NELSON SYSTEM A "SOP"

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 106, 7 May 1928, Page 10

NELSON SYSTEM A "SOP"

SEKMOX.BYAKCUBISIIOP .IULIUS (By Telegraph.) (Special to "The Evening Post.") CHRIST CHUBCH, This Day. Describing the Nelson system as a "sop " Archbishop Julius made an appeal at the Anglican Cathedral last evening for support of the Biblo in schools movement. The Archbishop asked how could the Church teach children in the little time it had them. An hour on Sunday and no time during the week was not enough. Secular education was not passive in. regard to religion, but it was inactive. Tho matter of religion was left to the churches if they liked to do it. The movement to establish rcfigion in the schools had the support of practically every denomination. The Bible in schools iiiovNinciit means that there would be hundreds of boys and girls in this fair land who would be taught to believe in Christ. The Archbishop outlined the objections to tho movement. Ho could understand die Roman Catholic- point of view, but he thought that politicians were afraid to express themselves in face of the opposition to the movement. The Nelson system which'had been advocated was another stumbling block. The Nelson system sought permission for children to be taught religion after school. It was the Bible out of schools instead of the Bible in schools. There were dozens of schools in the backblocks which could not be reached under tho Nelson system. He thought that (he Nelson system was used as a "sop" to the movement. Archbishop Julius concluded with an appeal for support of the movement, and read the motion which had been passed at the last meeting of the Synod expressing regret at. the defeat of the Bill during the last session of Parliament. The wholehearted support of tho movement was urged by Bishop West-Watson in an address at the Cathedral in the morning. His Lordship said that while the present Bill might bo considered inadequate by many supporters of the movement, it should bo supported, as it would at least give the movement the start it needed. A public meeting, under the auspices of the New Zealand Bible-in-Schools League, will bo held in the Lower Hutt Methodist Church to-morrow, at 7..00 p.m. The Rev. Dr. Gibb and the Rev. L\ O. Blamircs will address the meeting, which is open to all.