The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-03-19
WOULD HAVE BIBLE TAUGHT ID PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS
State of Washington Forbids Use of Scriptures as Text book-0rganization
 Is Formed
By Associated Press


 1 Spokane, Wash, March 1S.-Estab- lishment of Bible teaching as A mart of the course of study in public schools of the state of Washington is the purpose of a proposed state- wide organization of religious. fra ternal, political and labor oreaniza- tIons, which will have it's first meet ing in Seattle sometime In the next two months.
 The move is being initiated by a special committee of the Presbyte- rlan church. synod of Washington l though the contemplated organiza- tlen-to be known as the Bible Eel lowship of Washington"-wilI be nonsectarian. Invitations have been sent to the head of the Roman Cath oltc church here, as well as the Prot estant churches. Participation will also be asked of leading fraternal organizations, the state federation of labor and government bodies of poli- tical parties.
 Since May. 1918, when the Wash ington state supreme court adjudged the Bible "sectarian" book, ruling that it was unconstitutional to teach l 1t in the public schools, different re- igious organizations have been in- vestlgating the question. The spe- cial Presbyterian committee reported;
 The Bible is required to be read daily in the state common schools of Alabama, District of Columbia, Florida and Massachusetts; Maine is advocating similar law
 "Thirty-five other states permit i Bibble readings without sectarian l fs n n lf3an ont in h1fx- state colleges and universities. Exclude Reading The only states whose constitu- tions and laws have been construed as excluding the reading or teaching of the Bible from all state schools are Arizona. Louisiana, Illinois. Min nesota, Nevada. Wisconsin, Wyom- ing and Washington.
 The only states that have in ef- feet classed and adjudged the Bible as 'sectarian' book are Wisconsin and Washington" | The report recommended a nonsec- tarian organization to "provde ways and means and adopt and carry out program that will thoroughly test and establish the teaching of the Bible as a part of the education the constitution requires the state to pro- | vide for; and to obtain the opinion of the highest courts thereon, including the opinion or deliverance of the su- preme court of the United States and also a plebiscite, if deemed neces- sary." The Bible Fellowship ot Washington is to be that organiza- tion.
 R. l.. Edmiston, chairman of the committee which prepared the report, holds that because or the attitude on | HA f1.o 70 preme court, this is the state in which to start the reform, which he con fdently expects to cover the entire United States-"jar the whole coun- | try"--before 1t is finished. Other states are expected to follow Wash | ington's lead.
 Examine Legislators While the procedure will be deter mined by the fellowship after it is organized. MT. Edmiston indicates that the probable first move will be examination of prospective legisla to s, "to see whether they are fit to make laws for a Christian govern ment." It may be necessary to seek an amendment to tHe state consti- | tuition. he said, or to take action against the state in the United States supreme court to require the state to include the Bible ilr the educational course of study. If such case is brought, MT. Edmiston believes it will | be comparable in importance to the Dred Scott case, tried before the Civil war.
 Mir Edmiston contends that the de- cision of the state supreme court. barring the Bible from the schools, is "repugqant to the principles of the Declaration of Independence" which | he claims is the foundation of the government of the United States. The common assumption that the govern ment is founded on the constitution adopted by the colonies in 1789 is an error, he asserts. Since. under MT Edmiston's reasoning, the Bible was recognized in the Declaration of Inde- pendence, he believes any statement in the constitution is superseded by the Declaration of Independence, which was an admission of the over all sovereignty of God" to quote Mir Edmiston.
 1 Only one organization, the Metho- dist church. has accepted the invita- ton to the Seattle meeting so far.