EDUCATION :' SECULAR AND RELIGIOUS.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVI, Issue 4003, 21 June 1870, Page 4

EDUCATION :' SECULAR AND RELIGIOUS.

To the Editor of the Daily Southern Cros I*.1 *. Site, — I have noticed that in one or two recent meetings, held in the northern portion of the province, the question of secular as compared with religious education has "been very freely discussed, and in one instance with very considerable animus. lam however of opinion that this difficulty, if it really be oae, can be very easily overcome. What can be more easy,' and at the same time more just, than to leave the matter entirely to the decision of the local committee of every school ? Why not allow this body to decide when and how religious instruction shall be imparted in a school, with the proviso that what are termed sectarian or denominational doctrines shall be entirely excluded? Surely it is «, very simple matter for both teacher and oommittee to agree that a small portion of 3oripture shall be read daily and explained, so far as the facts are concerned, without incurring the charge of proselytising, or undue interference with the religious belief of any ohild. If we start with this one point in common, that the Bible is worthy of belief, I for one must fail to see how the fact that David was celebrated for valour, Solomon for wisdom, Job for patience, or Abraham for faith can injure. or prejudice any child's religious creed, whether his parents be Roman Catholics, English Episcopalians, Scotch Presbyterians, or of any other denomination. I have now been for four years and in New Zealand, and I -have generally followed the plan, here indicated, and I have never yet heard that the system has been objected to by any one person. In fact, my experience leads me to believe that parents

generally -would be very sorry to see the Bible banished ft-orn our schools. And here 1 am led to ask, "Is it possible to do this ?" Can we, if we would, insist that no Bible influence shall rjervade our schools'? Let us then grapple with the matter as men. Adopt my suggestion as a rule ; engage as teachers only those whose lives and characters will bear the severest scrutiny ; discard all those adventurers who merely take to teaching when they find it pays ; and leave the result to God. We cannot command, but we can try to deserve, success, by proceeding about our work in a proper way. In conclusion, let me say a word on Sunday-schools. No one will admit their usefulness more than I will, but I think it is entiiely a denominational question, and as such belongs exclusively to the various Christian bodies. In short, it amounts to " this : Any district may have one or more Sunday-schools, if there be a sufficient number of earnest men and women who can and will devote a portion of the Lord's Day in assisting to conduct them. A Sundayschool has only to be opened, and properly and earnestly conducted, when it will be always well filled. Waiuku can endorse this statement, and so could Papakura this time last year. In every parish the Saviour's words are highly applicable — " The harvest truly is plentiful, but the labourers are few." — I am, &c, Henby Wokthington. Papakura.