The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-02-03
FOLK NEED BIBLE
IN CITY SCHOOLS

Continued From First Paee)>
way of morals tackled on 70 nursery
tales-awful examples and the like
but as part OF the history of a great
people. as part Ct the spiritual bio
graphy-the inner eXperience-of the
world greatest men who faced the
same kind Of problems. were called T.
the same kind of tasks. were exposed
10 the same temptations. and won the
same sort of moral victories as our
selves.
Nations Welfare Demands.
But 1 will 90 further and say that
tho welfare OF the nation demands
that its children receive religious and
not merely moral Instruction. Any po-
sitlon short of that seems 10 me TO
surrender the case; for II religion is
not supremely necessary. II Is not nee
essary AZ all There can be no real
moral instruction that IL not at the
same time religious: for the very ma
ture Of morality makes 81 the hsnd-
maiden Of religion.
Furthermore. our national stability
and well-being depends ultimately on
the preservation Of Christian ideals
7 do not say ChristIan dogmatic teach
ing--in our private and public lffe. IL
W. are to stem the tide OF lawlessness
which. whether in the dynomitsng
trades-uniOnist or the wash-salssman
Of high finance. whether In the pick
pocket Or the tax-dodger. the vote
buyer ln broadcloth or the vote
seller in fustian. - sapping the viials
Of our democracy. we must h Did fast
u that conception Of Iaw-basic in
English and American jurisprudence
which views il as the Will OF God Him
self pr0gresSiVely adapted to the cir
cumstances % men and nations. and
we find that nowhere else so clearly
taught az in the Bible. II we are 10
deal with the divorce evil. which IL
menaclng the institution Of the family
as the cornerstone OF civilization. we
must bark back TO Bible teachings in
the premises. II We are ever 10 be
delivered from the maddenins lust or
-soid and the cruel pressure Of civil
ization that seems at times to be grow
ING more materialistic and Goddess ev-
cry vear-we must renew our spiritual
south at the fountainhead OF inspira-
lion. we must guarantee 10 our children
and our ehsldrens children instruction
m that book whose doctrine Of sue
cess. Of profit and loss, Is: What shall
Z profit a man II he gain the whole
world and lose his own soul?
or. consider again, that by exclud-
In. the r,Tble from the schOols we are
depriving many Of the children OF our
,ard o. instruction IN one Of the most
beautiful and inspiring liteTatures OF ali
time. Merely as a literature. the Bible
- a book BY Itself Scholars every
where are recognizing this. and no
literary discipline to-day can be re-
csrded as complete that does not In
elude a course in the literary study OF
the Bible In the Ribie you find SUI
ureme examples OF almost every form
~ literature Here are history. bio
graphy and philosophy. epic, lyric and
dramatic poetry. logic and passion. hu-
NOR and pathos. proverbial and spiri-
tual insight.
Takes Up Objections
surely. then. in excluding the Bioie
from our public schools we are cutting
ourselves of from tho educational
,alue OF one of the most wonderful
Iiteratures in all the world
And now. let US consider together
very briefly one or two Of the ooJec-
TONS that are being urged against this
decision OF the School Board
In the first place. IL is urged mat
their action is a breach OF the prln-
cfpIe of religious liberty. To use the
Bible in the school. IL is said, Will open
the way to sectarian Influences. ana
thus do violence TO the American prin-
cipie of the noninterference OF church
with state But this argument rs
based on a misunderstanding. To read
the Bible I'm the schools is not 10
teach il. II would indeed be blow