THE SCHOOL, THE BIBLE AND THE STATE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 101, 29 April 1910, Page 6

THE SCHOOL, THE BIBLE AND THE STATE.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —Fermit mc, as convener of. the Bible in Schools Committee of the Auckland Ministers' Association, to thank you for your article on this subject in yesterday's issue, and for the prominence given in your columns to the movement I for the introduction into Auckland of the Nelson system. You state two objections to the introi dnction of this system: That it is inconsistent with the provisions of the Education Act, and that it would be likely to bring into our schools denominational | rivalry and sectarian strife- Neither of these objections appear to he well grounded. (1). As to the legality of the system, this would appear to be "beyond question. The highest legal authorities in New Zealand have declared that it is in accordance both with the letter and the spirit of the law. According to the opinion Sir Robei-K Stout, given in 1898, it is quite in accordance with the provisions of the Education Act that the school should open on four days of the week at 9-30 a-m., and on one day of the week at 10 a.m>, and that on this day the use of the school building 3 should be granted to clergymen or others for religions instruction from 9.30 to 10 a.m. The Hon. C. C. Bowen, who was Minister for Education in 1877, and under whose charge the Education Act was passed, has declared on more than one occasion that in naming four hours per day as the minimum school time for secular subjects, it was the intention of the Legislature to leave time for the establishment of Scripture classes outside this minimum, and that the matter was deliberately left in the bands of the local authorities. The matter has on more than one occasion been brought under the notice of the present Minister for Education, the Hon. Geo. Fowlds, who has declared that he sees no infringement of the Education Act in such an arrangement as that of the Nelson system, provided it is made plain to parents that it is not compulsory for their children to attend.

Classes on the Nelson system are now held in many districts of "the Dominion, including Invercargil], Dunedin, Oamaru, Nelson, Napier, Hawke's Bay district generally, Dannevirke, Stratford. Feildins, Wa-g-anui, and New Plymouth, and in all cases with good results. That classes are held in so many districts is surely strong presumptive" evidence that the arrangement is quite in accordance witt the law of the land.

arrangement is quite in accordance witfc the law of the land. (2). As to denonuhational rivalry and sectarian strife there need be no fear. If prior to 1877 such strife existed in New Zealand, wp have travelled far, and have learned many lessons in those thirty-three years. The happy tendency in these later days is for all branches of the Christian Church to draw together, recognising that the thing 3we hold in common are of much greater moment than the things in which we differ. That this is so is shown by the existence and happy operation of the Christian Unity Society and the Auckland Ministers' Association, and by the fact that from time to time a great united mission is held in which all branches of the Eva-ngelicxl Church co-operate. That it is possible to give religious instruction m State schools without arousing sectarian strife

(2). As to denominational rivalry and sectarian strife there need be no fear. If prior to 1877 such strife existed in New Zealand, wp have travelled far, and have learned many lessons in those thirty-three years. The happy tendency in these later days is for all branches of the Christ—ji Church to draw together, recognising that the thing 3we hold in common are of much greater moment than the things in which we differ. That this is so is shown by the existence and happy operation of the Ch ristian Unity Society and the Auckland Ministers' Association, and by the fact that from time to time a great united mission is held in which all branches of the Eva_gelie-il Church co-operate. That it is possible to give religious instruction m State schools without aro-using sectarian strife is proved by the experience of NJS.W., where a system of religious instruction that appears to mo the ideal system has been in operation for many years, with the happiest results. So happy are these results, that the example of N.S.W. has beer, followed by West Australia and Tasmania, and now by a large majority the people of Queensland have deckled to adopt the system. If in carrying out the Nelson system it is a common arrangement for ministers of different dcnomi-Bktions to divide the children among them according to standard?!; surely that is evidence that these ministers have confidence ih each Other, and that no minister in teaching a mixed class would give distinctly denominational teaching, but would confine hrmseUt to those great central truths of the Christran religion which are held in common by aIL

is proved by the experience of NJS.W., where a system of religious instruction that appears to mo the ideal system

{a. ijeu mc rartner say iwtt r hd in entire agreement with you in your contention that the responsibility for tho religious instruction of the young rests primarily upon the parents. This responsibility they cannot pass on to any other. Yet they may seek certain aids in the discharge of that responsibility. Such aids are furnished by the Church and the Sunday School, and also by such classes as may be formed in the State school. Thanking you in anticipation for the insertion of this letter, I am, etc., ALEX. MILLER, (Convener of Bibic in Schools Committee, Auckland Ministers* Association.) Edendale, Auckland; April 27, 1910.