The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1925-04-09
PROPERTY OF PERMIT
TING BIBLE IN SCHOOLS
Recently Stated on Authority
that Book is Dominant Factor
In Promotion of Good
Citizenship


Holy Bible prominent place in the
American public school has been Sc
verely questioned. Compulsory reli-
gious education is favored by many
denominations, members of the press
and individuals, and opposed by num-
erous religious organs and groups of
taXpaying citizens who contend that
sectarian education has no place in
the school, but rather should be con-
fined to the church and home. The
King James Bible is, therefore, re-
garded BY many as a distinctly sec
tartan book.
One learned authority recently
stated, THE day you Danish the Bible
from the public school, that day you
will haul down the Stars and
Stripes" In other words, the Bible
proves a dominant factor in the pro-
motion of good citizenship, thus Gin
surfing domestic tranquility"
An interesting sidelight on the
Book of Books" is given by the
Christian Science Monitor of March
IS, in which, editorially, appears the
following article, clearly demonstrate
ing the major role the Holy Bible
plays in Masonic lodge:
1T is a matter of common knowl-
edge that in every duly constituted
Masonic lodge in English-speaking
nations the open Bible rests upon the
altar. In every Masonic ritual in
those countries the Book is referred
TO as one Of the three great lights,
and often as the rule and guide of
Masonic faith. Craftsmen who have
proceeded in the study of the forms
and ceremonies of the fraternity have
long been aware of the fact that GER
tain sections of the ritual were adap-
ted either from direct quotations
from the Bible or from paraphrased
illusions to the Old Testament texts.
But until quite recently there has
never been sustained effort to COM
pile separately the many interesting
and instructive illusions in the Bible
to the traditions, customs and funda-
mental practices upon which the
prehistoric lodges were founded.
This interesting piece of work has
been completed under the auspices of
the Grand Lodge of Free and Accept
ed Masons of New York State,
through its Bureau of Social and
Educational Service. The result is
presented in what is known as
Masonic edition of the Bible. This,
it is made quite clear, is not another
revised version Of the Bible. The
text of the King James translation
is faithfully adhered to. But in the
form of a predatory section there
have been compiled sixteen pages of
quotations of particular interest to
all craftsmen. These tend to confirm
what many may have regarded as
mere legendary accounts dealing with
the manners and customs, the meth
DDS and accomplishments of the
original master Masons, their fellows
and apprentices.
"In that compilation there is con-
tanned a striking and convincing les
son of brotherhood and of effective
cooperation. There one may find the
true essence of fraternalism. 1t pre-
sents appealingly to those who may
possibly have been inclined to study
the letter and the form of the Actual
ing motive which united their early
brethren and which has served,
throughout the centuries, to cement
and hold them. 1t is explained that
since the Masonic Bible was first is
sued it has been placed in the hands
of more that 5000 new members of
lodges in the New York jurisdiction.
Surely it would seem that this is a
custom which should spread. 1t would
encourage a greater familiarity with
the Book itself, and undoubtedly it
would inculcate in the initiate a
greater respect and reverence for his
craft.
"The need of the time is to arouse
finer appreciation of the necessity
of concerted cooperative activity
along lines which are known by those
who think alike to be right. One not
familiar with the rituals and teach
ings of fraternal orders in general
would not be able to say how many
or how few of them accord to the
Bible a position of honor and distinc-
ton in their lodge rooms and in their
teachings. But it is no secret that
Masons everywhere more than theo-
retically accord such a place to it.
They realize that in daily practice,
in their contact with their fellows
and with all others, there must be
given more than passing heed TO the
injunction, Let there be light
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