BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 290, 8 December 1925, Page 12

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

THE ARCHBISHOP OPTIMISTIC. NOW OR NEVER. "I think we have a majority in the present House. If the bill is ever going to be passed, it will be passed by the present Parliament," «aid Archbishop Averill last evening, referring to the Religious Exercises in Schools Bill, at a meeting of the Auckland Council of Christian Congregations. His Grace had been to Wellington last week to attend a meeting of the executive of the Bible in Schools League, and he had a report by the organising secretary, which stated that in the new House there were 48 members, including the three Maori members, who might be relied upon to support the bill. One member favoured the Nelson system, eleven were doubtful, and twenty were opposed to the scheme. The opinion was expressed that some of the "doubtful" members would support the bill. Archbishop Averill said a Wellington committee had to select a suitable member to bring the bill before the House. A permanent organising secretary had to be appointed, letters to members of both Houses had to be written, and people should be called to prayer for the success of tbe bill. A stir would have to be created, in order to ensure the success of a measure which they believed would be for the benefit of the children of the- country, and the glory of Almighty God.