Convention of Illinois; formerly U. S. District Attorney in Utah.

Z. S. Holbrook, proprietor Bibliotheca Sacra.

Rev. Theodore N. Morrison, rector of the Church of the Epiphany.

Wm. A. Amberg, ex-president Columbus Club.

Frances Healy, ex-instructor in Chicago public schools.

Susan Gale Cooke, late secretary, Woman's Department Columbian Exposition.

Eliza Allen Starr, artist and philanthropist.

Jane Addams, superintendent, Hull House.

Mrs. Henry Solomon.
Mrs. Henry L. Frank.
Mrs. Mary B. Little.

Rev. Dr. Edward P. Goodwin, pastor, First Congregational Church.

Rev. Dr. J. Henry Barrows, pastor, First Presbyterian Church.

Prof. Samuel Ives Curtiss, Chicago Theological Seminary.

Prof. Graham Taylor, Chicago Theological Seminary.

Dr. John M. Coulter, president, Lake Forest University.

Hon. W. J. Onahan, ex-comptroller, City of Chicago.

Gen. Geo. W. Smith, ex-president, Union League Club.

Dr. P. S. Henson, pastor, First Baptist Church, Chicago.

Dr. Henry Wade Rogers, president, Northwestern University.

M. M. Mangasarian, president Society for Ethical Culture.

Rev. Dr. Carlos Martyn, late pastor, Sixth Presbyterian Church, Chicago.

Rt. Rev. Chas. Edward Cheney, bishop, Grace Episcopal Church.

Rev. Dr. H. W. Thomas, pastor, People's Church.

Rev. Dr. H. W. Bolton, pastor, South Park Methodist Episcopal Church. E. Mandel.

C. M. Henderson.

John V. Farwell, Jr.
Ezra A. Cook.
C. H. Case.
W. P. Rend.
Marshall Field.

Rev. Dr. J. L. Withrow, pastor, Third Presbyterian Church.

Cordial letters approving the sentiments of the Memorial have been received from Bishop Samuel Fallows, Dr. Paul Carus, Miss Frances E. Willard, and many others.

We number among the members of the Education Union the names of Mesdames C. H. Case, J. B. Hobbs, Emily D. Smith, Matilda B. Carse, and others of Chicago's foremost women.

Mrs. A. V. H. Wakeman writes: "In that the core and essence of each and studying other religions I have found every one of them is contained in our Scriptures."

In a clear, brief way, the "TimesHerald" of November 17, 1895, sketched the history of this book. We quote a few words: "Eminent representatives of nearly all religious beliefs have been giving their best thought to the compilation of a little volume of Scripture selections which would be schools of Chicago. Replying to the appropriate for use in the public cational Union they have selected pasappeal of the Chicago Woman's Eduand, in addition, have offered suggessages from the Bible for such a book tions of great value bearing on its preparation."

Adapted, as the Bible is, to persons of all ages and climates and languages, in every possible condition in which they could be placed, prosperity, adversity, health, sickness and temptation, childhood, youth, mature life and old age, for the family, 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 funds, primarily for its benefit.

In compliance with the wise suggestion of a member of the Chicago Board of Education, adopted by the Chicago Woman's Education Union, as stated by the "Times-Herold" quoted above, the selections used in this book were furnished by clergymen of different denominations. They were carefully arranged in form of a trial book of selections, which, after being approved by the Educational Union, was submitted to clergymen, educators, ethical teachers and leaders of the unchurched masses for revision, and their suggestions have been considered by the committee having this work in charge. The public will be glad to read quotations from a few of the many persons and publications which have come to our notice.

First. From Non-Christian Patriots and Thinkers:

Dr. Paul Carus, with well-trained mind and philanthropic heart, gives to the unchurched masses wise counsel in regard to the reading of Bible selections in schools. In the "Monist," July, 1894, he writes (editorially):

"In the interest of a strict impartiality toward all religions, ordinances are in force in some of the United States which forbid the reading of the Bible in public schools. Can the interdiction of the most important collection of sacred literature that exists be called liberty? True, the idea is not to let the children be impressed with any one of the various sectarian interpretations of the Scriptures; but shall our young men and women for that reason remain entirely ignorant of the contents of the Bible? The consequence is that in this country, where the mass of people are unchurched, more than fifty per cent. have never read the Bible, and truly we might rather omit Homer or banish Shakespeare than the History of Is

rael, the Psalms and the Gospels. I know the difficulty lies in the sectarian. spirit in which the various sects want the Bible read, and its miracles literally believed, but why not let the churches give their own interpretations in their Sunday schools, while the public educational institutions simply give an exposition of facts?"

Dr. M. M. Mangasarian, the beloved president of the Chicago Society of Ethical Culture, writes: "I believe in resisting with enthusiasm the secularization of the State. I believe in making State and schools more religious, more ethical and more sacred rather than more irreligious and secular; for the education that leaves the soul asleep is a degradation."

Prof. Felix Adler, in his book, "Moral Instruction of Children," p. 109, states that "The narrative of the Bible is fairly saturated with the moral spirit. The moral issues are everywhere in the forefront. Duty, guilt and its punishment, the conflict of conscience with inclination, are the leading themes. The Hebrew people seem to have been endowed with what may be called a 'Moral Genius,' and especially did they emphasize the filial and fraternal duties to an extent hardly equaled elsewhere. Now it is precisely these duties that must be impressed on young children, and hence the Biblical stories present us with the very material we require. They cannot, in this respect, be replaced.

"There is no other literature in the world that offers what is equal to them in value for the particular object we have now in view."

The views of Thos. H. Huxley concerning the reading of the Bible in the public schools, as found in his essay entitled "School Boards, What They Can Do, and What They May Do" (1870) are stated as follows:

Is there any perfectly honest and (See full extract on p. 33.)

self-sacrificing noble nullifidian patriot who cannot welcome the Bible into the public schools on grounds expressed by these leaders of thought?

Second. From Educators.

What opinion can be more valuable than that of an honest instructor who

has for many years and through varied experiences maintained his position and proved his right to know what young people need.

Sabra L. Sargent, Ferry Hall, writes: "I have had several years' experience as principal of public schools from which the Bible was excluded. I have also held the same position in schools where its use was allowed. I believe that the teacher who looks upon development of character as the end of her work feels deprived of her strongest force when the Bible is taken from her. It is a sin against children to deprive them of the greatest moral power of the world at that period of their lives when they need it most."

Mrs. L. L. Flower, recent member Chicago Board of Education, trustee of Illinois State University, writes: "I hope the Readings from the Bible for schools will be adopted, not as a general reading-book, but as a short exercise for five minutes each day, impressing the texts and principles on the pupils. I am more and more convinced of the necessity of some more moral and religious training for children.

"By religious I do not mean sectarian; but the general religious truths we all accept. It is well enough to say 'parents should teach religion.' So they should. But they don't, and too many are ignorant and untrained themselves. The school should supply, as far as possible, for the good of the commonwealth the ethical and moral training; the parents can't or won't, so I trust your book will be a success."

Rt. Rev. John J. Keane, rector of the Catholic University, Washington,

D. C., writes in a personal letter to the president of the Chicago Woman's Educational Union: Educational Union: "The Catholic Church believes, as every intelligent Christian must, that religion must form an integral part in education, and that the school is one of the principal fields of education, and that therefore, religion ought to tell in the school."

The presidents of the great Chicago universities write of the book of selections as follows: President Wm. R.

Harper of the University of Chicago: "It gives me pleasure to recommend most heartily the publication of the book of Scripture Selections for use in public schools. I AM CONVINCED THAT EVERY CAUSE HAS SOMETHING TO GAIN FROM ITS PUBLICATION, AND NO CAUSE ANYTHING TO LOSE." (Capitals are the Editor's.)

President Henry Wade Rogers of the Northwestern University, at the Sunset Club, Chicago, December 20, 1894, said: "Speaking for myself, I cannot but deplore the fact that the book which has shaped the laws, the civilization, the literature, the music and the art of Europe and America, cannot be read in the public schools of Chicago. The schools of the State can and should show that respect for religion which is implied in reading from the word of God." In a personal letter to the president of the Educational Union he writes: "I most unreservedly endorse this work, believing that the principles of morality should be thus impressed on the minds of our youth to their own good and the good of the commonwealth. I can see no possible harm from the use of such a book, and I believe that all good people should favor its introduction into our schools."

President John M. Coulter, Lake Forest University, writes: "Your work has been admirably done, and any objection to the use of such a book in the schools can only come from a

vision which is narrower than any denominational creed. It is of supreme importance that the noblest sentiments be constantly brought to the attention of children, and to banish a book which contains by far the greatest collection of them, is educational stultification."

Prof. Richard G. Moulton, professor of English Literature in the University Extension Department of the University of Chicago, has rendered valuable service in suggesting the style. which the selections should take for

the largest results in the schools. He writes: "With your aim I heartily sympathize."

Third. Religious People.
A. The Hebrews.

Rabbi K. Kohler writes: "I cannot but express my sympathy with the movement. It offers to teachers a safe guide for the opening exercises. It is broad, universal and elevating, and will be much better than any indiscriminate selection from the Bible by teachers."

Rabbi H. Percira Mendez and Rabbi M. Mielziner by contributing to a similar work have indicated their approval of the general plan of readings from the Bible in schools.

Rabbi Emil G. Hirsch expresses his appreciation of the Bible in the following words: "I do not yield to its most devoted lover in reverence for the good book."

Rabbi A. Norden, Congregation of the North Side, writes: "Moral and ethical training should always accompany secular education. I therefore favor the introduction of such a book in our public schools, but the instruction must never be of a denominational character."

Noble Jewish women also have given their approval of this movement, and who in business circles could be more representative of the Hebrew people than Emanuel Mandel, who expressed himself as happy to serve this cause by

B. Evangelical or Protestant Christianity hails this movement and rejoices in the general approval of the book of Scripture Selections.

Dr. Edward P. Goodwin writes: "I have examined with much interest the selections from the Bible prepared for use in our public schools. I think them most excellent. Indeed, I do not see having our youth established in habits how any one who feels interested in of truth, purity, uprightness, unselfishness, and goodness, can possibly fail to see the value of such high standards as these selections offer, continually set before the mind and heart of those who are to shape and determine the future of our country. What our city and our land pre-eminently needs is men and women of the type that such standards go to make. And it ought not to be an objection to them. but on the contrary, a weighty reason for their approval that they come to us with an authority that the originators of our free institutions, as well as of our system of public education, held to be divine. If we and our children will obey its behests it will anchor us in those divine conditions of truth and righteousness and virtue which are the supreme hope of a free people."

Dr. Thos. C. Hall writes the Educational Union as follows: "It has been a great pleasure for me to look through the selections made from the Bible and intended for the use of public schools, should it be possible to secure such Bible readings in them. It is difficult to see how any one can object to the reading of such selections as are gathered together. It is a melancholy reflection to think how much of the noblest literature the world has ever known should be a region left in mists and darkness for hundreds of thousands because the Bible has not been

familiar to them. And English literature rests so largely upon it that without a competent knowledge of the English Bible, Milton, Tennyson and Goldsmith are locks without a key. Simply as a key to English literature, the Bible ought to be studied in our public schools. No student of the marvelous beauties of Arabic literature would dare undertake the study of that literature without some competent knowledge of the Koran, and surely if we set our students of Arabic literature to the study of the Koran there is much more reason that students of English literature should know something of the English Bible, which has given to our modern language some of its highest inspirations."

Rev. W. T. Meloy states that "High education in matters moral may be left to the Church, but the State is bound to give

all its citizens a chance to learn the rudiments of morality. When we admit that the State should provide for the morals of its citizens, and yet demand that the Bible the text-book on morality-be removed from the public schools we are illogical."

Bishop Samuel Fallows writes, voicing this general sentiment: "I have looked over with very great interest the selections which have been made from the Bible for use in public schools. I can most heartily commend them as being judiciously chosen, and in every way adapted to carry out the laudable design of the Chicago Woman's Educational Association. I look upon the effort made to put these selections in the schools as one of the most important movements of the day, and feel more than delighted that such unanimity of opinion exists regarding

its value and benefit."

Dr. Josiah Strong, of New York, president Evangelical Alliance, Drs. F. W. Gunsaulus, Theo. N. Morrison, H. W. Thomas, Theo. F. Wright, J. N. Barrows, President C. A. Blanchard,

and Prof. Herrick Johnson have shown. their appreciation of the work by making selections for it, while many others, such as Drs. J. L. Withrow and N. D. Hillis, have urged its claims from the pulpit.

C. The Catholic Church.

While our beloved Prof. David swing named a committee, composed of Catholic, Jew, Protestant, to attend to the numerous and important minor questions connected with this book, the scholarly Archbishop P. A. Feehan named its real compiler when he said. that "Chicago had sufficient talent to prepare its own book of selections."

Chicago, in the person of many of its and other professional men, also by its foremost clergymen, assisted by editors noble and intellectually trained women, its mayors, members of the Board of Education and other officers, its business men, and its metropolitan press, is the real editor and director of this enterprise.

The Catholic Church may well be pleased with the thought of their Archbishop, which resulted in sending the

Educational Union forth to secure the results of the experience and wisdom. of Chicago for the public school children. Following his example, Drs. Riordan, McGuire and other Chicago clergymen contributed helpful words. Outside of our city, the interest and courtesy of Monsignor Satolli has been a real source of refreshment. He wrote, after examining the original volume, to the president of the Educational Union as follows: "It gives me sincere pleasure to see that day by day the persuasion is spreading, that the education of the young without some definite element of morality and religion must result in failure so far as the real usefulness of education is concerned."

Cardinal Gibbons wrote from his Baltimore residence, among other important statements, the following: