BIBLE READING.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18682, 4 May 1926, Page 8

BIBLE READING.

CONSCIENCE CLAUSE FOR TEACHERS. CANON WILFOBD TAKE* TO TASK. (»kul to *'«* vMßa.^ AUCKLAND, May S. The attack Koligious Exercises in Schools Bill by Oanon Wilford, of Christchurch, was referred to by Canon the course of his sermon at 9b. Mary s Cathedral. Oanon Wilford was reported to have said that nothing but harm could result from the reading of passages of 'the Bible bv teachers or pupils, said the preacher. Teachers did not believe the Bible, and yet they would not take advantage of the conscience clause, but would rlther take part in worthless religious exercises in which it would be impossible for them to feign an m•'l read these remarks of Canon WUford with incredulous amazement," said Canon James, "and 1 have a right to ask him when he changed his nuud. He and 1 were members of a committee of General Synod in 1922, and he himself drew up the terms of motion, afterwards proposed by Archbishop Juiius, and unanimously accepted by Synod. The motion requested the Bishops to confer with others to make it possible for State school teachers to give instruction to children in school hours. What could be plainer? That was Canon Wilford's sentence. He voted for the motion in Synod. As a. result of that resolution the Bishops conferred with the leaders of other religious bodies, and with the others concerned, and framed the present religious exercises in schools measure. The principles of that measure were approved by the last General Synod of 1925. The Bill is the fruit of entire agreement among the leaders of the Anglican, Baptist, Congregational, Methodist, ' Presbyterian Churches, the Salvation Army, and other religious bodies, who number between 70 and 80 per cent, of the population.

Changed His Mind. "Canon Wilford has changed his mind, and he is perfectly entitled to his new opinion, although he is in a tiny and insignificant minority, but we "who know that his bark is worse than his bite would have our brethren of other Churches estimate his opposition at its proper value. The great mass of'the Anglican Church is solidly behind tho Archbishop, as it stood behind Archbishop Julius in enthusiastic support of the measure. When Canon Wilford complains that the Bill is going to take from the clergy their proper work, he has apparently negleofced to read the provisions of the Bill. It does not take anything from anybody. If there is a system of religious instruction in any school, it may be continued instead of the system in the Bill." "Canon Wilford oharges the Bill with unfairness to teachers, children, and parents, but there could be no more effective safeguards than the conscience clauses of the Bill. Canon Wilford's earnestness and energy are marred by his unfortunate habit of arguing like a fanatic. Not content with his sweeping gereralisation that State school teachers are unbelievers, ho brands them as moral cowards, who will fail to avail themselves of the conscience clause. These teachers exercise a great, almost a decisive influenca over the children of our land. Happily people generally hold a higher opinion of their character. The clergy are accused by Canon Wilford of seeking to shirk their sacred duty to the young in order to run bazaars and golf clubs. The only ground for this abusive ingestion is the abandonment of tho demand for the statutory right of entry of the clergy into tho schools. OaiiJ'i Wilford knows well that every eHgiojs body in the Bible in &:nte Schools League abandoned the demand, an'J tho Anglican Church last of all, in 1922 It was abandoned because it was useless, and not worth making.

Object of the EM. "Theobject of the present measure is soniething much bigger. It u> thht in every school, great or small, in town, or country, the name of God shii] bd honoured, and His love and His law remembered. It is that teachoirs who desire it shall be permitted to do mcio for the moral and spiritual development of the children, as well as their mental and physical development—that their hands shall no longer lie tied, but that they shall be allowed to employ the most powerful agent known for moulding and training character. "I have heard from hundreds of teachers throughout New Zealand, and I believe the number who will eagerly welcome this freedom is much greater than is generally supposed. The demands of the people for this measure will also be found to be overwhelmingly great, and that qemand is baitd on unassailable democratic principles. The Christian people have a right to insist that their children shall no longer be defrauded of their birth-right, while their school life serves only to create at public expense a positive presumption against religion in their minds during the most impressionable years."