The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-05-16
DEFENSE IN AN ANSWER
JUSTIFY BIBLE READING
From Saturdays Daily.

From Saturdays Daily.
Answer was made today by the
defendants in the case of Robert
hughes versus the Independent
School District No. of this city
The board of education and Superin
tendent F. ]. Sperry. in which the
defendants, whose attorney is s. b
Wilson, deny that Father Hughes il
a taxpayer I'm the city of Mankato
and therefore as taxpayer does not
help in the maintenance of the
schools, that he is not citizen OF
the state of Minnesota nor of the
United States of America, and fol
those reasons he is not entitled tC
bring or maintain this action agains,
the defendants for reading the Bible
i'm the public schools.
The defendants admit that Robert
Hughes as pastor of st. Johns Cath
Ole church of this city, has parish
toner's attending the public high
school and that Superintendent F. j
Sperry of the high school on each
Monday morning holds exercises
when the pupils are assembled, when
he reads sections of the Bible, which
selections he himself chooses, and
that the Bible used is the version
known as the King James. The de
PENDANTS also admit that songs are
sung and the Lords Prayer repeated
after the reading of the Bible.
Reading BY Superintendent.
The reading of the Bible is done
by the superintendent alone and the
singing and repeating of the Lords
Prayer is done by the pupils and
teachers who wish 20 participate
therein in unison AMI at their own
choice. The pupils in said high
school are not requested by the SUI
perintendent or by either of the de-
PENDANTS or any teachers of the
school to take any part in such exer,
cises, and are not required to par
ticipate in them"
They claim that the singing of the
songs as part of these exercises is
had for the purpose of instilling in
the minds of the pupils an apprecia
ton of the value of music and for
the purpose of creating animation
and activity among the pupils in the
beginning of the weeks work ana
to promote harmony among the pu.
pills.
In reference to the Bible reading
the defendants say THE reading OF
the Bible is done for its historical
and literary value, and to teach and
to inculcate good morals-that is
our duties to each other-which de-
PENDANTS allege is a duty of public
schools to teach. and a duty which
ought to be understood and practice
by every good citizen. and concern.
ing the fundamental principles OF
which the religions sects do not dis
agree. TO teach henevolence, the love
of truth, sobriety and industry"
Teach Moral Philosophy.
1.-The repeating of the lords Pray
er and also the reading of the Bible
is for the purpose of teaching that
moral philosophy which should be
instilled into every high school pu,
pill, whatever may be the shade OF
his religious belief, and to teach him
that the people of our state and ma,
ton commonly acknowledge the fit.
ness of recognizing in important hui
man affairs the experimenting care
and control of a divine power, and
of the appreciation of good citizen
ship as demonstrated by the state
and nation in acknowledging obedi,
once by an annual legal Thanksgiv.
ing day in recognition of our sue
cess and prosperity as a state ard
nation: and TO divulge moral law
which inculcates charity to all and
obedience to law in civil govern,
ment.
Bible Non-Sectarian.
THE Bible is non-sectarian in
character. 1t is not used by the de-
manner whatever. That the Bible Is
broad enough to include all the
world, and its Interpretation, in-so
far as said exercises are concerned
is left entirely to every individual
conscience. That it is not read in
said exercises to promote theological
doctrine of any religion or of any
sect, but so used entirely without
regarding any sect or religion SUI
perior to another, and it is used
without interference, by way of in
struction, with the views of pupils
whether derived from parental OF
sacredotal authority. That said ex
ercises are wholly non-sectarian."
The defendants allege that they
have in no way interfered with the
belief of the students of the high
school who are members of the Ro
man Catholic church.