THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

Marlborough Express, Volume IV, Issue 204, 20 November 1869, Page 5

THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

To the Editor of the Marlborough Express. Sir, - As “ Philo” declines, from prudential motives, to give his right name, I will not demand it any further, but will answer his questions, or give him my opinion, as after all it amounts to just a difference of opinion. I would remark that it appears very unusual to see the reply in the same day’s paper as the request. I did not send my short note to “ Philo Veritas,” but to the Editor—and it makes me suspect that “ Philo” and the Editor are very nearly the same. With regard to the first question—Do I consider the Bible a fit class-book for schools ?—Yes, I do ; but not to be explained by just anyone; before the bible can be explained or commented on in our public schools, a higher class of schoolmaster will be required as a rule. Ido not mean so much intellectually higher as morally. I must have been misunderstood as to having the Bible explained. We all know there are many parts of the Bible hard to understand, and therefore difficult to explain, but not so the fundamental truths therein —they do not require much, if any explanation,—perhaps a little illustration may do good; but, as I said before, we should be cautious, as the line is very difficult to draw. In saying thus much, I have answered the second question more than the first. I may say, when 1 use the word Bible, I mean more particularly, not entirely, the New Testament, because, as professing Christians, it applies more directly to us, and, moreover, is clothed in language more simple and better adapted to the understanding of the young. My reasons for believing the Bible to be a fit class-book for the young are : because it contains the very foundation of all good living ; it contains the soundest truths ; the purest morality ; offers the strongest inducement for man to practise its precepts—namely, present happiness and eternal reward. I think “ Philo” must admit that, if he believes in the future existence of man. The Bible contains the true principles of happiness, and its teachings are calculated to make a man what he ought to be—good and noble. We have abundant proof that the principles therein contained, if engrafted in the mind of the young, will have the effect that no other teaching, or teaching from no other book, can, or ever has effected. It is from the want of a right teaching from that book that makes the education of the day so defective ; our intellectual culture, which only polishes the surface, and in many cases makes men the more clever villians.

Where can be found higher morality than in the Ten Commandments ?—-"the Book of Proverbs ? —and the Sermon on the Mount ? Where can be found grander, nobler, purer precepts than can be found in the New Testament ? Where do you read of greater, nobler self-sacrifices than those of the Apostles of our Divine Master, who taught them and us to recompense no man evil for evil; to honor all men ; to do good to them that persecute us, &c., &c.—in fact to do that which, if man could do, would turn men into angels, and earth into heaven ; for the angels in heaven, and the purified spirits of man hereafter can do no more than is laid down in the Bible for us to do. But the standard is so high, that man cannot attain to it ; is it then to be condemned and said there is no truth in it—it is not a proper book for the young to read. I say a book which contains what the Bible does, and is intended to make, and will make us better and wiser men, must be a fit book for young or old to read. Its precepts will enlarge the mind ; and liberalize our ideas ; elevate our thoughts, and make us better, if we study it in a proper spirit, that is with a wish to benefit thereby. It is my opinion that Great Britain owes a great deal of her greatness to the effect that the teachings of the Bible have had on her leading men throughout her history. I believe I have now answered the questions of “ Philo Veritas,” alias, a “lover of truth.” I will now say in conclusion that both himself and myself have need to ask for help, that we may really discern the tmth ; for that is my wish, and I trust it is his. I am, &c.,

Nov. 15, 1869. P. J. Litchfield. [Mr. L. has no right to make the insinuation conveyed in the above note. We are not anxious to evade the responsibility of anything we choose to say in our own department of the paper, without pretences by using the correspondence column ; nor did we in this instance. The course pursued by us in bringing the relative parties to an issue was the customary one in such cases. Nothing was to De gained by delaying the discussion for a week longer until Philo Veritas should read Mr. L.’s letter in our columns, so long as one of the parties did not preserve his anonymity; consequently we acted as the medium between ourcorrespondents. The result is scarcely courteous.— Ed., M.E.]