Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-03-11
Move to Establish
Bible Teaching in
Washington State

, Spokane, Wash, March 10-Estab-
lishment of Bible teaching as a part
of the course of study in public
schools of the state of Washington
is the purpose of Il proposed state
wide organization of religious, fra =
ternal, political. and labor organiza-
TONS which will have its first meet
ing in Seattle sometime in the next
| two months.
The move which is being initiated
by special committee of the presby-
terrain church, synod of Washington,
through the contemplated organiza-
| tion-to beg'known as the "Biblc
/, Fellowship of Washington'-wil be
nonscctarian. Invitations have been
sent to the head of the Roman Cath
Ollie church here, as well as to the
Protestant churches. Participation
will also be asked of leading fratcrnal
organizations, the state federation of
labor, and governing bodies of politi-
cal parties.
Since May, 1918, when the Wash
| ington state supreme court adjudged
the Bible "sectarian" book, ruling
that it was unconstitutional to teach
it in the public schools, different re-
| ligious organizations have been in
vestigating the question. The special
Presbyterian committee reported:
THE Bible is required to be read
daily in the state common schools of
Alabama, District of Columbia, Flori-
da. and Massachusetts,; Maine is ad :.
| vocating a similar law.
'Thirty-fiv other states permit
Bible readings without sectarian
comment in their common schools
and state colleges and universities.
THE only states whose constitu-
ton and laws have been construed
as excluding the reading or teaching
Arizona. Louisiana, Illinois, Mime
sofa, Nevada, Wisconsin, Wyoming,
and Washington.
THE only states that have in eff
feet classcd and adiudged the Bible
as 'sectarian' book are Wisconsin
and Washington"
The report recommended a nom
scctarian organization to provide
ways and means and adopt and carry
out program that will thoroughly
test and establish the teaching of the
Bible as n part of the education the
constitution requires the state to pro-
vide for; and to obtain the opinion
Of the highest courts thereon, includ-
ing the opinion or deliverance of the
Supreme court of the United States
and also plebiscite, if deemed nee.
essary." The Bible Fellowship of
Washington is to be that organiza-
ton.
X. L. Edmiston, chairman of the
committee which prepared the re-
port, holds that because of the. atti-
tudc on the question of the Washing
| ton supreme court. this is the state
/ in which to Start the reform, which
! he confidently expects to cover the
entire United Statcs--"iar the whole
| country"-before it is finished. 9th
or states arc expected to follow
Washington's lead.
While the procedure will be de-
| termincd by the fellowship after it
is organized. Mr.. Edmstoh indicates
that the probable first move will be
examination of prospective legisla-
! WIS, ~ SEE ilttHeT ticy are III 10
make laws for a Christian govern
| ment." 1t may be necessary to seek
an amendment to the state constitu-
ton, he said. or to take action against
the state in the United States su-
preme court to require the state to
include the Bible in the educational
course of study. If such a case is
brought. Mr.. Edmiston believes it
| will be comparable in importance to
the bred Scott case, tried before the
civil war.
u Mr.. Edmiston contends that the
decision of the state supreme court,
barring the Bible from the schools, is
"repugnant 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
government is founded on the con-
stitution adopted by the colonies in
1888 is an error, he asserts. Since