The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-09-23
WHY THE BIBLE SHOULD BE
READ IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
ny Rev George D. Herman. Church
n

Mans nature is physical, mental and
moral His hands, his head and his
heart ought to be educated. 1t is
more important to educate the moral
nature than the mental and physical
| because all stable enduring, and en-
| nghtened government can only rest
| upon the moral principles and Convic-
tlons OF her citizenship. Moral confu-
| sion and corruption is more to be
| dreaded than ignorance itself
| The time to make moral impressions
is in childhood and youth. In fact, in
childhood and youth is about the only
| time that the moral nature can be
trained to noble ends. Both Protest
ants and Catholics acknowledge the
Bible as the supreme Book of morals
and religion
The Bible has made Anglo-SaX
civilization what it is. The government
| of North Carolina was founded on the
moral principles Of the Bible The
| Bible is used in all courts Of justice.
| The Bible has made US what we are.
| Reading the Bible daily in the public
schools without comment can only do
good. To deny the children the moral
| instruction and inspiration which
| comes from the daily reading of the
Bible in the public schools is to de-
prive them Of their moral rights
| their right to know the best For
lieve the Bible should be read daily
in all our public and State high
| schools:
The Bible Never Grows Old.
The Bible is the newest freshest,
the youngest, the strongest and the
most influential Book in the world.
Like the sun the Bible never grows
old; like the sun, the Bible is full OF
light.
1t has moulded the laws and GUS
toms Of the civilization Of earth's
greatest nations. 1t is a tree of life
whose fruits give healing and strength
to the nations. No nation can ignore
its moral principles and long escape
the smotherins pressure of greed. lust
and selfshness.
The Bible is an inspired Book; and
it has inspired our race with the
highest ideals, social and moral, po-
litical and religious. 1t has fed and
nourished the highest type Of man
hood and womanhood. 1t has touched
and toned and tuned mans highest
powers. It has met all the demands
Of our moral and spiritual nature.
| 1t is the most reasonable Book ever
written. 1t makes its appeal to our
moral reason. 1t seeks to have us
forsake the evil and cleave always to
that which is good. It urges US to
seek the truth, to speak the truth, to
, love the truth, and to live the truth,
that we may attain the highest and
largest freedom. 1t does not ignore
mans temporal interests but 1t does
press upon our attention the supreme
importance Of things spiritual and
eternal. 1t demands that we seek first
the Kingdom of God.
The Bible deals with the most i'm
portant events in human history. II
; is the only Book which gives a sane
account of creation, the fall of man
the flood, the call OF Abraham, the
exodus of Israel, and the giving Of the
law 1t is the only Book which tells
| Of the Incarnation. the Ministry, the
-atoning death, the triumphant res
direction, the glorious ascension, and
the interCesSion of the eternal Son OF
God. No other book tells of the com
, ing and acts of the Holy Spirit, tho
inauguration of the Kingdom of God
among men on earth. and of a general
judgment at the end Of the age. Its
| vision is therefore, broad as human
ity deep as the guilt Of s;n. high as
heaven and enduring as eternity.
A Progressive Revelation.
. ! 1t is a progressive revelation. God
| gave the light as men were able tc
: bear it. Much in the Old Testament
was temporary in its very nature. The
! Bible reaches its full and perfect glory
: in the Person and Ministry Of Christ
He is the true light of the world
Whatever is found in the Old Testa
; ment contrary TO the teaching and
spirit of Christ was only preparatory
''Bleeding bird and bleeding beast
hyssop branch and sprinklng priest
! ! of the Old Testament all point to Cal
vary The Jewish passover is no long
, er to be observed. because the Lan1t
of God that taketh away sin has come
; and tasted death for every man. Our
Lords Sermon on the Mount is great
| er than the Ten CommandT ents
Come unto me all We that labor ant
are heavy laden. and Twill give yot
I | rest is better than list Of hare
$ names in Numbers.
! It is a Book OF human aspiration.