El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-05-16


7 STAND second to none in my ap-
probation OF the bible as the relig-
Il ious force Of the ages, as the in
spirer Of poets and thinkers and paint-
ers, as an English classic in its Eng
ish form But my appreciation OF the
book does not blind me TO its proper
use and 10 the place Where that use IS
proper As a descendant OF those lOss
genius made the bible possible whose
genius brought forth not only the Old
Testament, Duu also the New Tesla
ment, 1 1eei mine is the peculiar GIEnL
10 speak about IL have a natural p Iue
in this book Of books" for 1 am
one OF the People OF the Book
was under the impression that our
community recognized the church and
the home as the place for the bible and
schools We're really Tor all the public
schools were really for all the public
and that bible reading, creating dlScOrQ
and dislarmOny, Que 20 differences OF
emphasis, was not 10 be considered a
part Of the function or practice Of the
public schools.
aIany Religions Here.
But a new man. coming from with
out knowing not The harmony and con-
cord prevailing here, seeks TO throw the
apple Of discord into our midst by
pleading for bible reading in our pub
lie schools. The new bishop Of the
Episcopal church knows not the condi-
uons Of our city, knows not the COM
pick religious affiliations here repre-
scented or else he would know thar we
have solved knotty problem by plac-
Ing the responsibility for bible knowl-
edge and bible reading where IL be-
longs on the church and the home. II
majority vote were to decide the
question, then the voting power Of the
adherenI3 OF the Catholic faith would
impose their educational system upon
TINS city But the law Of the land does
not leave this matter to majority vote.
Do these advocates simply desire
bible reGdingg Do they believe the
reading Of a few bible verses each day
will produce higher morality and stop
the wave Of Crime2 Is IL possible to
read the bible without comment Com
iment may be in the emphasis OF the
voice or in the selections unconsciOusly
made by the teacher day By day
Would these men read every part Of
the bible2 Or VIII they use select pass
ages and omit otnersZ VIII they read
the story Of Lots daughters in Gen
KIK-30-37 or Of lamar in Cen
KXXVIII- 1880, or the denial by Jesus !
of his mother as found in Nat XII:46-
so. Mark lI1:31-35 and Luke XVIII:19-
212 I quote these passages not as a /
scoffer, but as one who is glad TO know /
that such passages and stories are
found in the bible. These make It so /
veal or woe. OF human Joy and sorrow.
Of life in ali its phases It is not a /
book Of PROJECTIONS. but OF imperfec- |
tiOns. leading to ever increasing per- /
lection for those who would follow its /
moral code.
Praises Bishop HOvFden.
But the advocates Of bible reading 4
are not always as honest as bishop i
was in his address the other :
night. He frankly stated, there would /
not be 10000 murders in the land to- 4
day, nor so 600 divorces and the wreck 4
Ing OF homes, nor would there be the /
waving Of che red flags Of anarchy and i
the trail of murder II Christianity was /
taught in the public schools Of the /
country" Tor this frank confession OF 4
the ultima e aim Of bible reading. \
wish to thank him
The object Of bible reading is, there !
Iore, TO prepare the way for the teach 4
Ing OF Christianity In the public schools. |
PUTTING the proposition in this form, I
the majority Of American citizens /
would reject it. Not that they are not 4
good Christians. not that they are not I
faithful members OF q church. but be- /
cause they are equally good and faith /
ful citizens of these United States who q
realize the bulwark Of democracy is /
the public schools and the bulWark Of 4
the public school system is freedom 4
from religious influence and bias.
II Christianity is to be taught in the |
public schools, then what form Of 4
Christianity viii be taught2 The good {
bishop doubtless favOrs Episcopalian- 4
Ism, but just as staunch supporters /
viii be found to favor byterianism,
MethOdism. Baptist teachings. Congre-
gationalism, in fact, every branch OF /
Christianity except Catholicism On 4
final analysis It is an attempt Of 4
Professionalism to control our public
schools and make these the mission
aries OF their own faith instead of fol-
Lowing the example of our Catholic !
friends who. believing religious teach
ing an essential Of school life, have
organized separate parochiGN schools.
Doubts Feasibility.
The bishop wisely says: va would
not need electric chairs nor would Z
purity be dragged in the mire. II the
teachings OF the bible were followed"
Good and truel But does he honestly
believe that simply reading the bible !