The Ellensburg dawn. [volume] (Ellensburg, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1913-11-13
THE BIBLE IN THE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS

A paper by Rev. DR.. j. H. Shields,
read before the Central W.C.T.U. of
| Spokane. Washington. Nov. 10. 1911.
There is no more important sub
jcct, in my humble judgment, now
before the people of this country,
than this one of the Bible in the
Public Schools. The Tariff, Conser-
vatism and other such political ques-
tons sink into insignificancc COM
pared with the question. Indeed the
proper solution of nearly all these po-
ltical questions lies capsulate in this
one. viz: Shall the Bible be used
again in the Public Schools as it once
was, in the middle of the nineteenth
century ! repeat, it is question
of the very greatest Importance, be-
cause, on its right answer, the pres
depends. | know it is easy to play
the role of a prophet for "a short
time; it is the way, too, OF the dem
agoguc to try to play it, but it can
be easily shown that what ! have as
serted is true, that ! hazard nothing
in saying it, and so | expect that
unless the Bible is used in the Schools
to teach morality the days of this
Republic are numbered. No nation
can continue to exist, for any consld-
cradle length of time, without a stan
dard of morality being observed by
its citizens The nation must have
standard of morality and one ade-
be very few.
This is a proposition which every
intelligent citizen recognizes. ! know
that it may be overlooked by many
who are intelligent, but oncc it Is
considered there is no right
man who does not assent to it. \ Is,
we need morality we need it taught
to our children" says the Roman
Catholic. the few, and any other
thoughtful man, to whom the question
is proposed.
FRANCE-BU RKE'S OPINION.
1T is the verdict of history. as well
that no nation can long endure, with
out its children being taught stan
dard of morality adequate TO its needs
France tried the experiment. IN the
days of the Encyclopedias, and the
result was the French revolution and
that holocaust of blood and corrup-
ton which has forever rendered the
very name of that revolution hidcous
1t was brought about by an effort
to erase from the history of France
as far as possible, Christianity, and
was effected by the teaching OF Vol
tairc. Rousseau, Didcrot and others
of their conferences. When the Ma
tional Assembly, at the head OF the
French revolution. wished to cXtir-
pate Christianity from France. the
members adopted "A system OF secular
ising education in the primary schools
The majestic eloquence OF Edmund
Burke was stirred against y their
scheme. These enthusiasts, he
wrote. do not scruple to own their
opinion that "A state can exist without
any reli lion better than with one,
and they are able to supply the place
of any good which may be in 1t by
project of their own. namely, by
cast of education that they have I'M
agined. founded in knowledge OF
the physical wants of man, progress
siyelv carried to an intelligent self
interest, which, when well under
stood. they tell us, will identify with
an interest more enlarged and public
The scheme of their education had
long been known OF late they dis
tinguish it. as they have got new
nomenclature of identical terms, by
the name of civic education In the
opinion of Burke this was a proceed
ing which could only end in disaster
and shame; and how well he dag
nosed the case is known by the lear
full result. for no nation ever suffered
morcdreadlully than did the French
people from this attempt to drive
the Bible out of the Educational
scheme of its youth. it is stated. on