the truth Is but
for the circulation of the Bible in our land we
all would be the verest slaves to passions APP
petites ignorance, lust and other abominabie
excuses. In our Lords day the Jews prated
about their liberty and Jesus told them that
when he, the son of man, made tn I'M free they
would be free indeed.
And lastly. let me say. that if the over
sensitive patrons of the public school should OBJ
iect as they think with reason to certain pas
sages which looked upon as teaching doc
trines which they object to being read to their
children. why everybody knows that compe-
tent sensible, tactful teacher will make appro-
pirate selections. Everybody knows that wise
teacher wouldn't select the imprecatory psalms
or chapters with long, hard names and expect to
interest and profit children.
r. p. PARHAM.