The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-09-28
BIBLE
. SHOULD.BEUSED
INSCHOOLSNOW
Failure to Use Scriptures in
Country Claimed Tragedy
by Doctor Stidger.

Zone Of the greatest tragedies
Of American life is that Of keeping
the Bible out Of public schools"
declared DR.. William L. Sudger,
pastor OF st. Mark6s Church De-
troit, Mich, when he addressed
the seyenty-sixth session OF the
West Virginia Conference Of the
Methodist Episcopal Church at 4
o'clock this afternoon In the First
Methodist Espicopal Church in
Fairmont avenue. where the con-
ference Is being held.
DR.. stidger continued: az used
to hear the Bible read every day
when l was a growing child.
Things that were read sank In
to my soul. Today 1t is not even
permissible to read the story Of
Christmas and Christ in the public
schools. The newspapers carried
a story, year or so ago, of tbs
arrest Of teacher for reading the
story of Christ on Christmas.
II do not see myself why all
other great literature Of the world
Is read and the Bible cannot be
read. But that is a tragic fact.
In the old days our children used
to have the Bible read to them
each day in the public school but
that is no longer true.
Therefore the ten fold duty
deVolves upon the parent to make
the child love the Bible by hearing
1t read at home every day. What
an awful thing to leave the Bible
out Of child's life!"
Doctor Stidger took as his sub
'5ect He Who Lays to Heart, the
Words Of God" and his text was
taken from Revelations 22-7-
Blessed is he who lays to heart
the words Of the prophesy Of this
book"
Cites Love for Tree
In the introduction Of his SER
mon Doctor Stidger said: II have
seen Bishop William A. Quayls
walk up to a tree and embrace It
as man would a woman or a
comrade, brother or father.
There was no affectatIon about It;
There was no melodrama. It was
great genuine love for that rug.
ged old giant Of a tree that ex-
pressed itself in that fashion; AMI
It was Just as sincere as the love
that little child has for ;. violet
when 1t talks love to 1t in spring
time. Whenever think OF such
a scene as that l feel the pouring
words Of this great text"
In speaking Of biblical settings
that illustrate this text Doctor
Stidger repeated the story of
Christ looking down on Jerusalem
and crying out 20 Jerusalem, Jer.
usalem, thou that killest the pro-
phets, and stonest them which are
sent unto thee how often would l
have gathered thy children to-
gether even as hen gathereth her
chickens under wings and yet
We would not!" Then he also spoke
Of Christ gathering the little chl;-
dren unto him.
What this text means is that
God wants US to be in earnest
about loving the Bible" said the
speaker. 81 like the flnallty of the
text. I am glad that there is an
exclamation point after It. God
means that we must not be luke
warm about our championship Of
the Bible; that we must not be
luke warm about our believing It;
that we must not Re luke warm
about our defense Of it when 1t
needs defense.
Duty of Preacher
There are many ways OF get
ting folks to love the Bible. That
Is one Of the duties Of the preach
er. The best way is to start with
the children. I find that children
naturally love the Bible and the
stories In 1t. That is because they
are pure enough to know instinct
lively that the Bible Is spiritual.
We try all sorts Of schemes to get
folks interested in the Bible after
they have grown older but the
time is childhood.
II am convinced more than ever