BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS REFERENDUM.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 251, 26 November 1914, Page 6

BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS REFERENDUM.

To the Editor-of THE SUIT.

Sir, —-At the risk of stirring up a little excitement in the practically dead campaign of the Bible-in-Schools League, I should like to point. out to Mr J. A. Flesher that he is quite mistaken in his idea that the almost universal' opposition of Parliamentary candidates i& due to ignorance of the League's scheme. It is exactly, because candidates know- so niucli about the scheme that they will have nothing to do with it. !. ;.. v ■ . . v ' : ■!' •'

Mr Flesher, in Wednesday's Sun, en- . deavours : to enlighteirus on Vthe'leajgue,'s reason for refusing to give teachers a conscience clause;, wiith regard to the very lessons for ; they make., a great pai-ade of giving a conscience clause■ for parents., ..

Mr ; Flesher denies that under thescheme a teacher \xpuld be forced to : " take up the of religious instruction, " or V to teach religion,'' Is Mr Flesher-- aware that Mr DeBerry, of Hokitika,; one of the few teachers in New ZeaJaiid who support the league,, was offered the choice of any one or . two out of a dozen lessonsout of the (Queensland Bible lesson book, and was; repeatedly .urged to give a. specimen lesson? . • ; '

All he had to tlo was to carry out Canon Garland '.s description of what'theteacher would have to do, viz., '' See that the children understood the. subject as intelligently as they understood ordinary lessons in the curriculum.' r ("Lyttelton Times," 21/8/12.) Yet Mr De Berry, M.A., a most capable man, repeatedly refused to show how this eoujkl be done without teaching a religion or giving " religious instruction. He knew better than to attempt the impossible. If Mr Flesher himself, or any teacher he can" bring forward, or , any . accredited representative of the Bible-in-Schools League thinks it can be done, we should like to have it publicly demonstrated. I venture/to say that much more ignorance would, be dispelled among members, of the Bible : iaSchOols League. The demonstratorwould first take one or tWo short passages from • the -Ordinary' school bookss and ' f see. that, thej children understood them •intelligently.Then lie would'tdke : any one or t'W'o of a'given dozen or so. of passages- from "tW Queensland 1 - Bible .lesson book, and, as Canon Garland says, "see that the..children understand" these "as intelligently" as they did the first ones. / Th*' Verdict as to> whether the demonstrator, in aso doings did, or did notj' ; give religious instruction or teach religion could be givert by a jury mutually ehosen.

Here, is. a golden -opportunity for Mr Fleslier to dispel the alleged ignorance' • regarding the need of a conscienceClause". If lie, too, refuses to take it up, lie sh'oulcl hold-his peace on the matter. In you/ next issue I hope to assist Mr Fleslier in dispelling some more ignorance as to the nature of the evidence' on which churches and manygood people have been induced to sup, port the league's am, etc.,

J.CAUGHLEY.