SCRIPTURE TEXT BOOK ASSOCIATION.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 8929, 20 October 1894, Page 10

SCRIPTURE TEXT BOOK ASSOCIATION.

-*. The annual meeting of the Scripture Text Book Association was held at the V.M.C.A. Booms last evening, hie Lordship Bishop Julius being in the chair. The annual report stated that the Association was formed in October last, when various suggestions were agreed upon, under which the Committee adopted the Irish Scripture Text Book, and for many years used in the public schools in New South Wales. Circulars had been sent to the Canterbury candidates at the last general election, when a fair number of favourable replies were received. Probably there were other members in the House favourable to the movement, though the present Parliament did not appear to entertain the question as a matter of practical politics. Sectional meetings had .been held during the winter in connection with various Protestant Churches for the purpose of explaining the aims of the Association and the character of the textbook, tha meetings being addressed by deputations from the Association. Communications had been opened with all the chief centres of New Zealand tm the subject with the result that Associations had been formed at Auckland and Nelson. In Oamaru an Association had been formed on the lines of the London School Board, and in Otago the' Presbyterian Church had accepted the platform of the Association. Fifteen thousand explanatory leaflets and several dozen sets (all obtainable} of textbooks had been distributed. It was believed that the mass of the people of the colony desired some elementury Scripture teaching in the public schools if it were practicable; but an undefined fear existed that its introduction would injure the national system of education, or sap its very foundations—a fear which the character of the proposed text book made perfectly groundless, though ungenerously kept alive by the unreasoned assertion of a section of the daily newspapers. The Bishop moved the adoption of the report, and observed that in Victoria the subject of religious teaching in public schools waa a distinct element in practical politics. The Rev. Dr. Elmslie seconded the motion, and said he feared that Christians did not realise that many of our youths were living ignorant of the holy Scriptures. The motion was agreed to. The thanks' of the Association were accorded to the reverend and other gentlemen who had attended and spoken at different meetings; to the office-bearers of the churches where the meetings had been held; the Committee of the V.M.C.A., and to the Executive and General Committee for their efficient service during their year of office. The officers elected for the ensuing term were :—President, His' Lordship the Bishop of Christchurch ; Vice-presidents, Revs. Dr. Elmslie and H. B. Dewsbury ; Hon. Secretaries, Revs. H. Williams and J. Hosking ; Hon. Treasurer, Mr J. C. Prudhoe; Committee (with power to add to their number), Revs. Gordon Webster, W. Morley, S. J. Baker, J. Orchard, J. Dawson and Messrs W. ChryetaU, J. T. Smith, H. Olney, W. H. Hargreaves, J. P, Jameson, G. Bowron, Thos. Martin, C. H. Cox and E. Reed. The Committee was empowered to arrange for a public meeting in Christchurch and to aak the various denominational newspapers to make known the objects of the Association. The President was asked to bring the matter before the next Anglican General. Synod and the Rev. Gordon Webster before the Presbyterian -General Assembly. After several suggestions had been made, one of which was to obtain a plebiscite throughout Canterbury on the question, the meeting adjourned.