THE BIBLE IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 315, 12 March 1875, Page 3

THE BIBLE IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

Opinion and Deciding of the Supreme Court of Ohio in the Case of John D. Minor and Others v. the Board of Education of the City of Cincinnati and Others.

We draw attention once again in our pages to this now famous case. In the superior Court of Ohio the decision of the Board of Education of the city of Cincinnati, by which the Bible was excluded from the schools under its jurisdiction was reversed, and the reading of the Scriptures restored. In this Court the case was ably argued bv the leading lawyers of the State, and the Judges feeling that it was a case of importance delivered their opinions with great care. By appeal the defendants took it to the Supreme Court of Ohio. In the pamphlet which we received through Keith and Wilkie, booksellers of this city, extracted from vol. 23, Ohio State papers, we have the opinion and decision of tho Court. We regret to say that Ihe Court reverses the sentence of the superior Court, and of course confirms the action of the Cincinnati Board of Education, by which the reading of the -Bible and the singing of rel'gious hymns ar>s forbidden in connection with its schools The decision of the Court, which was read by Judge Welsh, is elaborate and exhaustive in the highest degree, and form probably the ablest contribution to the views of natural education held by the secular party. While differing from Judge Welsh, we are bound to admit'hat his handling of the great subject is characterised by calmness, dignity, breadth, and thoroughness. 11 is most instructive to notice how he ihol.d jr>f .the—trates it by history and philosophy. In his hand religion is treated as the first boon of Heaven, and the best friend of man In his concluding sentence he says:— " I have made this opinion exceptionally and laboriously Ion?. I have done so in the hope that ] might thereby aid in bringing about a harmony of views and a fraternity of feeling between different classes of society, who have a common interest in a great public institution of the State, which, if managed as sensible men ought to manage it,.l have no doubt will be a principal instrumentality in working out for us what we all desire—the best, form of Government and the purest system of religion."

The effect is reversal of the judgment of the superior Court, and the dismissal of the Original petition.— 4 Evangelist.'