BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1011, 29 December 1910, Page 2

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

. Sir,-"-The.-numerous.letters-.which :'.]iavo appeared show that considerable interest is. again being revived on this question, 10, me the solution of the difficulty is simplo and easy. Admit .the Bible, but not the teaching, of it. It is liot really a question of the Bible in schools, but Bible, oj''rather traditional teaching in schools, that forms the main objection, ihe Bible is not a sectarian book; it is for the whole world. Tho Romans profess to believe tho Bible. So do tho Protestants, and no reasonable .one amongst the Secularists objects to tho principles contained in the TeiV Comandments, upon which the .whole Biblo-is based. Or, as Jesus said, "On these'two' Commandments (love to God and. Ibvo, to man) hang all Hie law and the prophets." ■ ' : Then why not; lot-the-ieaching"-of tho Scriptures' alone,' and'allow :.tho Bible to toll its own bottei;'still, insist on tho scholars committing to.niomory'tho 'Tea &mmandiMnls« 4r''^.'(tp^t<(nr6)fcjection- cah'. be,raised, ift ltliis. course) for the Roman' Catholic3'.:teach';'.that "It is necessary to keep every- one of fho Ten .Commandments, for . tho Scripture says, ''Whosoever, shall offend in one shall become guilty of all.'" Then other portions should bo committed to, memory by the moro advanced students, such, as tho 28th 6f Deuteronomy, the sth, 6th, and 7tli chapters of .Matthew, tho .Sermon oh the Mount:ln those Scriptures wo have set forth rewards for' obedience and.'punishments for lawlessness. It is a monstrous injustice for tho State to 'punish a child for violation of the law, and withhold instruction, of what the law requires of him. If wo' give instruction to the' prisoners who have broken the law", why not allow the children to know the law to prevent them becoming criminals? Whother the Roman Catholic Bible or the Protestant Biblo be used "in the schools, it does not. matter much. I havo read the Doua.v Old Testament, and- the Rheims Nqw Testament, from cover to cover,_ and in many cases I prefer it to' King James's translation. If the Bible ,is taught, whether in school or out, let.it be the Bible, arid hot the Bible and something' else, that it does not contain but utterly, condemns.—l am, etc.,- , * Y .A BIBLE READER. - .. [Portions' of this letter critidising the religious teaching of a -particular Church' have been omitted.] • >