The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-02-10

His living Word.
Literature is a department of art and
has It's end in itself. From first to
last the Bible has an essentially prac-
! teal character. To Iitustrate--when
we read Shakespeare we do not feel
that he is speaking to us or that he
! expects us to say anything to him.
NO responsibility Is created.
But In the Bible 1t Is exactly the
opposite: 1t cannot be read without
responsibility being created in the
broader. Nothing in the Bible can be
headed Art for the sake of art 1t Is
the most practical OF books. It's read
ing is conveying to the hearers the
VIII OF God and imposing upon them
duties and obligations which Inevitably
arise wherever Gods Will Is revealed.
lf 1t DO commended that the super
natural element Is to be eliminated and
the Book treated as Gibbons history or
iennysons poems. then 1 say three
things:
Il. Such an attempt is foredoomed
to failure. Put your hand upon the
Bible and you feel tho pulse heat of
tho supernatural. Turn your ear, I'm
Its direction and you hear tho voice
of God.
| "2. Should the attempt succeed, it's
success would spell calamity. Rob the
BLDG of It's divine authority and you
| have left man lost In dark wilder
ness without a lamp for his feet: Grip
pied on long road without stan
! for his support; bruised and crushed
by the highway without a Good Sam
aritan to bind his wounds AMI put
hope into his heart
%. The method proposed is bclittlinE
to the Great Book. What other lit
eraturc is taught by reading n brief
| selection daily without comment or
discussion? Whenever 1t is deemed
advisable to study the Scriptures as
| literature, let us have trained teachers
| for that purpose. 1t is apparent that
the lower grades are not prepared for
such course. Discriminating minds
are required for purely literary study
Of the Bible.
Not Textbook of Morals.
| IF 1t is unconstitutional to compel
| the Bible to BIO read as an act OF wor-
ship: IL 1t is impossible to treat 1t
purely and solely as q textbook on
/ morals, apart from religion; If it Is
| absurd to claim that the mere reading
Of selections daily is giving 1t proper
treatment as part of the worlds lit
craturc-why may we not reach a COM
promise which shall be free from these
objections and satisfactory to all con-
cerned? What compromise is possible?
One suggestion is that only selec-
lions from the Old Testament be used
and they be permitted to carry ali
the religious, moral and literary
weight which they contain. This is
highly Objectionable. What Christian
can approve a deistical teaching of
the Bible that ignores Jesus as the Son
! OF God? Christians should protest as
strenuously against such an action as
Jews would against the account of the
birth OF Jesus.
| I'm my mind. the question takes the
form. Why should any ono want the
Bible read in the public schoolsg
| Il. 1t ia not necessary for Chris
tianity. The homes and churches can
not divide their responsibility with the
State. If they measured up to their
duty there would be no occasion for
introducing the Bible In the public
schools. The home and church practi-
cally admit their failure and call upon
| the State for help. 1 am unwilling to
tako that position. Rather would
renew the emphasis Oh religion In
the home and the conversion of chill
dren.
Properly Church Work.
Let tho churches of Richmond Gull
tivate their fields and attend to the
Kings business, and the need for the
outside help will disappear. Every
movement to strengthen ChristianIty
by the State weakens, In those wiz
profess to love the church, t. >Gnfl-
dence In It's innate eXcelle-ice End the
| patronage OF It's Author, -nd fosters
in those who reject IL a suspicion that
| fallacies to trust to It's own merits.
my position Is that the Christian he
ligion was not invented by human poll
| icy; that II existed and hourished in
| spite OF every opposition of human
| laws and is independent of the powers
| OF this world. Should Virginia be will
Ing to adopt Christianity. I would OPP
! pose it for the sake OF Christianity.
| president Madison said in words
that are weighty: Experience wit
! nesses that ecclesiastical establish
.nents instead OF maintaining the purity
and efficlcy OF religion have had a con-
trary operation He proceeds TO enum-
| crate its evil fruits as pride and indo-
/ lence in the clergy. ignorance and ser
Witty i'll the laity: in both superstition.
! bigotry and persecution Religion is
purely voluntnr and is n function with
| tho exercise or which the State has
nothing to do.
| Not Necessary for state.
ut is not necessary for che Common
wealth, II religion BIO not within the
I cognizance OF the government. its legal
| propagation cannot he said to be neces-
sary to civil government. y just gov
| eminent established on the equal
rights OF all. Is perpetuated by main
! tanning those rights.
I'm the language OF the memorial
and remonstrance OF 17S5. Such gov
ernment will be best supported by pro-
tecting every citizen in the enjoyment
of his religion with the same equal
hand which protects his person and
his property. by neither invading the
J equal rights of any sect nor suffering
1 any sect TO invade those OF another
/ ",<he action OF the School Board Is a
| departure from the generous policy OF
! this Commonwealth and tends to mar
the harmony which obtains among all
sects in this goodly community,
Violates Right of Minority.
! right I c. In for myself, viz, to wor
| ship as my conscience approves. and
| to have my children worship as their
! hearts prompt and without embarrass.
| ment OF any kind.
! 1T Is possible that majority of
/ the people OF this city favor the Bible
+ in the public schools, but it is equally
true that the majority may trcspass
on the rights of the minority. The
essentially religious nature OF the BIZ
! BILE makes its reading exempt from the
authority OF society at large. and still
less subject to the orders OF civil au-
| thorities.
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