The American W.C.T.U. and Bible Reading in State Schools.

White Ribbon, Volume 17, Issue 198, 18 December 1911, Page 11

The American W.C.T.U. and Bible Reading in State Schools.

The following extracts from American W.C.T.r. annual reports are opportune, as there is going to be a great tight to got the Bible placed in New Zealand Slate Schools:— Mrs Mary K. lvuhl, Stale President Illinois W.C.T.I .. 1111. The IVmplf Chicago, recommended at the last Convention, October 1910 “That we take definite measures to have the Bible reinstated in our public schools as a book to be road without comment, and tint we pass a strong resolution condemnatory of the action of the Supreme Court in its decision against the Bible in our schools.” The Californian W.C.T.U., at their Conference, 1910, passed the following resolution :—“ It being a well-known fact that the rising generation is in lamentable ignorance of the Holy Scriptures, and as Hiis is largely the result of banishing the Bible from the public schools, this organisation places itself on record, as standing for its reinstatement in the public schools as literature.”

The South Californian Conference, 1910, resolved:—“That we advocate the reading of the Bible without comment, in our public schools, and other educational institutions.” Mrs T. M. N. Stevens, the National President of the American W.C.T.U., in her address at < Mnaha, said : I again call attention to the action of the National Education Association of America in its resolution : “ Hopinq for *uch a change of ptthlic sentiment as trill permit and encourage the reading of the Hi hie in public schools.” I earnestly recommend that we do all in our power to bring this to pass. The late President (Glover Cleveland , said shortly before bis death : “I do not believe, that as a people, we can afford to allow our interest and reverence for the Bible to abate. I look upon it as the source from which those who study it in spirit, and in truth, will derive strength of character, and real apprehension of the power and wisdom and mercy of God.”

And President John Quincy Adams said : “I speak as a man of the world to men of the world ; and I say it is the book of all others, to he read at all ages, and in all conditions of human life ; not to be read once or tw ice, or three times through, and laid aside, hut to be read in small portions of one or two chapters

every day, and never to be omitted, unless by some over ruling necessity.” Ruskin, critic of art and master of English prose, says: “All that I have known of art, everything that I have written, every greatness that there has been in any thought of mine, whatever I have done in my life, has simply been due to the fact that when I was a child my mother daily read with me a part of the Bible, and daily made me learn a part by heart.” The Rhode Island W.C.T.U. Evangelistic Superintendent Miss E O. Nichols ), is urging the importance of Bible reading in public schools. Mrs Frances B. Heald, President Nebraska W.C.T.U., is urging that the Bible be r°ad in the schools of her State. In Australia the W.C.T U. of Victoria do an immense amount of work to get the Bible read in the schools of that State. They arrange with their Unions for a good reception of an organizer who is working up a campaign.