BIBLE INSTRUCTION.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 15, 19 January 1911, Page 7

BIBLE INSTRUCTION.

■# SECTARIANISM EMPHATICALLY OPPOSED. BY PEIMITIVE METHODISTS. "An instructive contribution on th* Bible-in-schools controversy" aptly describes a discussion that took place at the Primitive Methodist Conference today. Archdeacon Harpei- addressed the conference yesterday, and the Rev. J. Daweou moved' to-day as follows: — "That this conference of the Primitive Methodist Church, whilst entirely iv accord with the introduction of some such primer as the Irisli Reader into the State schools, and the legalising of tie so-called Nelson system of ministerial visitation -thereto, yet emphatically declares its full and uncompromising opposition to any attempt to introduce denominational right of entry." "Notwithstanding the platitudes of the archdeacon," declared the Rev. (y. Knowlea Smith, General Committee delegate, "if denominational right of entry is to be enforced, I am going to fight for absolute secularism in the State schools. I will be a secularist out and out." "Personally," said the president, the Rev. G.. H. Mann, "1 think that the Nelson system is very unsatisfactory. (Hear, hear.) I don't think it should 1 be within the power of a school committee to refuse the right of entry out of ordinary school hours. Under the Nelson system we do not reach half the children in the schools. Still, lam not prepared to say, at this juncture, that 1 favour the, New South Wales system. I think it would be a pity to rush to a decision in this matter. I think the time has come when we should find a commonfighting ground ; I urn heartily sick of shifting the position from one point of contest to another. It is high time that we found out where we stand in this matter." The Rev. E. Drake stated that one of the Anglican Bishops had said that the New South Wales system was th» only one they would accept. He thought that something like the Nelson system, with some primer, would be the best solution. He strongly objected to any minister inculcating any particular denomination. "We should like all our children to read the Bible," said the Bey. J. Cocker. The president : We are dead against sectarianism. That is my opinion, and, I am sure, of the whole conference. (Hear, hear.) Mr. C. Bellringer pointed out that this was election year, and as the Bible-in-schools would be an issue, the people should have some guidance from the conterenee. The Rev. C. E. Ward said he did not consider the State schools system a Godless one; it contained high moral teaching. The following resolution on the question was adopted : — "That this conference, while declar- • ing its enyphatie and uncompromising opposition to any form of sectarian teaching in the State schools, refers the whole question of Bible instruc- . tion therein to the Public Questions Committee to draw up a report to be submitted to the ensuing district synods for their consideration, and that a report en the matter be submitted to the next conference."