The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1914-07-23
THE PEOPLES FORUM.
A Correspondent PropOUnds the Cues
ton; Cannot We Have The Bible
In Our Public SchOOis?"

EulCCr OF ne hepuDHcan:
Permit me, through. the columns of
your valuable paper, to ask a question.
1t ought not, in a community of this
kind, to be necessary to do more than
simply ask the question, for it seems to
me that it would at once so commend
itself to the sentiment and judgment
of all that the matter would be proper
ly adjusted at once. My query: Can
lot we have the Bible in our public
schools? | am not raising this question
for sectarlan purposes, or to arouse
discussion, nor to appeal to prejudice
or anything of the kind, but because as
text book it cannot be excelled. To
the Bible we owe more than to any
other book, or to all others for that
matter.
You will recall the incident with the
great Queen of England, when asked,
by one of the great rulers of the world,
what was the secret of England
greatness, presented him with a copy
of the Bible, saying as she did so, This
is the secret of England's greatness.
| am not advocating the explanation
of the book from any particular denomi-
national stand point, for it is strictly an
undenominational Book, but | am ask
ing that all our children and youth shall
have the benefit of its splendid instruc-
ton, without which all education Is in
complete. am asking that it be given
a place in our public school course; that
is portion of it be read daily. so that
the pupils may learn to know its pre-
cepts, and have their characters mould
ed by it's superb instruction. The pub
lie conscience is awakening to the i'm
pOrtance of this privilege and duty and
there is a growing demand that it be
given a place in our schools Pennsyl-
vaina has led off in good style and its
legislature has made it incumbent upon
teachers to read at least ten verses
daily IN the schools. The reaction has
set in. We do not advocate the secta-
rian exposition of the scriptures in the
public schools, but we do claim that the
Bible as literature and as moral guide
for Christian people. should be pre-
sented to the children of every COM
munity. They have right to know
this Book. For some years past there
has been an increasing effort to elimi-
nate the Bible, while its teaching has
gradually grown more secular so that
our schools, the land over, have come
to be known as Goddess"
When school books in which the
name of Christ appears, are being mu-
tilated. that name, which is above every
name, may be excluded entirely. When
Boards of Education on being chosen
from faiths that oppose the reading Of
the Bible, even the most optimistic can
hardly hope that there will soon be a
reinstatement of the scriptures in our
schools. The Secular is emphasized
while the religious element is minImized
or eliminated Yet this Is the most es-
sential element of a true education
Secular education must be augmented
by the Christian home in order to pro-
duce a well rounded Christian charac-
ter. To this fact, the best educators
are awakening and even statesmen are
beginning to realize its unqualified i'm
portance.
North Dakota has captured a plan
which gives the Bible place in her
schools. Indiana has fallen in line and
the superintendent of public instruction,
has made public their plan, when by
. the Bible literature and history will be
given its due place in public school
courses along side other classics of the
world.
The Pasadena Cab School Board
has applied for ruling from the at
torney general of the state on the
, subject of permitting the use of the
Bible IN public schools for the purpose
of teaching Ancient history.
The State Junior Order U. A.
, Mechanics, little while ago, passed
resolutions, protesting against the
Legislature in failing to pass a law
authorizing the reading of the Bible in
,, the public schools of Mar yland. The
resolutions declared that such action
was to be depored, inasmuch as Bible
. reading promoted the spiritual welfare
of the child.
The $50 or more members present
, pledged themselves to take up the
, fight again at the next session of the
, Legislature and to do all in their power
:, to have such law passed.
This is proper and may all othel
patriotic lodges follow in the wake
Why should a small minority prevent
. its being in our schools, for 1t is fact
that it is opposed by comparatively
small majority.
For the purpose of mental culture j
should be in all our schools. 1t is not {
: sectarian book. and to teach morality
and the existence of God, and future
state, 1t has no superior. Indeed nc
book can be compared to it. Is not j