Covenanter Witness Vol. 55 - Rparchives.org

system."school."purposes."schools."purposes"permitted."AnAEvaluationRadio Addres-Instead of Gleanings and Current EventsSince both our columnists, Dr. F. E. Allen on sick leaveand Dr. William Russell on business leave, have left theirspaces on the Editor's lap, we are using them to presenta radio address by Dr. Walter McCarroll, published in theNational Voice of August 4.AN EVALUATION OF ATTORNEY GENERAL BROWN'SCONSTITUTIONALITY RULING OF BD3LE READINGIN CALDJORNIA'S PUBLIC SCHOOLSDR. W. McCarrollRadio Message, 7 P.M., Sabbath, July 24, 1955, Station KXLA(Dr. Walter McCarroll is President of the ChristianCitizens Association of California)It is an honor and a privilege to have this opportunityto bring the message at this hour in the absence of MissHubler, who is scheduled to speak tonight in San Diego.Miss Hubler has rendered and continues to render a notableservice in behalf of the Temperance cause.AttorneyBrown's OpinionOn June 10, Attorney-General Brown published hisOpinion on the constitutionality of Bible reading in our public schools. A request had been made for such an Opinionback in the fall of 1953. In the meantime, requests had comein for rulings on various phases of religion in our publicschools. This Opinion is in two parts: one of 10 pages, andthe other of 14 pages. The conclusions reached are summarized as follows:1. "Voluntary student religious associations may holdtheir meetings on a school campus, provided there is noendorsement of such associations by the school authorities,and provided there is no interference with the regular educational program of the2. "The Bible may not be read in public school classesfor religious purposes. It may be used for reference, literary,historical, or other non-religious3. "The Gideon Bible may not be distributed throughthe public school4. "Religious prayers maycurriculum of the publicnot be made a part of theThese are the conclusions of the AttorneyGeneral inhis own words. Now for an evaluation of these conclusions.1. VoluntaryAn Evaluationstudent religious associations now havethe right to hold their meetings on school property. Thismeans for example that students may form a Bible club forthe study of the Bible. In some districts they were not allowed to hold their meetings in a classroom even in afterschoolhours. Now, according to the Attorney General it isconstitutional to hold their meetings in a classroom in afterschoolhours, provided of course there is no interference withthe regular educational program of the school. That is a return to common sense. This means that the school systemceases to discriminate against the Bible, at least to that extent. That is a welcome change.2. The AttorneyGeneral tries to please both sides inhis ruling on the use of the Bible in the classroom. It maynot be used for "religious but may be used for-non-religious98purposes."That appears to say that it isconstitutional to bring the Bible into the classroom, and thatthe teacher is free to read to her class passages that have"literary, historical, or other ncn-religious purposes."Thatopens a rather wide field to the use of the Bible in the classrooms of our public schools. That is a welcome change. Sofar the blackout of the Bible has been lifted. To that extentthe school system ceases to discriminate against the Bible.This ruling, however, appears to involve an inner contradiction. It is unconstitutional for the teacher to use the Biblein the classroom for religious purposes but constitutional touse it for non-religious purposes. The difference lies entirelyin the purpose the teacher has in mind.Rules Against Gideon Distribution3. Along with the ruling that the Bible may not be readin public school classes for religious purposes he rules thatthe Gideon Bible may not be distributed through the publicschool system, and that religious prayers may not be madea part of the curriculum of the public schools. In otherwords, that religion of any kind, even unsectarian religion istaboo in the public school system. He makes this ruling onthe basis of two sections of the State Constitution. ArticleIX, Section 8, says: "No public money shall ever be appropriated for the support of any sectarian or denominationsectarian or denominational docal school . . . nor shall anytrine be taught, or instruction thereinArticle I,Section 4, which says, "The free exercise and enjoyment ofreligious profession and worship, without discrimination orpreference,shall forever be guaranteed in thisState."4 The reasoning by which the Attorney-General reaches his conclusions. First, on the word "sectarian." He saysthat it has two meanings, the root and natural meaningviz, a sect within a major faith; and the broad meaning vizthat it refers to all differences between the major faithsthemselves. Of these two meanings he chooses the broadmeaning. Why? Apparently because that has been the trendduring the past fifty years. But if he had studied the background of the founding and development of our nation hewould have chosen the natural meaning of the word. To givean apparent legal basis to his reasoning he quotes some re-THE COVENANTER WITNESSIssued each Wednesday by the Publication Board of theREFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHOF NORTH AMERICAat 129 West 6th Street, Newton, Kansas orthrough its editorial office at 1209 Boswell Avenue, Topeka, Kansaito promote Bible Standards of Doctrine. Worship and LifeFor individuals, churches and nationsOpinions expressed in our columns are those of the individual writer* ;not necessarily the views of the Covenanter Church or of the Editor.Dr. Raymond Taggart, D.D., Editor1209 Boswell Avenue, Topeka. KansasContributing EditorsFrank E. Allen, D.D.Prof. William H. RussellWalter McCarroll. D.D.Remo I. Robb. D.D.Departmental EditorsRev. John O. EdgarMrs. J. O. EdgarMrs. Ross LatimerSubscription rates: S2.50 per year: Overseas, S3.00 : Single Copie.10 cents.T.he.Rev- R' B- LynB. B-A.. Limavady, N. Ireland, Agent for thBritish Isles.Entered as second class matter at the Post Office in Newton, Kansasunder the Act of March 3. 1879.Address communications to the Topeka office.COVENANTER WITNESS