TOLERATION.

Evening Star, Issue 8789, 1 April 1892, Page 4

TOLERATION.

"Fte with our judgment! u our watobea, none Qo fuat yefe&ch believeo bis own. tfi Tftfl JDITOB. Sib,—ln the preseot as }n the past nothing arouses oar angerotu excitement more than emotional supernatural feeling. We should shoot "Away with him" to-day with as mnoh bitterness as was done nineteen cenfcurLß ago. Strange to say the " shout-

log" is always loudest where an ecoleaiaatioal system of State Government prevails and the clergy control education. The recent quarrel between the French Government and the French bishops was caused by the addition to the diocesan oateohiam touohing the duties of Roman Catholic electors. The bishops insisted it was part of their duty to give advice to I electors on matters of polioy touching the church. Or, in other words, is the power I behind the throne (the people) to be ecolesiastioisra ? The spirit of the age seems to be that a Government should not perseoute the Christian Church or patronise it, but should leave it alone to execute its commission and work out its destiny. This seems to be just what we are doing, and doing well, in New Zealand. The majority must rule, and, providing they do so with toleration to all, where is the complaint. Hence, in countries where there is no State ohuroh, man develops much better, and life, freedom, and property are better secured. Juet now our educational system is receiving its annual bombardment. It can stand it, because it is about as perfect as it can be. It is free, and costs the working man nothing, and one hopes soon to see it so all along the line, from the infants' room to the University. Many of the rising generation can form no idea of the terrible bitterness of feeling in the Old Country caused by the dogmatic teachings of theologians. Are these to take root in these fair colonies, and segregated groups of men and women grow up together as of old ? One class want the Bible in schools. Which Bible Others State assistance. Others say without some form of supernatural training in our publio schools we shall develop criminals, The women in orthodox Russia produce far more illegitimate children (as the foundling hospital returns have shown) than anywhere else. Let our children be taoght at their mothers' knees and in the Sunday school, assisted by a tolerant clergy.—l am, etc., Tolerant. Dunedin, March 26.