RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION IN STATE SCHOOLS.

Press, Volume L, Issue 8600, 29 September 1893, Page 6

RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION IN STATE SCHOOLS.

By tho invitation of tho Bishop of Chrhk church, a meeting of ministers aud hymen of tho several denominations was held yes. terday iv the V.M.C.A. Hall, to UkV counsel as to tho pressing need for tho introduction of some generally acceptable system of religious teachiug into the Stato school*. Besidos tho Bishop, there were present Dr Elmslie, the Revs. Webster, Morley' F. Isitt, Baker, Dcwsbury, Hosking, and Dawson, and laymen from their several congregations. Apologies for absence wer« received from Pastor Birch and the Rev. J. Orchard. All the speakers g& Ve expression to their persuasion that auck a chauge was urgently needed. It w M contended that the question of a common system could bu co;;«itlercd apart from that of aid to denominational schools, and that there was no essential relation between them. The discussion turned chiefly on methods, and whether tbo whole Bible or « text-book of selections, should be used, _« the end the following resolutions were unanimously passed : — (1) That iv th» opinion of meeting it is desirable thw a text-book, consisting of selected portions of Holy Scripture, saould be introduced into the Slate schools of this colony ( g _b, ject to a couscteuce clause). (2) That a Committee be formed to examine the textbook in use in the Irish National sohook and the book in use in New South Wales, and to report on these, and any other testbooks which may appear to them to be suitable. (3) That tho Committee consist 0 f representatives of the several denotninatious viz. :—Tho Bishop of Christchurch, aud the Reverend Messrs Webster, Dewsbury Baker, Oluey, Hosking, Dawson and Orchard,' Colonel Bailey, and a layman appoiuted by I each, the Bishop to be convenor.