BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1389, 15 March 1912, Page 9

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

DISCUSSION BY THE METHODIST CONFERENCE. \ The question of religious instruction in State schools was briefly discussed by tho New Zealand Methodist Conference at Auckland on Tuesday. . Tho Rev. B. F. Rothwell, of Lyttelton, reported that the committee set up by the conference to consider tho question of Bible in schools had collected evidence as to tho working of tho New South Wales system of Biblo teaching in State schools. Tho successful operation of this system in New South AA'ales for over 30 years had led to its adoption in Queensland, AA'est Australia, and Tasmania. Answers, to a number of questions were received from a number of prominent ministers and educationists in Australia, including the president and secretary of the General Conference, Principal Harper, of St. Andrew's College : nnd Mr. Turner, head of the Technical Education Department. They agreed, said Mr. Rothwoll. that no difficulties had been experienced through teachers who wero personally out of sympathy with religious instruction, nor with regard to ministers' right of entry. The altitude rf the Roman Catholic clergy was always hostile. Their demand was State aid for their own schools, but the difficulty was no more acute than in States wliero no Bible teaching was given. The answers to questions in regard to the practical working of tho system were all favourable, and it was declared that the great mass of tho peoplo were mora than satisfied. Teachers taught the lesson as set down for them in, the text book, and were not asked their private opinion any more than in tho caso of, say, history. The percentage of children withdrawn from tho general' religious teaching under tho conscience clause wns very small, only about two per cent. There was no conscience clause for the teacher; they had only to tench the lesson set down for them, without reference to their private convictions. There was no agitation, however slight, to abolish tho system, or to change it in any vital aspect, except from the Roman Catholic clergy. The people, as a whole, were satisfied. The committee had resolved to heartily recommend tho conference to express its approval of the system, and, in co-operation with other religions bodies, take such steps as should secure like benefits for'the chlidreu of the Dominion. The Rev. T. Q. Hammond said he wns satisfied that tho system was a good one, and should be adopted in New Zealand. Ho made investigations while on a visit to Australia, and had been .*o favourably impressed that his former opposition to the. svstem had completely vnnished. The Rev. AV. J. Williams stated that the Nelson system was at present, working under satisfactory conditions in many New Zealand schools, nnd it could bo adopted more generally with advantage. The report as presented by the committee was adopted.