THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

Marlborough Express, Volume IV, Issue 205, 27 November 1869, Page 4

THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

To the Editor of the Marlhnrmmh Sir, — Two causes have operated to prevent me from sending you my letter earlier in the week; I trust, however, the delay will not cause you inconvenience. In the first place, I have been compelled to attend to business before pleasure ; and secondly, Mr. Litchfield’s letter is so vague and rhapsodical that he gives me nothing to reply to, I will endeavor to answer his remarks, such as they are, seriatim. First, 1 beg to say in corroboration of your foot-note to Mr. L.’a letter, that “ Philo Veritas” is not the Editor nor the Printer of the Express, but a simple and earnest seeker after truth —and my personality in no way affects the question at issue. Mr. Litchfield’s first paragraph is a difficult one to answer, he plays fast and loose so rapidly. He does “consider the Bible a fit class book for schools” ; and in the same breath he adds, “ there are many parts of it difficult to understand, and not to be explained by just anyone .” What am I to understand by “ rust anyone ?" Again, before the bible can be commented on in our public schools, our schoolmasters must be, as a rule (mark this), not more intellectual, but of a higher “moral” standing. Now, Sir, I want to know what the moral status of a man has to do With the explanation of' a difficult passage in the Bible ? I always thought the understanding, and consequently the ability to explain, was a purely intellectual process ; but I must have been laboring under a false impression, or Mr. Litchfield is wrong. ' Again, “ It is from the want of a right teaching from that book that makes the education of the day so defective, &c.” Further on he says, “It is my opinion that Great Britain owes a great deal of her greatfifcss to the effect that the teachings of the Bible'have had on her leading men throughout her history.” How do you reconcile- these two passages ? :Atad I would ask if the physical . energy and indomitable pluck of the Anglo-Saxon race would not have made them a great nation, even though they had been all of the Jewish persuasion, or followers of Mahomet ? I have carefully abstained from being hypercritical or I could have used Mr. L.’s letter much more severely ; as it is, I must condemn the Bible as a class book from Mr. L.’s own words. It is because 1 it! teaches, or is made to'teach, that “ which'is so high that man cannot attain to it,” that llobject to it; Let. onr youth be taught 'to-do that which:they can do, and we shall not require'the aid of. angels, or any. other imaginary beings, to make this earth a heaven to what it is at present. 1 - Lastly, I would beg to observe that “ the Ten Commandments, the Book of Proverbs, and the Sermon on the Mount” do not constitute the Bible; nor can I discover that it follows as a natural sequence, that because a book is calculated in some men’s opinions to make ns. wiser and better, it is fit to be read by old and young. I am willing to give honor where honor is due, and I consider the Bible ought to be studied by every scholar, but not by the ignorant; that it is invaluable to the philological student, but utterly unfit for the general perusal of children and young persons. And lam prepared, should it be required of me, to give my reasons, taken from tße Bible itself, for the opinions I hold. 3 1 am &c., Nov, 25, 1869. Philo Veritas.