The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-03-10

which is generally Interpreted as mandatory
upon the teachers to read either from the Old
or New restaurants, the daily opening exer-
else OF the schools The Jews objected and pro-
tested The Unitarans did likewise. With these
TWO classes, 1t was a matter Of conscience. The
Jew dia nor want the New Testament read to
his child by order Of the State. The Unitarian
objected to the treatment of the Bible as dl-
vine DOCK ana insisted that II it was to be used
the religious books of China and Japan should
also be read for they equally divine in his
judgment. Personally, / accept the Bible as
the revealed will and the inspired word Of God
preach 1t from my pulpit read it in my home
and in the homes of the people There is no
part OF IL which object to my children reading.
But my sense of right will not permit me to be
party to forcing by law the reading of the
Bible upon the Jews, Unitarians, Atheists, ct
A. am contendng, not for my liberty,
but for that Of others.
Ny idea of citizenship in America is that all
stand equal before the law-tha Protestant the
Catholic. the Mohammedan the Mormon the
Free Thinker the Atheist Whatever my be the
religious view of the majority of the people,
The majority has no right to force that view
upon the minority, however small If Catholic
children may be compelled to read the King
James Version of the Bible in communities
where Cathollcs are in a minority. the same
rule viii justify Catholics in compelling Protest
ANTS to read the Catholic version in communi-
ties whore Catholics in the majority. Then
Won would be uSing a version the acceptance of
which would destroy our idea Of repentance
and would inculcate the worship of images In
school districts where the sects somewhat
evenly divided, a religious contest may be ex-
peCted at each election of a school director to
determine WfllCn sect small prevail IN n sCHpoi
our laws have wisely provided against any
such contest by excluding religious instruction
altogether from the public schools.
The Jew has equal rights in Virginia with
he Baptist or the EpisCopalian lie is a. citizen
The law knows distinction Of religion. The
public school is supported by the taxes which
each citizen, regardless of his religion or his
lack of il. Is compelled to pay. The public
school. like the government, is simply a civil
institution II is secular and not religious in its
purposes and the compulsory reading Of the
Bible in public schools in clearly contrary to the
principles upon which this government rests
and 10 the genius Of America.
Would it be proper for me TO remind YOU that
In the States of Wisconsin and Nebraska. where
this useqtion has been adjudcated in the
courts. the decisions adverse to the use
Of the Bible in the schools, and that in the
great State OF Illinois. the Supreme court said
The reading of the Bible in the school consti-
tutes scCtarian Instruction. and that court cited
in Its opinion the opinions of two distinguished
Vlrginians James Madison and Thomas Jeffer
son. When You think of "old-fashioned Nr-
ginuns and Americans please remember the
names Of Madison and Jefferson and bear in
mind that when jefferson selecting the
epitaph for his tomb, he did not mention the
fact that he had been president of the United
1enown this Author of the Virginia Statute for
Religious Liberty"
Ecu profess great respect for the decisions Of
+ the courts VIII you read State KS. District
Board, IS Wis, 177i State vs.. Scheve, % Nebp
e53; and The People Board of Education,
verse to the use of the Bible in the schools. But,
excuse my presumption. You are doubtless ia
miliar with these decisions and know better
than those three courts.
GEO. W. ATDANIEL4
Richmond Va,