BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

Evening Post, Volume LXVIII, Issue 49, 26 August 1904, Page 5

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

AGAINST THE TEXT-BOOK. DEPUTATION PROTESTS TO THE PREMIER. Olerio and layman, politicians of different shades, and men <»f all trades and professions waited on the .Premier yesterday as a multi-coloured but singleminded deputation, to ciy "Hands off the education system." Among the members of the deputation woro the Revs. J. Gummell, W. A. Evans, John Cre\v«"s, and Van SUivoicn ; ! lions, F. H. Fraser and T. K. Macdonald, M.L.G.'s; M. W. H. P. Barber, M.H.It., Dr. Findlay, Mcsws. John Hutckeson, W. N&ughton, S. A. Atkinson, Kibto, LitUojolwi, and others. Tho deputation particularly opposed the introduction into Stiatd schools of a certain text-book recommended by the Bible-in-Schools Conference. Tho subject was introduced by the Rev. J. Crowes, who stated that as the Catholic Bishops .had ho clearly defined their position, they had not been invited to join in this protest. Tho deputation objected to ecclesiastical strife, and thought the civil Government had nothing to do with religion. If tho Government did decide to lake a referendum, he submitted the questions should be- very different to those suggested by tho Bible-in-Schools Conference. Dr. Findlay considered the province of the public schools was to toach morality, not religion. The supporters of the text-book wanted the teaching not of morality in its ethical sense, but of doigma. Tho ultimate result might be a State Church. He believed the trend towards the referendum would, mark our democracy as it had marked other democracies. But once the principle tlwt religious life was to be influenced or controlled by the ballot box was admitted, it might lead anywhere. He doubted if our religious life should be touched at all either by tho hand of Parliament, or by the vote of tho people. But_if there was to be a referendum on "Bible-in-flchoobe, it should be safeguarded by providing that there should be no chango unless it was carried by an absolute majority, or there should bo some protection against the activity of the minority who went to the polls and voted for the change, leaving at home tho apathetic nbn-voters. Tho Rev. W. A. Evans predicted bad effects, educationally and ethically, of tho textbook in sohools. The introduction into our schools of any subject needing a conscience-clause condemned it at once. (Tho Premier: Heai 1 , hear.) Education was a thing tho curriculum of which should bo devised by exports, not by a referendum. A referendum on the teaching of, wiy, geography, would not be a wi«o thing ; why then a referendum on this subject? A first step to a referendum on the introduction of this text-book should bo tho broadcast distribution of copies of it, so that tho people would know wh,at they wore voting on. Tho imuo to tho people, if it was to bo put, should bo simple. Tho people should bo asked whether they desired a chango in the present system. Victoria, in voting on. tho issues, had voted a majority each way 1 The Rev. J. Gammell predicted that if we made tho proposed change, our epitaph would be that on a stone in a cemetery : "J was well ; I wished to be better; I am here." Tho Premier stated that it had never previously fallen to his lot to have in tho Cabinet-room a deputation whoso members were so diverse in their views as those now present, but who had como together to oppose this innovation in respect of Biblereuding in schools. He questioned whether they would be able ta find a common platform on any other subject. No doubt this would be tho case not> only in Wellington but throughout tho colony. To preface his rfcply, he would express tho hope- that it would never bo ascribed to him that ho had over done or said anything against tho education system of Now Zealand. On the other hand, ho hoped he would ever bo true to democracy and conform to what was the ascertained will of tho majority of tho people. Ho had undertaken, in tho Referendum Bill, to givo ttio people opportunity, under fixed and fair conditions, to express thoir opinion on any givou subject. This was a question agitating tho public mind, and nothing but tho decision of the people could sottlo it definitely. Our national system of education had been arrived at after years of thought, and to treat lightly an interference with it now would show a want of thought and a temerity ho trusted would never bo attributed to him. Ho anticipated that the Bill would pass the House- by a largo majority, and if it passed also in another pihicc, resolutions to put it in operation would have to be passed by each brunch of the. Legislature. When uuch resolutions come before them, each brunch of tho Legislature would have an opportunity to decido tho form in which the. questions should go to the people. Wlier- tho resolutions on the present subject won submitted, both Houses should insist that there ehouto be no nmb/.guity in the questions — that every vol/jr should understand what he was voting on, and the result of his decision. Hfi had been asked by a previous deputatiam if ho was prepared to defray the cost of printing a toxt-book winch some conference or other had agreed on. His awswer was in tho negative. He did ?aeit think the State should spend public jnoney on tho printing of text-books. .At tho same time, he agreed with. Mr. Evans that thoy should not ask tho people to decide until the particular passages' of the Bible proposed to do read in schools were known to every doctor* ' Ho thought it was the duty of thoso who asked that the question be remitUid to tho electors to' see that this inforß.iation was, placed in the hands of eva';y elector of tho colony. He had had . .tho privilege to peruse tho texts s,ela oted, and did not think it would bo vc^.y much advantage to children simply to read homo of the texts which formed port of the textbook agreed on by lihis conference. Up to the present tima there had been an ominous silence on 'the part of the press of tho colony in i/espoct to this matter. What that meant/ ww» not for him to say, but he had noted it. The press was h great safeguards /of the liberties of the people, and, tho ofgh it sometimes differed with him, Ja«, would say thoy had evory reason to bo proud of thoir press. The obiW. that, whs not properly taught in its reij gious lifo laboured under disadvantage vx this world, and might perhaps suffer , ; m tho hereafter. Every child should ha. taught religion. Roy. Van St/averen: In school? Tho Premity:: "I did not say that. Thcro are tluNio whose special duty it is. They have 'Aiad opportunities for years that they he fro failed to embrace." With regard to the opportunity given for religious insti .notion before- and after school a return t'i.at had been prepared would shock thewjj present, as it 'had shocked him, to rjeo how little had been done. "They sea it should bo done," added the Premier, "»nd an effort is now being inado to, get some one else to do ic."

To-m nrrow Mowra. Sidoyj Moeoh and Co. wi /I cell in their rooms, Manucn-street, coinnv racing at 1,30 p.m., unredeemed plcdg v, etc., on account of Mr. Mofcz, of tho l&mt do Pieto Pawn Office, Twnnakiplaoo. It is a vary targe lot, and is to vbt spl/J, without ceserx*!