Bible reading and hymn singing in New York City public schools do not constitute interference with religious liberty, according to Assistant Corporation Counsel Mayer who on Monday argued before Supreme Court Justice Ford asking the court to dismiss the complaint brought by Joseph Lewis, president of the Free Thinkers’ Society, to restrain the Board of Education from permitting the reading of the Bible and the singing of hymns in the public schools. The court reserved its decision until next week.
Arthur Garfield Hayes, arguing for the plaintiff, declared that many of the Bible selections which are read in the New York City schools are meaningless without an explanation. He also insisted that Bible reading was a mode of worship.
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