BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 56, 7 March 1913, Page 9

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

REPLY TO'BIs'HOP CLEARY. (BY TELEQKArH— PRESS ASSOCIATION.) AUCKLAND/, 6th March. *. The Rev. .Mr. Jolly, replied to Bishop Cleary's denunciation of the introduction bf the Bible in State schools to a large gathering to-night. Bishop Cl'ossley, who presided, referred to the progress of the league in the Tforth of Auckland, and assured his hearers that the league had a big future. The Rev. Mr. Jolly said that while the league agreed with the Catholics on some poihts, the latter demanded denominational grants for their schools, which could not be* granted without wrecking our educational system. The training and formation of the character of children was the first consideration, and the State was bound to take such steps as were practicable to secure that and to havo Christian ideals taught in schools. Bishop Cleary had charged the Australian authorities with mutilating the Bible, fend blamed the Christian Churches for approving Bible-reading lessons j nor was he more fortunate in his attack on the character of the selected 'lessons. The selection showed .that there was no thought to eliminate the supernatural from the narrative. Tho teacher did not give sectarian or dogmatic instruction, but saw that the lesson was read intelligently, and, if ho chose, bring out a moral lesson. It was with pain that he observed that Bishop • Cleary had charged the league with using the conscience clause as an instrument ,of proselytism to tamper with Catholic children. If the majority of the Dominion's people wanted Bible instruction ih schools, they had a right to demand it, while protecting the minority on the conscience clause.