The Monroe journal. [volume] (Monroe, N.C.) 189?-1965, 1921-09-09
MRS. HARREu. DISCUSSES
BIBLE TEACHING IN SCHOOL
iect. But Knows She Got Her
Knowledge of Book in college.
By Lima Co,ineton Ugarreli.


Marshy.ile. Sept. S.-We are told
automatically. that hencelorth Har.
ward students who specialize in lit
erature aud languages, will be r.
CURED 10 show some knowledge o.
the Bible and Shakespeare as pre-
requisite 10 a degree. as these two
subjects contain knowledge neeessa-
~ TO the rounding out OF the educa-
ton OF those training for the minis
try. law. medicine or literary pur-
suits.
This. of course, brings 10 mind the
mooted question OF teaching the BIZ
BILE in all schools. especially all col
legeS. We have no words OF wisdom
10 expound upon the subject which
would help settle the issue. but We
do know that the most We ever learn
ed about the Bible we learned in col
lege. and even though much OF the
prescribed memory work of that day
has escaped US now. We are immeas-
ureably proud of the fact that once
upon a time we were able to repeat
the books OF the Bible in correct Sc
Quence. several Psalms. part of the
14th chapter of ST. John, the Ten
Commandments and the Apostle 5
creed without a flaw from beginning
10 end There was an especial in
ceptive TO perfection in this memory
work. for if we could repeat the pres
cribed amount without the least err
ror we were excused from class for
that hour. Now We wouldn't under
take TO memorize anything for such
a privilege, Ii was terrible nerve
strain though, for we confess the
whole thing was purely automatic
and parrot-like in effect. When We
began a Psalm or chapter we felt
reasonably sure of getting safely
through provided there wep no in
terruptions: but if we had been I'M
fortunate enough TO cough or sneeze
during the sprint. or perhaps trip on
single word we would have been
completely lost and been forced TO
sit and hear the others of the class
glide smoothly through, or stumble
and cut mental tumble-sault and
lie defeated by the wayside.
There were other trials too when
some OF us distinguished ourselves
with ourselves with a display of our
knowledge 60 OF the Bible. As for
instance when on Freshman Bible
exam the question was asked. when
was the world created An all-wise
freshman replied "iE 1872" Also
once on Sophmore class the teacher
asked, Miss ---. what can you
tell us about Gideon? The lucid
answer was, wasn't he the man who
put cotton out one night TO get wet?"
We likewise confess TO. a brilliant
thing We got off once ourselves when
a senior was dipping around in some
"half-foreotten lore" preparatory TO
examination and asked; WAS IL
the steward and the baker who were
thrown into prison and had per-
fectly wonderful dream which Jo-
seph interpreted for them?" We
promptly and firmly replied;
We'll. that's a good one on YOU. a
senior, and don't know that ii was
the butcher and the baker!"
Then we labored faithfully along
with the children of Israel through
all their m6rmurings and complain
ings and longed to slap the jaws of
the whole push over and over again.
Ii cur faith i'm the infinite patience
and forgiying spirit Of the Lord ever
requires a stimulus we have but 10
recall this querulous band and all
loGbt viii Immediately vanish
In fact while II Is true that at
times the Bible became merely one
Of The many textbooks hanging
heavily over when the stress of work
was unusually great, especially along
about mid-terms and finals, yet there
was much knowledge absorbed in
this systematic class room study OF
L which many of Us doubtless would
never have gotten elsewhere. Even
he parrot-like memory work ~left
Impressions upon us which have
served us In after life when We least
expected It, At any rate when we
are i'm search of a certain book OF
he Bible we generally know wheth-
n 10 look In the old or new Tesla
nent for IL, which. believe II or not,
$ something a lot of people do not
lnow And II we should hear any
me say Micah, Nahum. Habakkuk,'
While looking at us accusingly, we
would know that they were not call
ng us things in dead languages, but
would instantly recall the time when
We were struggling along with the
of these very gentle
men when learning the books of the
Bible, and would place them forth
With in the new Testament.
So, personally. We feel that any
me who does not have the adyan-
age of Bible study under compe-
ent teacher along with the rest OF
he college course has missed one OF
The best features of an education.
or, as has been pointed out by 9TH
.rs, there Ii certain underlying
which an educated man
II any profession should not lack
md this knowledge is presented TO
he world In the Bible.