The Evening Post. FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 1004. THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

Evening Post, Volume LXVIII, Issue 49, 26 August 1904, Page 4

The Evening Post. FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 1004. THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

Tho deputation which waited on Iho ' Premier yesterday to urgo tlie defence | of our national system of primary education against tho ntlacks of tho clerical party might; oa.sily have been improved, both in numbers and in weighty if tho promoters had gone iho right way to work. But it must nevertheless be conceded that its personnel showed very clearly the variety of the interests which arc opposed to the denominationalisation of our >Sta.tc (schools, and in his reply Mr Seddon expressed the very pertinent doubt whether any other subject would have brought "such a divoise assenibJy" together. Wo note \Vith speowl satisfaction that there were three ministers of religion among them, and that they took a prominent part in tua proceedings. One other ca.ling, however, which has a still higher claim to be heard on tho question was conspicuous by its absence ; there was not a single local schoolmaster in the deputation, though some of the leaders of the profession in Wellington have not hesitated to give utterance to their dread of the innovation proposed. A teacher could speak [ more effectively than anybody else oi the invidious and dangerous operation of a consoienco ciau»o from the standpoint of those whom it would bo designed to protect — an aspect of the question which is hardly exceeded in importance by any other, and to which full justice was not dono by the speakers yesterday. But they made out a strong caeo nevertheless. That tlio text-book put forward by the Bible-in-Schools Conference is essentially a religious one, tlwt tho teaching of religion is outside tho province of the State, thjit a. national system which exj eluded the ohildren of any class or creed would no longer be worthy of the name, and that ecclesiastical strife and denominational education would bo the inI evituble outcome — these points wore all clearly and strongly put. Mr. Seddon's reply was just what might have been expocted. It was "clearly a matter for tho people to decide," and it would he "undemocratic" to refuso them tho opportunity under fixed and fair conditions. His own opinion on the morits of the question is still studiously I concealed — who is ho that ho should venture to form any opinion before the People hiivo spoken? — and ho did not even get so far a*» to say what he meant by fair conditions for tho voto. A knowled go on tho electors' piwrt of what they aro voting on is evidently not ft necessary condition in his opinion, for he rejected the suggestion of the Rev. W. A. Evans, iu> he had previously rejected tho proposal of the Bible-iu-Schools Conference, that tho text-book should bo printed and circulated before tho poll is taken. Is ho going to ask Parliament to nuthoriso a referendum on a text-book without making it accessible to tho electors? or is ho going to huvo tho question put in a general wny from the other point of view — viz., as to tho maintenance or alteration of tho aecularity of our educational system? That would be tho rational way of doing it if it is done at all ; but the deputation doer* not appear to havo suggested it, and after Victoria's experience, Tho Premier may be as much afruid to decido upon tho form of tho question to be submitted as he is to indicate what ho thinks of the merits. As to the meaning of Mr. Scddon's reference to tho "ominous silenco" of the Pres* upon the lubject, wcaro quite at a. loss. The Wellington press, nt auy rate, has not neglected it« duty in the matter, and both our morning contemfiornry and ourselves have stood squarely or tho natiomil onuso, instead of facing both ways like our sorely puzriod ctiiic. But if Air. Sod don had said that the publio hnd observed an undue reticence on tho subject, he would have been quite correct to this extent— -that there has been us yot no .organised opposition to tho proposals of the Btole-in-Schools party ; and it ia high time that there was. It was confessed by the chief spokesman of yesterday's deputation that they represcntod no organisation or public body. This defect should be repaired at onco. A powerful organisation should bo formed, as it cosily could, to champion the • people's causo, and nothing but organisation will save the oase from going by dofault - '