BIBLE LESSONS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXV, Issue 8202, 27 July 1915, Page 7

BIBLE LESSONS.

ATTITUDE OF HAMPSTEAD SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

TUITION OUTSIDE SCHOOL HOURS

At recent meetings of the Ashburton Borough and Hampstead School Committees the. question-of the entry into the schools of the various Protestant ministers in the town, to give " simple Bible lessons," has come under discussion, and from one can gather some of the local clergy : or„ministers]—the title is applied differently by the various denominations —seem _ to be somewhat at variance on tho subject.

j The Ashburton Ministers' Association ; —to which all the local Protestant ministers, with the exception of the Rev. J. R. Burgin, belong (Mr Burgin recently resigned from the Association) I —has applied to the committees at different times for permission "to go into the schools to give simple, nondogmatic, unsectarian lessons from the i Bible."

The Association first sent a deputation to the Harnpstead Committee, and placed a certain scheme before the members. This scheme was that each minister should go into one or 1 any class, before the school commenced, on one morning of the week, to give half-an-hour's lesson. The Hampstead School Committee gave permission, but somewhat of a deadlock then ensued. The; Rev. J. R. Burgin had already been giving lessons to a class, and when the permission was given to the Ministers' Association he stated that he preferred the Church of England children being taught by himself rather than* by a minister belonging to any other denomination. The committee, mindful of its responsibility, and fearing to get into deep water with the Board of Education in regard to the matter, began to hesitate, and at the last meeting the chairman (Mr W. Thompson) gave notice of motion to rescind all previous resolutions with a. view, so it was understood, of carrying one that should settle the question in a conir prehensive manner and in a way that would give satisfaction to ail the parties.

In -f-.be ra.se of the Borough School, no Bible lessons are given in the school at present by any clergyman or minister. Some time ago a, deputation from the Ministers' .Association waited •on the committee and put before it similar requests to those put before the Hampstead Committee. Tho request was acceded to, provided satisfactory arrangements could be made by the Association with the chairman (Rev. J. R. Burgin) and the headmaster. Time went by, it. was not announced that "satisfactory arrangements" had been made with these two gentlemen, and the Association again approached the committee, this time in the form of a letter. This was at the last meeting !of the committee. Tho outcome of the letter was that one of the members gave notice to move that the previous resolution (giving permission to the Association to conduct simple Bible lessons provided satisfactory arrangements with the chairman and the headmaster could be made) be rescinded. If the resolution is rescinded the position will be exactly similar to that before the Ministers' Association moved in the 3natter, and of course it will be quite in order for* the Ministers' Association to open the negotiations again at a later date.

To come back to the Ifampstcad School. A special meeting of the committee was held last evening to consider the notice of motion to rescind the two former resolutions. .Those present were:—Messrs W,,. Thompson (chairman), W. H. Robinson, J. Rumscy. G. ■ Cnlverhouse. sen? 1., O. J. Chivers. W. Kerr. A. W. Hopkins. E. J. Childs. and the Rev. J. D. McA rthur.

The Chairman snid that, pursuant'to notice, ho intended to move that the two former resolutions passed by the committee' bo rescinded. The position was well understood by the- members, and did not neod nny outlining on his part to make clear. The reason why the resolutions should be rescinded was ■ that the committee should not " run amuck " with the Board of Education. The committee hod no right to order the children to be assembled, and it would be ?!s well if the two resolutionh were rescinded and another substituted. He did nnt wish to nut a stumblingblock in the w.iy of th? ministers. He thought Biblical instruction was a, good thinj;. and it would be as well to pnss another resolution that would keen the r-ommittce clear of fiy trouble with the Education Board. He then moved tho : revision of the two following resolu- ] 1 tions: — ' "That tho-'deputation's request—to be allowed to hold one half-hour's Bible.l lesson out of school hours —be agreed -I to" (moved and seconded by Messrs Kerr and Hopkins respectively), nnd " That the Rev. J. R. Burgin bo allowed to give Bible lessons on Wednesday mornings, and that tho Ministers' Association be allowed Friday mornings" (moved and seconded by Messrs Robinson and Kerr, Mr Runisoy voting against it). Mr Rumscy seconded the chairman's motion. The Rev. Mr McArthur said that if the first resolution were left it would be practically the same as the resolution which ho understood was proposed to bo moved. He supported the recision of the two resolutions, as there had .seemed to have been something .akin'to a deadlock. It would clear the ground and enable, a. start to be made afresh, «i-nd would throw the responsibility bf the working of the arrangement upon tho Ministers' Association. The Key. 3. R. Burgin had had no desire to jiavc a, separate morning from the Ministers' Association, nor did tho latter desire to ha.ye a separate morning from him. Tho motion was carried. Mr Clnvo.rs thon moved —"That this committee, in- granting the request of the Ministers' Association for the use of the school for Bible lessons out of school hours, do ko under the following conditions:—(l) That each .minister of Ashburton has tho use of a room for a Bible cln«s; (2) that the time bo from | 8.55 to 9.25 a. in. on each Wednesday; and (3) that tho ministers fully understand that the children cannot be assembled by either the masters, m.isI tresses, or t+whers. a.s this would be against the Education Board's regulations." Mr Hopkins seconded the motion. Mr McArtfcur asked if any of tho .masters or 1 teachers helped to keep dis- | cipline while .Mr Burgin was giving lessons. Tho Chairman said he thought so. Mr Culverhousn said he did not think the mere fact of the master or teachers ! in' assembh'ng the children for the Bible lessons would bs an. infringement of the ! Education Act., j Mr Olivers said ho thought that if the master did assemble the children, school lessons proper would commence

from that moment.. He ccnsulcre<.j ti...t lit was illegal for the masters to ,-;.»- ---semble the scholars. . Mr McArthur agreed with Mr Cfiiverhouse. If Mr Chivers's idea wore oori-ect, then it'must KuV'/'boen. a"'rej cent addition to the Act, Tho-presence lof v, tencher was .merely an a;:t oi , courtesy to the miiiister. Mr Chivers said he co'iM not .vny if the Act said anything defiaito in regard to the point at issue, bnt he had been told that it would bo. \]\o:^i) if any teacher did assemble the children. It was agreed to delete the fin.il clause in the resolution, \vhi:-h w.ns.thsn carried in the following' amended form : "That this committee, in. granting the request of t.he Ministers' Association for 'the ur;c of tlie fichool for Bii)le !«f.snns oi.'t oi" school hours, do so under th^ following conditions: —(1) That each'minister of Aslibnrtnn bar, i}\<>. use of n room for a. Bil^le class; (2) thnt the time be from 8.55 r..'ti. to 9.2n a.m. on each Wednesday." Mr Rumsey said the position r.inv'i j was exactly the one he had v.Tinted j from the first —each minister to take I children .of his own faith. Mr McArthur said that probably MiBurgin would still take his children out., but tho other ministers would. each be. apportioned a class or a Standard, irrespective of denomination. He thanked the committee for the courtesy w'itb which it had treated the Association, j