BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

Evening Star, Issue 20633, 5 November 1930, Page 3

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

DISCUSSION AT DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY

At the meeting of the Uuuediu Presbytery yesterday, tho Rev. Dr Herrington, convener of tho Youth Committee, reported on tho new Bill prepared by the Bible-in-Scbools League. It was decided, after a short discussion, that copies of the Bill, with explanatory comment, be issued to members in the notices calling the next Presbytery meeting, when the subject will bo more fully considered. Dr Herrington said the new Bill was to be called the Religious Instruction in Schools Bill. The new Bill differed from the former Bill introduced by Mr H. Holland, of Christchurch. It represented a great step forward. The main points in regard to the new Bill generally, which was the result of a conference of church representatives as well as members of the Bible-in-Sehools League, was that it provided for definite religious instruction on non-sec-tarian lines as well as for religious exercises at the opening of the school day. The Bill also provided for a thoroughly voluntary system of teaching. No’ teacher would be asked to teach religious subjects unless he was heartily in accord with tho objects of this religious instruction. Tho Bill further allowed for others _ who were not teachers to give instruction —people approved by their churches. There was a restriction against proselytising, and this was a very important point. Permissive action was given, under which it would be left with the education boards to say whether they were favourable or not to the introduction of tho teaching, and the question of Bible in schools would thus bo _ wholly removed from the general political arena. The question to bo decided_ would be left, with the particular district and the education board in charge in the district. A feature of tho Bill which gave them the greatest promise of success was that Roman Catholics were entirely exempted both from participation and from any payment for the additional cost of tho Bible lessons. Not only would Roman Catholic children he exempted, hut teachers as well. The Roman Catholic Church, through its leaders, had expressed its willingness to support the introduction of the measure. It was far better for the community as a whole, in the assault on agnosticism and atheism, that they should see that their children, of whatever denomination, should receive religious instruction in the schools rather than they should grow up without it. The agreement on the part of the Roman Catholics not to oppose the Bill certainly enhanced the prospects very considerably of it passing the Legislature. Mr Herrington said he did not know whether the Presbytery was prepared to vote on the matter then, or whether it would simply receive his report. The Rev. D. C. Herron said ho did not think the Presbytery should vote on tho question that' day. It seemed to him that the new Bill was a big step forward, and that the prospects of its being passed had greatly improved. He was not, however, in favour of the permissive clause, vesting authority by Parliament in the education' boards—thus providing for area option, as in England. He hoped the permissive clause would be taken out, and that they should have a Bill for the whole country. It seemed that the Roman Catholics, through thenleaders, recognised the need for the Bill.