SCRIPTURE LESSONS IN SCHOOLS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 49, 28 February 1896, Page 8

SCRIPTURE LESSONS IN SCHOOLS.

(BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.).

Wellington, Thursday. A large public meeting in support of Scripture lessons in schools waß held to-nighb in the Opera House. Mr Dubhie, M.H.R., presided. Bishop Julius, of Christchurch, moved, " Thab this meeting, while approving of the national sysbem of education, feels thab there is in the presenb system a grave defect in the exclusion of Holy Scripture, and this meebing, therefore, cordially supports the Scripture texb book in the Public Schools Bill introduced in Parliamenb in 1895, and urgently presses on the Legislature thab ib may bo made law during the session of 1896, being of opinion thab such a system, if carried, would greatly strengthen the present national system of education." He Baid all denominations were practically agreed that they wanted the simple word of God taught in the schools with the aid of a text-book containing extracts from the Scriptures puro and simple, and with a conscience clause for both teachers and children. Householders should be given a chance to say whether they wanted this or nob. He denied thab this innovation meanb tho wrecking of tha national aystom of education, and the introduction of denomination alism. The Rev. J. Patorson, Wellington, and Bishop Walliß, of Wellington, spoke in support of the resolution. The resolution waa carriod almost unanimously, only eight hands being hold up againaD it.

(BY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONEENT.)

"Wellington, this day. The meeting in the Opera House lasb nighb in favour of the introduction of Scripture text-books into the public schools was attended by over 800 persons. The Anglicans were represented by the Bishops of Wellington and Chriatchurcb, and Archdeacon Stock and the Roy. J. H. Sprotb; the Wesleyana by the Roy. Baumber, and the Presbyterian by the Rev. J. Pstorson. The majority of the audience waadecidedly in favour of the proposal though the meeting was by no means a unanimouß one. As for tho areumenbs advanced in supporb of the agitation, there was litble thab was new in them, and cortainly nothing to convert those who were nob iv favour of the proposal. _________-__«