SUPERINTENDENT’S LETTERS.

White Ribbon, Volume 24, Issue 279, 18 September 1918, Page 8

SUPERINTENDENT’S LETTERS.

BIBLE IN SCIIOOI.S. Dear Madam, — After much thought and study of the Bible in Schools question, 1 wish to place before your readers what 1 have learned on this subject from statements made by Christian men of experience in the education department in America, Australia and other places of interest. The Bible is the book of books. A» a means of imparting moral instruction nothing equal to it can be found in all the other books ages have produced. Bible reading cannot be omitted from the exercise of the school without the greatest loss and the most serious consequences. Where can the purest principles of morality be learned so clearly or s*. perfee tly as front the New Testament? Bible selections should be carefully made by some committee, with a view to providing suitable passages of proper length. In some schools in America, the school committee requires the daily reading in the public school of some portion of the Bible without written note or oral comment. About ten verses read at the opening of any public school upon each and every school day, followed by the Lord’s Prayer, reverently repeated by the scholars. A teacher there s:t>s: —“1 have had several years’ experience as principal of public schools from which the Bible has been excluded. I have also held the sane position in schools where it was allowed. I believe that th«* tea< her who locks upon development of character .is the end of his or her work, feels deprived of their strongest force when the Bible is taken from them. It is a sin against children to deprive them of the greatest moral power of the world at that periol of their lives when they need it most.” Experience proves that the average young person has a very imperfect knowledge of the Bible. The Bible is a book conducive to the liberal e ducation of children It opens up a new world to them. It trains their wills, makes tle*m ever seek that which is good and to turn away from that which is bad. No man or woman can justly claim to be educated who is not familiar with the contents of the Bible. President Enure says:—”! have faith enough in the Bible to believe that the better we understand it the more influential it will become.’’

Jesus constantly settled questions b\ referring to old Testament characters, by ‘‘lt is written,” and “Hast thou not heard.” A study of morals is needed by making a systematic u*e of those Ten Commandments which have served as the basis of morals and law for all modern, civilised nations, and of the beautiful summary of those Commandents in the law of love of (iod, and of our neighbours. The Bible is adapted to persons of all ages and character and languages, in every jKissiblc condition in which they could be placed—Prosperity, health, sickness, and temptation, childhood, youth, mature life and old age, the Church, society and civil government. It is evident that some passages teach duties to country more directly than others, and hence are more appropriate for children in schools maintained by State* funuprimarily for its benefit. Religion, morality, and knowledge being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and other means of educ ation shall be forever encouraged. There has been no failure to teach knowledge. Merely what we need is more efficient instruction in the fundamental principles of character and conduct which are embraced in the general term of religion and morality. Children must be taught the existence of a personal God; the responsibility of every human being to God, the deathlessness of the* human sou! a*, mack’ in the image of (iod after the power of an endless life; the reality of u future spiritual state beyond the grave, in which every soul shall give account of itself before God. and shall reap that which it has sown. “The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.” “The Commandnv nts of the Lord are pure, enlightening the eyes, and in keeping >f tie in there is great reward. —I am, etc., 11. I. COBB, Supt. Bible-in-Schoo’s Dept.