The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-09-25
SAYS State SCHOOL BOARD
SHOULD REFORM OR RESIGN
Presbyterian of South Objects to
Use of Tarr's Physical
Geography.
TEACHES DARwINIAN THEORY
Chapter as to Origin OF Man and De-
scent From Monkeys ut Direct
Varience With Doctrine of All
Christian Churches.

An objection to Tarr's New Physical
Geography AZ text book for the pub
lie schools which has been raised In
other states, is stated In tho Presby-
iorian OF the South. published In Rich
mond. New Orleans and Atlanta. In the
issue or September %.
The objection is to the origin of man.
The origin of man is ascribcd in the
geography. which Is used In the public
schools of Virginia. az from tho Similar
race. While the Darwinian theory is
not endorsed by tho text book II is
quoted, and ii is left to the Judgement
Of the pupil to accept his or her own
theory.
Tho state Boar dof Education is crit
iciscd by the Presbyterian of The South
for permitting such a text book to pass
into tho hands of the public school pu-
pills The Board OF Education or Texas
WAS severely criticised last June for
adopting this text book and the Minis
tcrial Association of the city Of Gal
weston formally protested against it's
continuance In the public schools OF
Texas. The reply OF tho Texas hoard
of Education was that the adoption OF
D.. tho text book was an oversight and as
5uranccs were give nthat the book
would be dropped soon as the con-
tract with the publishers expired the
teachers being advised in the meantime
TO omit from their classes the objec-
tionablc features OF the geography
PRESBYTIHIAS PAPER
OBJECTS TO TEXT BOOK.
In lengthy article discussing the
objections To Tarrs Geography as
text book tho Presbyterian OF the
South says in part:
Under the title. Man and Nature:
development OF Mankind chapter 49,
page 800, this passage IL found; The
origin of man is not known, although
scientists generally agree that he has
developed, by the process of evolution
from some high form OF animal. This
belief Is based upon the close rcscm-
Glance between the body OF man and
ape. and receives support from tho fact
that. In habits and mode Of living.
some sarages are little above animals.
iSut even the least civilized men have
powcrs that no animal possesses, while
civilized man is so far above the high
est animals that some people believe
1t Impossible that he is the descendant
~ an animal
Whatever mans origin, it is certain
F.. mat III his carly stages he lived the
lifc OF n savage. When the Roman
Empire was developing tho Germans
AMI English were rude savagcs: and
stu earlier, the Inhabitants OF the
italian peninsula were in the same
condition To-day. both in the Old
and New World. there are races that
nave not yet risen above savagcry.
Here are three propositions that are
Doing taught the children OF tho State
At tho expense OF the taxpayers. "A
large percentage OF said taxpayers
being Christian men and women One
o. these propositions is tina, mans
ancestry is unknown Now. the
Bible tolls us that the Lord God
formed man OF the dust OF the ground.
ana brcathcd into his nostrils the
breath of life. and man became n iv-
Ing soul 1t also says: Male and
female created hc them. and God
Messed them. and God, said unto them.
&c fruitful and multiply ana replenish
sae"S indicate mans origin and the
entire line OF his ancestry"
SAYS BOARD SHOULD
REFORM on RESIGN
The article in the Presbyterian of
rho south concludes:
we do not know the names OF those
! whose Tarrs book WAS used in the
schools They may bc ignorant OF it's
contents. II they have given the chill
ocrtaininc its contents. they are guilty,
and should reform or resign. II they
knew its contents and still imposed
upon the children OF the state a text
book which rcpudtatcs the authority
OF the Scriptures ana insults tho
cherished faith of the Christian people
OF the Commonw calth, they are doubly
guilty and should confess their sin
state Superintendent OF Public In
struction Il. G, Stcarncs Is out Of the
citN on business. and no other member
"T the state Board Of Education could
be found last night when an effort
VAS made 10 obtain "A reply to the cen
sure pronounced in the article quoted
secretary Evan X. Chestermann of the
hoard. who has been on vacation, Is
expected home to-day.