BIBLE IN SCHOOLS MEETING AT ISLAND BAY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 11, 13 July 1914, Page 2

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS MEETING AT ISLAND BAY.

The Island Bay branch of the New Zealand Catholic Federation met last night, the Yen. Archdeacon Devoy presiding. On the motion of Mr. P. J. O'Regan a motion protesting against tho proposed referendum on the Bible in schools question was carried. In order to emphasise the far*reaching nature of the changes now sought by the promoters of the Bible-in-Schools Movement, Mr. O'Regan pointed out that the New Zealand Company had proposed that every Christian denomination should be assisted monetarily or by endowment. Governor Hobson's instructions from the British Government, however, provided that the exercise of religion in this country should be free. An ordinance passed by the Legislative Council in 1842 provided for tho erection of churches and maintenance of ministers out of the Colonial Treasury. This was disallowed by the Crown in 1843, on the ground that it was inconsistent with the Governor's instructions respecting the freo exercise of religion in this country. Thus at the very birth of ordered government in New Zealand the great principle of religious equality had been insisted upon. He congratulated the Labour Congress in that it had taken the high stand tha.t a religious question r was outside the ambit of any plebiscite. Finally he denounced the methods employed by Canon Garland. The reverend gentleman, he said, had not been long in this country before he had publicly given it out that religion was banished from the school because of "Rome rule." The statement was both untrue and offensive, and he was certain that the great majority of Canon Garland's co-religionists had no sympathy with such a transparent attempt to stir up the fires of antiCatholic bigotry. Archbishop O'Shea, who seconded the motion, pointed out the confusing issues to be placed before the electors. A bare majority dkK not settle the liquor question, which was not a matter of conscience ; yet the Bible-in-Schools League looked upon the so-called referendum as a democratic measure when" they were advocating a bare majority on tin's matter, which was purely one of conscience.