BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS MEETING IN AUCKLAND.

Evening Post, Volume XXI, Issue 111, 13 May 1881, Page 2

BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS MEETING IN AUCKLAND.

«, [united press association.] Auckland, This Dat. A public meeting, convened by the Bible in Schools Association, was he'd in the Young Men's Christian Association rooms, to procure an amendment in the Education Act next session, co as to admit of the Bible being read in State schools without note or comment. The Anglican clergy pres ent were the Revs. Tebbs, Hazeldean, Bates, and Dv. Pnrchase; Baptist, Rev. A. W. Webb; and one or two other dissenting ministers were present, but took no part in the proceedings ; also eighteen laymen and six ladies. Mr. F. L. Larkins presided. Iho Chairman, in his address, said that Mr. Justice Gillies, when speaking at the Shakespearian Club entertainment, was reported to have spoken ap- '

provingly of making Shakespeare a text work in publio schools. It was a happy thought, and if Auckland would hear Bhakespearo on the Bible she would dread the popular indifferenoe to scriptural education. The Rev. A. W. Webb said he favored the New South Wales system, or the alternative Irish National School system. He urged that an understanding be como to with Roman Catholics if possible, as to the lessons in schools similar to thoße drawn up by the late Archbishop Whatoly, and Roman Catholio Archbishrp Murray. The Rev. Mr. Tebbs endorsed Mr. Webb's views. The Chairman said when in Wellington two months' since, he met a Jewish merohant, who 1 told hhn the Wellington Jews were greatly disploa^ed with tfte present system* which compelled thorn' to pay taxes to stfp* port schools where the existence of God. was forbidden to bo taugb*. Tho AnrKcatf Church, to which communion he himself belonged, also would never support it. He counselled the meeting to work -with their brethren in Otago and Hawke's Bay, and never to relax their efforts until tha Bible echoed in the walls of state schools. Ladies and gentlemen desirous of seeing the removal of the prohibition to introduce the Bible into the schools should send in their names to be attached to a petition to bo sent to Parliament. Mr. Hemus was of opinion that a regular publio meeting ought to be called to discuss the question. The Chairman said it would probably bo done.