Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11, 1915. BIBLE LESSONS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXV, Issue 8214, 11 August 1915, Page 4

Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11, 1915. BIBLE LESSONS.

, The one thing" emerging' from the BorongH School Goininittee's discussion on the (question of Bible lessons in the school was the conflict of opinion on the principle itself. This is not surprising, considering the denominational interests represented on the committee, and in view of this fact, it might have tended to a more harmonious solution of the question if the members had discussed it from the point of view of the layman, as distinct from the sectariain aspect. It is no part of the comnjittee's ■ duty, as a committee, to express views or to take sides on a purely religious issue. The Education Act gives it ?power to allow^li©,, school buildings to be used for certain specified objects, and the giving' of religious instruction 1 to children out ai school hours is. included in that category. It is plain evidence ■of the distiiist with which the question is viewed, .both by n dvoeittes 'and opponents;, when ■ a handful of intelligent' gentlemen cannot agree on a phase of it that practically does not affirm or deny its desirableness. As the matter stands now, the Ministers' Association has the authority of the committee to give <c simple Bible • lessons ", either before.; or after school hours, and ns it is optional with, parents whether they permit. their children to take ndviinUige of these classes there is 110 fear of the liberty of the subject being--in fringed or the usual school work interfered with. The only danger is, as we havo previously pointed out, that the introduction of the system may j act as the thin end of the wedge of sectarianism, which might by

easy stages develop into the more dangerous lever of the right of entry. And we are firmly convinced that, once' this right is conceded, we can say good-bye to the harmony that liow exists in our school system. In stating this belief,, we do not wish it to be inferred that we- think that the mere fact of the ministers attending at the school during school hours would precipitate trouble. But it must be obvious to all reasonable people that the real school work would be disorganised by an experiment of this nature. The children belonging to the different denominations would have brought home 1 to them more vividly than is the case when they attend Divine worship at separate churches, the fact that there are schisms on the great fundamental questions of life; and it is possible that ,these differences, of opinion amongst their elders may have undesirable effects in the playground. These are phases of the subject' which do not greatly disturb the average parent, though he. naturally regrets that the question cannot be settled without sectarian bitterness. What he is chiefly concerned with is. the possibility of the already limited school period being further encroached upon for purposes which are so admirably and harmoniously achieved in other ways. We are confident that the good sense of the Ministers' Association will prevent any advantage being taken of the opportunity now given its members to cany out what they consider to be their duty. We cannot profess to regard the experiment with any degree of satisfaction, but at least we hope it will turn out as satisfactory as its advocates anticipate it will.