BIBLE IN SCHOOLS CONFERENCE.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11580, 11 May 1903, Page 5

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS CONFERENCE.

ADDRESS BY DEAN HARPER.

Dean Harper, at the Cathedral evensong service yesterday, gave an account of the work done by the Bible in School Conference recently held at Wellington, and the results to be expected from the Conference. Preaching from the test "And a little child .shall lead them" (Isaiah xi.6), the Dean sketched the history of the movement from the forming of the Bible in Schools Society to the holding of the Conference. Continuing, he said .that the Conference was of a thoroughly representative character, and to it came representatives of various non-Roman Churches, who were selected by the 'Churches, and were regarded as officially representing those Churches. The main work of the Conference was the responsible and important work of deciding upon a text book, and the no less important work of approaching the head of the Government, and bringing before him the results of the deliberations. Subcommittees were appointed to examine and report upon a text book which had been drawn up by a Royal Commission appointed by the Government of Victoria. That book wan an admirable compilation of Bible le.sson.s based on the Old and New Testament narratives. It also contained lessons f>{ a moral or ethical character, based on the teaching of the Bible. The various committees examined with a good deal of care the different portions of the work assigned to them, and reported to the Conference tho results of their examinations. The Conference unanimously decided to accept the Victorian text book with certain modifications and alterations, and a committee was appointed to carry out the. instructions of the Conference in regard to those alterations and amendments. When that committee had completed their work, it would be their duty to place, in the hands of the Government the text book which they had amended and altered according to the wishes of the Conference. The Conference was unanimous in regard to the choice of a text book, and a remarkable spirit of harmony prevailed, though the Conference was composed of men belonging to a great many different sections of the Christian Church. The next business was to approach the chief representative of the Government, and the Conference, through its Chairman, met the Premier, and laid before him the results of its labours. Mr Seddon replied nt some length. He fully recognised the need of.religious training of the young as a necessary equipment for life, and stated that he would be glad to receive, and to give, serious consideration to the text book when it was presented to him. He then added that the Government would be prepared to promote a general Referendum Bill, and that if Parliament should pass /the Bill, the matter of Bible teaching, with other matters of capital importance, should be referred to the electors of tire colony. He (the preacher) would then appeal to them, if he might venture to do it, and to others, to take his or her individual part in the matter. If an opportunity- was given to them, and they felt that they could conscientiously vote for the alteration in the present Education Act, ther would then be helping forward the great work of restoring to New Zealand what she hod lost, and he bslieved, had so much missed. The words of the text indicated what was so much in the minds of the old prophets and teachers, that out of the smallest beginnings came the great est results. The Conference to which he had alluded might have some far reaching consequences, quite apart from the immediate objects which it had in view. He had dwelt upon the fact that the meeting was inspired by a spirit of Christian harmony, and without beintr too sanguine ct endeavouring to forecast'the future, might not those who thought about the matter, say that in that meeting of men of different temperaments, and different ways of looking at Christian truth, vet auieeing in the great essential of Christiaiiitv. we might see a happy nugurv for tlie future. Might it not lie the first step on that road which had for its jrc-tl. or should have, the union of the Churches of New Zealand?