ANGLICAN GENERAL SYNOD.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 9021, 6 February 1895, Page 5

ANGLICAN GENERAL SYNOD.

(FBBB9 ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) NELSON, February 5. The principal business before "the Synod to-day wae Archdeacon Harper's motion— " That this Synod is of opinion that it is desirable that the Education Act should be amended to contain provision for imparting religious instruction by the teachers in the publio sohoola, on the model of the London School Board, generally with the use of the Bible text book, known as the Irish National School Book Soriptural Lessons, with a conscience clause." There was a very lone diicuision, the tenor of which was that halt a loaf was better than no bread. Most of the speakers declared themselves not altogether satisfied with the text book, but they aaw no prospeot of getting anything practical outside it. The Bishop of Christ--churoh spoke at length. He thought the text book a poor thing, but favoured it as a beginning, seeing that it was the only thing the various denominations could agree upon, and it could be improved or supplanted after a time if the thing were once started. I The Bishop of Wellington suggested that if the whole Bible did not meet with favour perhaps part of the New Testament, aa the Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles, would I meet with approval. The Bishop of Nelson gave four reasonafor the selection of the text book:—(1) That it was in use in the other colonies; (2) That some selection mast be made, and here was one ready made; (3) I That the other religious bodies joining in the movement would only consent to the whole Bible on condition that it was read without note or comment, a disability which did nob apply to the text book, which should be called selections from passages of the Bible; (4) If a selection had ?et tq be made, who was to make it ?. 'ho Bishop of Danedin would prefer that the motion should stop at "following the model of tho London School Board," and not include that portion dealing with the text book. He believed if the whole Bible was declared for the Presbyterians and Wesleyans would support it. The Bishop. of Melanesia considered that as tho State had assumed the education of children the duty of the Church was to press the State to give a proper education. He hoped to see two sohools established in the centres worked upon Church principles, and the appointment of la Committee to meet the ' leaders of other denominations and see , n*t they would accept. The Bishop of ' au also spoke, declaring for the whole }'v Archdeacon Harper made a strong r- iv» closing at 10.30. •j. ue motion was put in three parts. The first part to "generally" was carried on tho voices, with only one dissentient voice; > the second part was put as follows—" With the use of the Irish national school books of Scriptural lessons," and carried on the voices with only two noes; the third part was put as follows—" With a conscience clause." This was carried unanimously. | The result was greeted with applause. Sir John Hall brought in a Bill to provide that women as well as men may vote at parish meetings. The second meeting is appointed for Thursday.