Bible Heading in State Schools.

Otago Witness, Issue 2362, 1 June 1899, Page 40

Bible Heading in State Schools.

TO THE EDITOR. ■ Sib, — For past favours, not a few, please I accept of sincerest thanks. Once more, through yaur columns, I seek assistance. I These classes are in their fourth session. ! From the start till now the work has been I exceedingly pleasant. So long as there is ! some "go " and swing about the movement , I mean to stick to it. If, however, the ! classes should dwindle away I may, relucj tantly and sorrowfully, withdraw, and so be 1 able to devote more time and strength to I City Mission work proper. Cheerfully I note that that period has not yet arrived. Last week the attendances were: — Monday, J 103; Tuesday, 127; Wednesday, 96; Thursi day, 113; and Arthur street, 110. We had, . therefore, tho satisfactory daily average of [ about 110. The average the week before ! was 118. To the casual reader, who only J skims the surface, these figures may seem large and somewhat satisfactory. To the writer of this letter, who personally cannot well do more, the figures are gratifying only up to a certain point. But as I have no axe to grind, and nothing whatever to conceal, I declare candidly that the general questioii' of Bible reading is in many ways distressingly disappointing and unsatisfactory. Some months ago I explained, through your ■ evening contemporary, all this, and added i that the effort I am now making need not j bo either over-estimated by its friends or ! under-estimated by its critics. Truth to tell, ■ a fair and satisfactory solution of a difficult j and delicate problem seems a long way off. In my judgment for the matter of having the Book of Books restored to its former and "proper place in the primary, schools the outlook is depressing ; and as the years go round the question becomes, through a multiplicity of subtle forces and endless ohanges i over which mo have no control, increasingly ; complex and difficult of solution.

The school committees have never hindered me in any way; head masters and a few teachers have assisted in many ways; the press has been most kindly ; and the advanced pupils have been my helpers and friends in every instance. If tho nowlyformed Council can see its way to face this whole question I shall unhesitatingly fall in to the rear, and take my place among&t the rank and file. Meanwhile we keop pegging -away. I beg respectfully to appeal directly and very specially to parents who are pympathetio for their continued assistance and sustained cooperation. This whole subject should be to them without exception of pnramount importance. As a matter of fact, many parents are shamefully indifferent; and in too many cases they have extended to us only passive and negative help. What we do need, and what we have reasonable grounds to expect, is hearty active assistance. In all the'sohools the girls attend well. In most of the schools the proportion of boys enrolled is thoroughly unsatisfactory, and the actual attendance disappointing. Only firm and wide parental authority can mend matters. A perusal of the attendance cards will at once show whether the actual attendance has been regular or intermittent. Parents, will you came to the rescue? If the classes are worth anything, let them by all means be as thoroughgoing as the circumstances will allow.

Permit me, further, to note, and with deepest regret, that I have been discouraged and disappointed that in a work so divine and so needful, the number of helpers has been almost nil. In one school a member of tho staff has charge of half the class, with the most splendid results. In this work there never has been, and need not be, the slightest tinge of sectarianism. Aided by suitable persons we could at once secure larger numbers, greater efficiency, better order, and more satisfactory results. Who will help?

In any case, with absolute faith in the grand old Book, a degree of enthusiasm in a delightful service, a growing love for the young people, and a deep, and deepening, sense of the need at all times of the divine blessing, I go forward, merrily and in good hope.

But again I ask: Will parents heartily co-operate and strengthen my hands?— l am, etc., May 24. D. Weight.

The Brixliam trawler Vivid, which arrived at Ilfracombe, England, on Saturday, Bth April, reported that when 15 miles off Lundy Island she saw the masts of a large vassal suddenly disappear. Then she came acrooa three men in a small boat, partially dro3S3d > . One of the men was praying, the others were shrieking for help. The "Vivid endeavoured to reach them, but the boat eauk »nd tho men never appeared again. A-15-morths-old child of Mr Henry Parkman, a resident of Koondrook, New South Wales, had a sensational experience a few, days ago. The child, who is just able to walk, approached a cow with some grass, when a dog annoyed the cow, and she lowered her head. Raising it again, the horn penetrated the child's cheek, lifted her off her feet, and carried her away on its horn. The mother searched for the child, and found the cows walking away with the child hanging on tliel horn. She liberated the little one as quickly as possible. No bones were, broken, and tho child in dtunjr ««U.