The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1913-04-25
BIBLE READING TEST
ACTION BY CATHOLICS OF MAN
kATO AGAINST SCHOOL
BOARD AND TEACHERS.
PRIEST IS THE PLAINTIFF
Says That It Is Unfair to His Church
to Teach Customs and Usages
of "Orthodox Evangelical
Churches"

Observation-Disclosures the reading OF
portions of the Bible, singing hymns
and offering prayer in the high schools
each Monday morning constitutes a vi.
olation of the fundamental law of the
state of Minnesota is to be determined
in an action brought in the district
court of this county to restrain the
school board and the high school
teachers from continuing to bold these
religious exercises.
The plaintiff in the action is Rev.
Robert Hughes, pastor of st. Johns
Catholic church, and the defendants
are the school district, the board OF
education and City Superintendent F.
j. Sperry. A permanent injunction is
asked for, and in the meantime Judge
Pau has granted a temporary re-
straining order, returnable Tuesday,
April 20. The case will be tried on
its merits at the June term of the
district court. -
1t is likely that the board of educa-
ton will put in defense, and thus
make test case, as most of the board
members are in favor of continuing
the exercises, which they do not look
upon as being offensive to any particu-
lar sect or religion. A special meeting
to consider the matter is being held
this afternoon.
Rev. Mr.. Hughes, in his complaint,
alleges that he has for more than
twenty-eight years been priest of the
Catholic church; that many of his
present pensioners are attending the
public schools of the city; that GER
tain of the high school teachers read
to the pupils of the school every Mon
day morning during school hours GER
tain portions of the Bible, the teachers
selecting the portions to read, and uni
formly using in such reading the Bible
known as the King James version, and
sing certain religious and sectarian
songs, and offer prayer to the Diety,
according to the customs and uSages
of the so-called Orthodox Evangelical
churches" of the country, and in &C
cordance with the belief and practice
of such churches, the pupils joining in
the singing of such songs or hymns
and in the offering of prayer, at the
request of the said teachers.
The plaintiff further shows that he
and many parents of the children at
tending the schools of the city are
members of the Catholic church and
conscientiously believe it's doctrines,
faith and forms of worship and that
they believe the version of the scrip
ture referred to in the complaint to
be incorrect as a translation and in
complete by reason of the omission of
a part of the books held by the said
church to be integral portions of the
inspired canon, and the form of wor-
ship to be incorrect.
That it is not only not beneficial
to the children in the said schools
who are members Of the said church.
but likely to lead to the adoption
of dangerous errors, irreligious faith,
practice and worship, and that by
reason thereof the practice of read.
ing the ST. James version of the BIZ
BILE, commonly and only received as
inspired and true by the protestant
religious sects, is regarded by the
members of the Roman Catholic
church as contrary to the right of
conscience, and as wholly contrary to
and in violation of the law, and in VIC
lation of section 16, article |, and sec.
ton 8, article III of the constitution OF
the state of Minnesota.