BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13861, 12 October 1910, Page 2

BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS.

; A PRESBYTERY MOTION. Tho Bible-in-schools question camo up before the Christchurch Presbytery yesterday morning, when thc Rev. R. "Wood moved, the following resolution: —"This Presbytery, whilo recognising tho many excellencies of our national system of education, is of opinion that its strictly secular character is a source of weakness and hurtful to the rising generation, and with the view of strengthening the■ system and bringing it moro into line with tho wishes cf a community that nigh universally professes the Christian religion, declares in favour of an amendment of the Act so as to introduce religious teaching into the schools, as is done iv New South Wales under clauses 7 and 17 of the NewSouth Wales Education Act, and this Presbytery further declares its willingness to co-operate with other denominations in effecting this change." Speaking in support of his motion, Mr Wood said he noted tlio excellence of our national education. He was not suggesting that the Now South Wales Act should be substituted ior the New Zealand Act. But it would conform with the ideas of a large number cf people if the system in New South Wales were adopted here. The system was as follows:—A minister was entitled to have tlio use of a school for an hour a week tc- impart special denomuiationol religious teaching to the children. He had to give notice to the master of the school, and the. children of the particular denomination were set apart and received special religious teaching. The woridng of the system had been very satisfactory. An alteration could well be made in the New Zealand system on tho lines of that he had enumerated. Tbe motion wa3 adopted without further discussion. .