BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2216, 31 July 1914, Page 8

BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS.

A CONTRADICTION. Tlie Rev. T. A. .Williams, National Organiser of the Schools Defence League,. writes, contradicting theipublished statements: '(a) that the Revs. Ashford,- Wallace, Dallaston, and.Jonos had been wrongly claimed by his league as vice-presidents; (b) that they "have not the. slightest sympathy' with the no-Bible, in .the syllabus programme of tho. National Schools Defence League" ; (c)' ''that instead of objecting to the referendum, .they are in- favour of the referendum." '• Tho statements in question;; lie says, are absolutely false. "Wo have iii, our possession," lio continues, "documents from all thoso gentlemen, accepting the, office of vicepresident of'the National. Schools . Defence League, and , within the last day or two Messrs. Dallaston and Jones

have signed, a petition : of clergymen! against the Referendum Bill, on tho following' grounds: (a) That' it provides for the right of'entry to 'give/sectarian teaching in State schools; (b) that it. would causo tho word of' God to bo taught under' compulsion "by State teachers; (c) that many taxpayers would have to pay towards a form of religious instruction opposed to their religious beliefs; (d) • that it proposes to decide a religious matter involving acuto differences of belief by a majority vote, irrespective of justice; (0) that the proposed form of ballot-paper is unfair, since electors would have to vote' for two issues or none, though they might favour Bible-reading and not right of entry. Mr. Williams adds that his league has officially declared again and again that the Nelson system has its approval.

APPRECIATION.

• (From a Correspondent.) Resolutions of appreciation of the action of the Government in introducing' the referendum, aud urging tlio member tor the district to support the Bill as introduced, have ■ been passed by a public meeting held in tho Salvation Army. Barracks, Lyttelton, presided .by the Mayor of Lyttelton; by a meeting of tho St. Sepulchre's Branch of the Mothers' Union, Auckland; tho Mothers' Union meeting held in tho church at the Waihao Downs; tho 151Icrslie Branch of the Women's Bible-in-' State-Schools League; tho Dundas Street (Duuedin) jfothodist quarterly meeting; -and the Salvation Army at Port Chalmers, Milton, and At a meeting held at Waipara, a resolution urging the member for the district to vote for the Bible-in-Schools Referendum Bill was earned.