XII. STUDY OF THE BIBLE.

REPORT ON "THE BEST METHOD OF PROSECUTING THE STUDY OF THE BIBLE IN COMMON SCHOOLS."

BY REV. B. P. AYDELOTT, M. D.

THE terms of the theme proposed to your Committee, are such, they conceive, as will render their report comparatively brief. Had our subject been the general one the study of the Scriptures in schools-it might have been proper for us to have dwelt upon the reasons, moral and political, why we believe in the importance of such study; and indeed its necessity to the permanence of our free institutions. We would also have been required to point out the use of the Bible as a classic; i. e. how it ought to be studied in our colleges and other higher seminaries of learning, both in the authorized version, and in the Hebrew and Greek originals.

But from these wide, and on many accounts, most interesting fields of discussion, your committee are excluded by the specific character of the subject assigned them. They are shut up to the one point-"What is the best method of prosecuting the study of the Bible in Common Schools?"

The College, it will readily be perceived, has assumed that the Holy Volume ought to be studied in common schools; and the only question before us now is,-in what manner this duty should be performed?

It is hardly necessary to observe, that in the forementioned assumption, the College is fully borne out by the general voice of the community. If there is any one point on which the public mind is entirely united, it is, that education to be useful, or even safe, must be Christian. And as the Bible is the only common standard of Christianity, so it can be the only universal `text book. Hence, we may account for the fact, a fact full of good omen for the future, that in nearly all the meetings of the friends of education for some years past, in various parts of our country, there have been resolutions unanimously adopted, recommending in the strongest terms, the general introduction of the Bible into our schools.

Your Committee would here remark, that though they are shut out from the higher parts of this momentous subject, the branch of it before them is still the most important, because vastly the most extensive. For one youth studying in a college or university, are there not hundreds embraced in common schools? So that were the study of the Bible to be neglected by the one class or the other, it would be incomparably better that the evil should rest with the first. Surely it is more important that the great mass of our people, be well instructed in the Word of God, than that the few who come from the halls of our colleges should be deeply skilled in its lore. But in truth there is no necessity for the existence of this evil in either case; and the same public sentiment which in its might, has awakened up our colleges to the obligation of studying the Bible as a classic, will, we doubt not, with an authority irresistibly commanding, diffuse through every seminary of learning in the length and breadth of our land, that volume which is alike the great rule of our duty, and the charter of all our privileges and our hopes.

It has been proposed by some to form a reading book by selections from the Bible, as the best means of fulfilling the intention of the college in the matter now before us. But while we most assuredly believe, that in respect to excellence of materials, and diversity of style, and general interest, a volume might in this way be made up, superior to any other in the hands of children; and while we are confident that such a work would be very acceptable to many, and highly useful, we cannot think that it would be allowed, or indeed ought to be permitted to supersede the general scholastic use of the Bible itself. To whose hands would the public be willing to commit such a task? That in the selection, however faithfully formed, there would be discerned a leaning towards the peculiar views of the compiler, or at least, that such a peculiar bias would be suspected, is manifest. And this distrust would not only prevent its universal adoption; but what is far worse, any attempt to press its general use, might operate to close our schools for a long time to come, against the whole subject of Bible study.

Let those then who agree among themselves in certain peculiar views of religion, have their own particular biblical readers. To this there can be no fair objection. It is their right. And indeed the benefits of such eclectic works to the different denominations, are so obvious, that it is surprising they have not accomplished more in this way.

But however great mere denominational exertion may here be in time to come, still the broad common ground of public schools, will yet remain unoccupied. For it is to be presumed that no board of trustees, having charge of these institutions would be willing to intro

duce an Episcopalian, a Baptist, a Presbyterian, or any other denominational biblical reader; and yet it is believed, that very few such boards would object to this use of the Bible itself.

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Again, in many of the reading books now in use highly appropriate extracts from the Sacred Volume are to be found. Their compilers have thus sought, more or less faithfully, to infuse along with uninspired lessons, the teachings of the Bible into the youthful mind. Among these selections it gives us peculiar pleasure to notice those of the Messrs. Pickets of this city, and those being published under the editorial care of Professor McGuffy, of the Miami University.

Now it may be asked, why is not this the best mode of conveying biblical knowledge in common schools? We reply in brief, that these books, excellent as they are, must always be open to the same objections, as the class of biblical readers just noticed. Whilst then we would highly commend them, and rejoice in the public approbation already awarded to them, and wish them a still wider circulation, we are confident that neither of them can ever come into universal use. Let such books, we say, be multiplied; the field is wide; there is room enough in the Sacred Work for every laborer who has the heart to engage in it. And yet we are persuaded, that under the most favorable circumstances, it would be but the merest corner of the great harvest which could thus be reaped.

Your Committee then consider that the BIBLE no selection from the Bible-but the BIBLE itself, ought to constitute the class book in our common schools. Only the Bible can spread over the whole ground. It would be well, perhaps, in the case of young beginners, to use, as was once quite common, only the New Testament and the Psalter; as the reading in these is easier, and the price of them much less than that of the whole volume. The Gospel and epistles of John, and many of the Psalms are peculiarly simple and intelligible in point of style, and well calculated to arrest the attention even of the most youthful.

But we are convinced that the whole of the Inspired Volume should as soon as possible be placed in the hands of the learner. If to this it be objected, that some parts of the Bible are above the capacity of most pupils, and that others are not proper for their perusal,--we observe in answer to the latter part of the objection, that if ever valid, it is so only in respect to the merest fraction of the Sacred Volume; and that a very little prudence on the part of the teacher, would obviatet his difficulty. Again, that the whole of the Bible could not be understood by every learner, is no doubt true, but of what schoolbook does not the remark hold good? Here also a measure of discretion is demanded in the teacher. Let him lead the youthful learner on from the more plain narrative and ethical reading, to the more difficult and

profound parts of the Word of God. It was beautifully observed by an ancient writer,-" if there are depths in the sacred Scriptures, where the elephant may swim, there are also shallow places in which the infant can wade."

Here we would observe, that the Bible, in its diversity of style, is admirably adapted to different classes of learners. To read the writings of John, James, or David, or the Proverbs of Solomon, or indeed most of the Scriptural narrative, is quite easy; but to read those of Paul, and many of the prophets, so as to exhibit the sense and spirit of the sacred penmen, requires close attention and skillful training.

It is unquestionably the duty of the teacher never to crowd the minds of his scholars with mere words; but to see that they understand what they read. Hence an important question with respect to the subject before us, will at once present itself, and it must be met. The inquiry is this-how far ought the teacher to go in explaining the Sacred Scriptures.

To this question it is not easy to give a full and precise answer; and yet we apprehend that the intelligent and honest teacher will find. little difficulty in practice.

It will be allowed on all hands, that whatever tends to throw light upon the geography, chronology, antiquities, and civil and natural history of the lesson, may be freely brought forward. But it is believed that the teacher may go further, and call the attention to the more obvious and important truths and facts of the Bible: as the being, character, works and providence of God; the mission and example of the Savior; the great principles of human duty, especially as exhibited in the lives of the prophets, apostles, and other faithful men; the responsibilities of each individual, as a free, moral agent, a future judgment, and its solemn issues.

But there is one other point which, as American citizens, it would be altogether inexcusable in us to pass without notice. It is the use of the Bible in our schools as affording true principles of political morality. Your Committee believe, that while the Bible affords no countenance to civil broil, or resistance to lawful authority, but commands all men to follow peace, and to obey magistrates and those set over them, whatever the form of government may be, -- the Bible is yet, to say the least, in its general spirit and scope, decidedly. favorable to free institutions.

The friends of civil and religious liberty, have therefore every thing to hope from the influence of the Bible. It teaches men to respect each other's rights,—to do unto others as they would have others do unto them, and thus exposes the injustice of tyranny and oppression Only let the spirit of the Bible its upright, peaceful,

in every form.

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charitable spirit pervade our whole land, and nought can shake the goodly fabric of this republic. A popular knowledge of the Bible and a popular reverence for the Bible, is the strong rock on which alone a popular government can rest. Is it not then clearly the duty of American teachers to endeavor to infuse into the very heart's core of all their youthful charge, the free spirit and the pure political morality of the Inspired Volume? A generation thus taught will know and love their rights too well, to be willing to surrender them at the shrine of despotism; and they will be too virtuous to become the dupes of the demagogue. Let then the influence of the Bible pervade every youthful mind in the land, and the republic is safe. In this high and holy work, the teachers of common schools have an indispensable and most honorable part to perform.

And surely it will be an abundant compensation to the faithful instructor for all his toils, when he looks forward to their result. The youth of the country will go from under his hand not only furnished with ancient learning and modern science, but thoroughly imbued with those pure, benevolent and ennobling principles which the Bible alone can supply :- principles which, while they secure the respectability and happiness of the individual, constitute, under Heaven, the only infallible guaranty for the prosperity of those free institutions, civil and religious, which, cost our fathers so much blood and treasure.

It will readily occur to the College, that the use of the Bible in our common schools must exercise a most benign influence upon the characters and attainments of the teachers themselves. To instruct a class of beginners simply to read in the plainer parts of the Holy Volume, is a work of no great difficulty; but to be prepared to communicate all that information which the pupils will need as they advance in the Sacred Scriptures, will require much study and close reflection. No one can be so sensible of this, as he who makes the attempt. There is no branch of knowledge which may not be made to throw light upon the Bible. A thorough acquaintance with it demands general science. And though we never can expect the professional teacher to become perfect in this or any other part of his labors, still a diligent and conscientious attention to it, cannot fail greatly to increase his intellectual stores, elevate his moral feelings, and improve his whole character. Faithfulness here, cannot but make him, with Heaven's blessing, a wiser, a better and a happier man. Whatever thus operates, must give him a higher standing in the regards of an intelligent community.

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