BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 141, 18 June 1927, Page 8

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —I was surprised to read in "The Post" on 15th June, the statement made by the Rev. J. M'Caw. "It seemed extraordinary that while ,bpys arid girls in the secondary Bohools had religious instruction in a way, and while the Bible was put into prison cells, it should not be allowed in primary schools," Surely, sir, there is absolutely no parallel between a child in our State school, with Sunday schools and churches with open doors all around him, and a man confined to his cell jn prison! The Bible is in almost every home in the land. ,

When living in Australia my boy was taught the Bible in school, and I had to help him unlearn some of the errors taught him. I was told of a child that was threatened with the stick fox expressing his views on a certain Bible subject. In Australia it is no longer the Bible being read, but it is cow being taught by various ministers. In a certain town in New South Wales we were conducting a mission. Ope morning a minister, when giving his Bible lesson in the State school, so far exceeded his duty as to warn the children assembled not to attend our niissionl That was teaching intoleration of other sects, which spirit, if developed, would lead to persecution. No other spirit in this world has ever shown the bitterness and hatred and cruelty that the spirit of bigotry lias shown, and, no other bigotry has ever shown the fiendishness and hate that religious .bigotry has shown. Spmmcd up jn a few words, religious bigotry meaua denying to others the rights and privileges we ourselves enjoy. Only the other d*y I

heard with my own ears the minister o£ a popular church offering to fight a fellow minister because, he differed in doctrine, ihe man acted like one demented I began to reason with myself, and wondered how that man could teach the Gpgpel of Jesus Christ. I stepped into his service on the following Sunday night, and the error I heard was appalling. I «t, ,■', ,are men of this spirit to teach my children r T history repeats itself. Let us take warning from the experiences of the past Whenever the State has taught religion, sooner or later intolerance and persecution have resulted. The Bibfe should be taught in the home and in the churches ! not :n the State schools. Keep the Church and State separate.-*! am etc

L. R. HARVEY.

13th June.