PRESBYTERIAN SYNOD.

Evening Star, Issue 4953, 17 January 1879, Page 2

PRESBYTERIAN SYNOD.

; Fridat)-Jasdaw'l7. V; 'I- ■OTiUS-MADtNO IS SCHOOLS. » of Dr Copland's overture was .^ e -?^ : v D r Stuart did not think there was any necessity for the Bynod to enter into a fuller discussion 01 the matter. They were atone as to the importance ot religious Instruction ill schools, although differences a Hli? e * ißtßS «> whether the commencement, of such an notation was timeous. AH that w s want xl was a committee to watch over the overture and report au " n S the yenr.-(Hear, hear) „*• ter further discussion, Mr Fitjsgbrald moved—lhat the overture be not adopted." He was afiaid that the mow rcadln§r Of the Bible in schools would be »J?o7 M W )«P0U8 instruction, and that the Church would rest satisfied with that which was a great evil. Un an assurance by Mr Win that the overture inJA™ instruction " as well as the reading 01 wie Bible, Mr Fitzgerald asked for permission to withdraw his motion, saying that the overture did not convey that interpretation. *iJ he S ev> Mr r ATt objected to the withdrawal of the mot-pa, saying that Presbyterians had been unnecessarily alarmed. The Rev. Mr Suthhkland thought the overture was premature. He did not think that there had been any Hostility to religion or interference shown bv the party In power—when that wasdone it would be high time for them to interfere. In Victoria the Government had broken faith with the party in favor of the Bib o-reading m schools. He would like to see a fair trial given to the present national system of education. The present overture, he contended, asked nothing more than the mere reading of the Bible in schools. The advantages to be derive! from mere Bible--eading was nothing to the advantages which would accrue from the divers elements of the population being woldwl into one. Such a result would far outweigh the temporary advantages «f the simple Bible-reading in the Bchools. Such a result did not seem to him possible, for if the Bible was road in Our schools th«, lloman Catholics would hot permit their children to attend them; if it was hot road they would say wc were a godless people. He agreed with Dr Stuart that that body svere actuated by most worthy motives, though he disagreed with the taken for carrying out their purpose.. Me thought that one hour's education in the public schools by a teacher whose heart was thoroughly in the work of religious instruction, and moreover who bad power to inculcate his subjects to his wav of thinking, would do much more good than the mere reading of the Blhle. Nothing would compare with the systematical elucidation and exposition of God's word to children. He deprecated the,culling of passages from the Bible, and insisted that children in schools should have the whole work. ; : The Rev. Mr Baxxerman thought that two things were essential in school education—prayer from the lips of the teacher aud the reading of the word of Gw\ from the lips of the teacher. He had no sympathy with the remarks of Mr Sutherland with regard to the eeects from the mere reading of the Scriptures. The reading of the Bible by the teacher would be more efficacious than many comments given even from the pulpit.

Mr Sutherland : Then if the Bible reading be so efficacious what is the necessity of an organised ministry for teaching. s Mr Banxermak replied that the ministry wcro not before the fsynpd. It could never be premature to seek to do what was right. Exception had been taken that no opposition had been made to the Education Bill when before the General Aasemblv, but he ins-sted that no opportunity had been offered. Even if t toy had donourong in remaining passive it was never too late to repent -(Laughter.) If a poll were tasen of the pirenfej of Otago it \vr uM bo found that nineteen-twentieth* of the whole would advocate the restoration of the Bible in schools In snying that the Buiicdin Prcsbyterydid notunderstand MrCurtis'd Bill the Attorney-General had spoken in ignorance, or he had calculated on the gullibility of his audience. Hundreds and hundreds of children were so situated that their parents were precluded from cduciting their children in the reading of Hie Bible. If Mr Curtis s Bill was passed he.would be in favor of founding a school where not only the Bible but tho catechism should be taught He was not in favor of the overture, as he took exception to the term "Godless" as applied to the Education Bill. He moved " That the further discussion of this overture be adjourned, and that a committee bo appointed to frame a resolution expressing the mind, of the Synod on the subject of the over lure."

Tliis motion was accepted by Mr Wim., awl unanimously aceepled. The committee appointed consist of:—Ministers: Revs. Dr Stuart, Copland, Will, Bannerman, and Gillies. Elders: Messrs Reid. Fitzgerald, and Chisholm.

TBMPKRANX'E REPORT. The Rev. Mr Rose brought up the report on temperance, which stated that in only one parish had there been any mention of an increase of drunkenness. In a lavge number there was a manifest im-pn.n-ciceat, wlule some are reported ns stationary. As indicating the line of action which should bo pursued for the year, the committee recommended 'as follows ;—(1) That ministers preach on the subject in December, or some other suitable occasion during the year. (2) That every fitting opportunity for reducing the number of licenced houses should be used. (3) That encouragement be given to the opening of publichouses without strong drink. (4) That atens be taken for the passing of a good Permissive Bill. '(6) .Thatan Abstinence Association in connection with the Church be formed.

The deliverance agreed oh was to the following effect: " The Synod approve the report, and record their thanks to the committee, and especially to the convener, and express its satisfaction at learning that intemperance appears to bs on the decrease throughout the country; regret, however, that drunkenness still prevailsto such an extent, and its cohcomitant evils so painful to the physical, social, and spiritual interests of our fellow men; direct the attention of the ministers, office-bearers, and members of the Church to the recommendations contained in the report, and instructed the committee to prosecute their labors.

This evening's business will consist of the consideration of reports on missions, and on the Sustentation Fund.