BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3586, 11 March 1914, Page 5

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

QUESTION DEBATED BY T/.C.T.U, CONVENTION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVES THE PRINCIPLE. BUT DIFFERS AS TO SYSTEM. \ A COMPROMISE AGREED TO.

Hie burning question of Bible teaching iti State schools was before the W.C. i.U. convention yesterday mornmg, and led to an animated discussion, which lasted for about an horn and a-lialf. Though the delegates were unanimously in favor of the principle it was apparent that there was a diversity of opinion as to the best methods to bo employed. THE REPORT. The subject was introduced L; the following report which was mev-ntec; bv Mrs Walker:— ' " “Tim Nelson system of Bible reading in schools being the only system before the public for many years, has always had the support of the Union. In 1912, however, another system wan brought forward by the Bible in State Schools League. A very full dismission took place in this subject at 'rou Convention (March, 1913). the mernv and demerits of both sv st era s: fie in g discussed by delegates ’here present” and a vote was carried supporting the Nelson system. Many of our members are, however, strener s.upnorte-rs of the League, and the position* of the various Inions on this question, as far as f have received official information, now stands as follows:—Ashburton reports: "In favor oi Bibio lessons in schools, but divided ns to method, so in obedience to the ’vi.she® of our officers, decided to leave question alone as a Union, each member to be at liber tv to do as hei' conscience, dictates, feeding it better to do thi« than to run any risk of losing the main issufr, No-Licon.se. by division on any e-issue.” Kaiar.-u ; 'republic meetings organised to consider this question. At both meetings resolutions in favor of .State School League’s platform carried bv a large majority. Wanganui: Nelson system working here. Resolutions passed bv Union in favor of Bible in Schools. League and against Convention’s resolution. Tiraaru: This branch passed resolutions simply in favor of Bible in Schools. • .Ministers here gave lessons once a week. Hamilton : Resolutions passed at local Union and also DistrictConvention favoring League’s nlatform. Several members canvassing, district for League. P.angivri : Several meetings totally given up to this discussion. Vote against Convention's, pronouncement.. Members, as private .people, canvassing for pledges. Ngaere : Question much discussed. Tvm public meetings held and addressed by supporters of each system. After much correspondence and discussion, resolution passed, "That this Union heartily approves Bible reading it. schools.” Warkworth :No Superintendent appointed. Much correspondence and discussion. Public meetings addressed by Rev, Sims, supporter of the League, at which resolution favoring League's platform. Literature and text books distributed. Bluff: At May meeting resolution carried to support League's platform. Several members working for it. Auckland: Two meetings held for discussion. Resolution re-affirmed supporting platform of League. Several members hold office in the League. Invercargill : Some months given to study and discussion before feeling of member* tested. On November 12th. at the District Convention, an influential deputation from the League received. Before this a resolution in favor oi League’s platform had been passed. At the District Convention the fol'oaing resolution passed without a gisse.n tient. and by a standing vote: "That this District Convention of Invercargill. representing eight tranches oi the SY.C.TX. in Southland, heartily and cordially endorses the that form

of the Bible in State Schools League and pledges itself to help in every possible way the bringing in of (he Bibk to the schools of New Zealand." Port Chalmers: Supports League's platform, and several members worn’ for it. Wellington District Union : December 30th. Circulars re both systems read and discussed. No opportunity of full meeting of members or of unanimous vote either way. so resolved to just “Heartily approve of Bible reading in schools.' 3 Napier: No superintendent appointed. Decicedly opposed to the introduction or the New South Wales system of Bible teaching into our State schools. Voting at two of our meetings unanimous against League's platform. Wv Plymouth: After correspondence and discussion, it was found (-hat though all were agreed on the vatu-? of Bib.U teaching for the young, different opinions as to the method were field ! y different members: fixer > e or<? no tole was taken. Nelson: No siipotirtendon t appointed. Nelson system stiii carried on and supported by Hits Union. The followug notion vns earired by 26 to 13: “That ties bianciof the W.C.T.U. endorses th« two resolutions passed by the Dominion Convention, 1913, in oonnemion with Bible in Schools.' - ' 6. e)li.lgton : No superintendent of this -..opartmom appointed. Three afternoons have been, especially devoted to this subject-. Resolution passed in favor of the Nelso-t----svstem. Gisborne: No superintendent lias been appointed. At the Vpr:] meeting a motion was passed disagreeing with the resolution passed at last convention. 11 members voting lot this motion. 5 against, several members not voting at all. At subsequent meetings there was much discussion on the subject, and at the August meeting it was eventually decided to abide by the decision of tho Now Zealand Executive, and preserve a neutral attitude, members realising that there wore in the I nion strong supporters of both systems. From this report (which I have carefully und accurately compiled from officia ‘ memoranda furnished to me from the Unions) it will be seen that the W.C.T.U. is still .strongly divided upon this question. Only a comparatively few of the Unions have furnished reports, and I have no means of knowing the attitude of the others, or which system the majority of their members support-.” The report was adopted.

BIBLE IN STATE SCHOOLS’ LEAGUE PLATFORM SUPPORTED. In speaking to the report, Mrs Harrison T.ee-Cowie said she had been brought up in Australia, where a system of Bible reading in State schools had been in vogue for 47 years in NewSouth Wales. Seeing the success of the system in the sister State, other States had adopted the principle, bur had not employed the same methods. She detailed' the system adopted m New South Wales, where she had herself for many years given lessons in the schools. Last- year she spent six months in Australia and made it her business to get all the information she possibly could. In reply to the question, “Is any preference given to a particular denomination,” she could answer emphatically “none.” In reply to the objection that sectarian bitterness is engendered, she could confidently say that, on the contrary, ministers* often met together to prepare a common syllabus- and the Bible fcaching in the school provided always a mutual meeting ground and mado for harmony. The plan the Bible

in State Schools League advocated would have the same effect in this Dominion, and she favored its endorsement by the Convention. Mrs Courtenay Smith, State President of the N.S.W. Women’s . Temperance Union, is the teacher paid by the Anglican Church to give religious instruction in the State Schools of Sydney. In many places, churches combine for religious instruction and the children are taken conjointly by the various ministers. We are not asking New Zealand to adopt an untried system, but one that lias stood the test of 47 years. She moved: — “We recognise the heed of drawing together all the forces that make for righteousness in this great yeal of battle, and the vast importance of unity and love and godly concord in our own ranks at all times: we recognise also that all our members are unanimous in desiring that Bible teaching shall be given to Christ’s little ones everywhere, the only difference of opinion being the met hoe of getting such teaching into the schools. The last year has given time to the Unions to thoroughly investigate every possible method of securing Bible teaching, and the majority of our branches have voted stronglv in favor of the Bible m State Schools’ League’s system as being the one practical method. This Convention decides to endorse the opinion of the fifty or more branches that before and since our last Convention have voted for the Bible in State Schools’ League platform. This is in harmony with the resolutions passed and re-affirm-ed by church gatherings of large denominations as we 4as by some smaller bodies, and will make us one harmonious whole of Christian citizens, demanding from our representatives the birthright of our children.”

Dv Elizabeth. Dunn seconded the motion, remarking tliat tlie 'W.C.T.U. by its action last year, had set itself against the body of organised Christi.au opinion throughout New Ze<ikin<l> and is committed to official opposition of the only organisation which is at* work to secure that Bible reading shall form part of the ordinary school curriculum. “The office of Superintendent of Purity and Moral Education,;’ said the Doctor, “is, from my point of view, unworkable apart from the B) ble. It is only because I realise whpt is God’s purpose towards us that I am willing to handle it. It is work that requires a weapon, and I challenge you to mention a more powerful ono than the sword of the Spirit. If as a body of Christian workers we wield it, Satan cannot stand against us, and he knows it, hence his desire to weaken us by splitting up our forces. If as a Convention we refuse to support the Bible in Schools platform, I shall resign my office as Dominion Superintendent of Purity and Moral Education, although I will continue my memhership,”

A POINT OF ORDER. Mrs Peryman rose to a point of order, asking if this convention had the power to pledge the individual unions to adopt the platform of an outside society? , Mrs Don: In reply to that question, I must rule that we have not the power. ~ , . . , „ Mrs Lee-Cowie said that she knew the enemy was looking on with eager eves at this convention, and she liaq worded the resolution with a view to avoiding any dissension. Ihe resolution did not state that we adopted the platform of the Bible m State Schools League, but that we endorsed the action°of the majority of our branches. Mrs Au!d stated that m the Auckland province, there were 46,1)00 children. in the schools, one-tnird ot the children in New Zealand. Permission was asked recently to go into the Hamilton West School to give Bible lessons after schools hours, but the Auckland Education Board refused to allow it, Through the action of the Board all these children were denied the right to receive Bible teaching Mrs Peryman stated that, in the list of Branches stated to have passed resolutions in favor of the Bible m Schools League, was included Timaru. The report showed that Timaru had. passed a resolution simply for Bible m Schools. Mrs Rule (Timaru) said that it was nuite true that Timaru had passed a resolution in support of the League.

AN AMENDMENT. Miss Henderson moved, as an amendment: “That this convention reaffirms its advocacy of Bible teaching in State schools. It recognises that unions its members and branches there = are differences of opinion as to the best methods of carrying out this principle, and being convinced that no action should be taken by the convention which would ™P air the spirit of unity which has hitherto marked the work of the .C..1.U. for so manv years, it is of opinion that each branch and each member should be left free to advocate the particular system of Bible teaching which appeals most strongly P* their consciences.”

Mrs Evans strongly opposed the amendment. She held that the resolution passed last year "'as an error of judgment. It was only fair that something should be done to prove to New Zealand what the 111110113 thought now of the Nelson system. She wanted to see the hundreds or children in New Zealand whose patents never opened a Bible given a chance to study God's word, which would, she felt sure, make for tho righteousness of the nation. Mrs Graham said that they had as a, Union gone directly against the churches. Hhc pleaded with the mothers of this country to support the best system of Bible teaching in schools, for if we lose this opportunity, we shall not have another chance m this generation. She had been a, member of tho union for 18 years, and would not like to see thorn flow in opposition to the churches in <.his important matter. Miss Dewar sanl that for 10 years sue had taught a BiHe class in Ponsonby School after school hours, hut both she and her sister realised that they wore not re&ching whole of the children. We desire that every child in'the Dominion shall have the right of reading God’s V\ ord. It appeared „s if the Lord had opened up a way for them to secure what they had been working for for so many years, and she hoped they would avail themselves of their opportunity. So long as there was only the Nelson system, they worked tinder it, hut now that a better system is proposed, we feel we must e Mrs Evans said that in the report it is stated that Wellington District had decided, as it could not get an unanimous vote for either system, to just heartily approve of Bible-iu-Schools. A Wellington representative explained that at the. last meeting a resolution was carried in favor of the League m order that the delegate to the Convention might know how to vote on this important question. Mrs Don stated that Dunedin was m the list of branches that were m favor of the League. At the meeting held to discuss this matter, there was ail attendance of 60 to BO out of 200 members. When t-lie vote was put by ballot, 13 or 17 voted for the League, eight against, and the rest were neutral.

SECTARIANISM OPPOSED. Mrs Feryman said that she heartily supported the amendment. She did not believe in the introduction of any sectarian system, which if introduced would put bank the clock for centuries,. but desired unsectarian Bible teaching in the schools. The reports from the various unions showed that the union was, like the churches, divided. She held that ii matter of religion could not he decided by majorities. If they carried

the amendment, it would allow all the branches and the individual members of the union to advocate the plan that seemed to them best. •_. • • Mrs Brigliting mentioned that her Union was almost unanimous for the Bible in Schools League. Mrs Walker said that she favored the amendment, as she considered all should be left free in the matter. Gut of 78 adult unions, only 18 had sene in reports on the subject, and this showed tliat they had not a direct mandate from the branches to endorse the Bible in State Schools’ League platform. Miss Powell said that she hardly stood for either system. While she would give a very great deal to see that beautiful text book in the bands of the teachers, she was opposed to denominational teaching. ‘She held they had made a mistake last year m "stipulating for any system, trad the convention should pimply have affirmed the fact that they favored the system of Bible teaching in schools; She did not see how the churches camo in to the matter at all. &ho felt that the Union was an undenominational Church working for whatever uplifts humanity and consequently we can ignore what other churches do. The churches themselves were very much divided on the question. Every member of the. union wanted to see the right tiling done, and she would be very sorry to see any vote given which would tend to upset the harmony which existed iu the convention. Mrs Carraway said she had great sympathy with her country sisters, who were opening up the country and making the towns what they were. These good women had little time for studying problems. They had no time to read the newspapers, as they had to work among the cows with the men. The White Ribbon army had done splendid work with these women, and the first union to support the Bible in State Schools League was the Auckland branch of ' the AY.C.T.U. Then, too, the children in the backblocks could not spend more time in school than they did now to receive Bible instruction out of School hours, because they had work, and hard work, to do at home, both before and after school hours. Miss Atkinson said that this was the most important question which, had come before the convention this jeai. While a supporter of the Nelson system, she was willing to fall in with the others if by so doing they could secure harmony. It was only the method on which they disagreed, and surely as Christian women they uere not going to face the world showing dissension. Thev were on the eve of one of the most momentous battles in the history of the country. There was nothing which so rejoiced the enemy as to see dissension in the ranks" of the convention, and they must not give them that satisfaction.

PRAISE FOR THE TEXT BOOKS. Miss Bagnell .said she supported the Bible in State Schools’ League. She had a letetr from Mrs Hampson, of Nelson, who was unable to be present at the Convention and would like to re< The President stated that she had had more than a dozen letters on tue subject, some of 18 pages. Would the Convention like the letter read? A few voices: “No.” Permission to read the letter was refused. Miss Bagnell stated that she had found in her travels many people who were in ! favor of both systems. They had welcomed the Nelsdh system as the only one they could getj but they realised that it did not reach all the children they wished to .reach. She had heard nothing but praise tor the text 1 >ooks, and thought much good would be done’by introducing them into the schools. She deprecated the introduction of the denominational cry, and said it was a great pity, since the League system did not accentuate sectarian differences. She was a member of the Church of Christ and though she knew that the majority of that Church here in New Zealand did not agree with herself on the subject of Bible in Schools, yet the fact was that in Australia the Church ot Christ works unanimously hand in hand with the system advocated by the League. One of their evangelists m Victoria had written to say that unfortunately they had not the system at work in tliat state and he wished, to God they had, for he knew by personal expelience how well it worked in other places. The speaker added that “ was absurd to talk about the sy-tem making for sectarian bittern ss. ■•You send vour children to your own Church Sunday School, where they have Church instruction like you give them at home from your own minister. The children all know that they go to different Sunday Schools, Anglican, Methodist, Presbyterian ana so on, just .as wo all go to different churches. Yet we meet- here on a common basis, end win- should not the children which meet on a common basis in the day school separate without any friction to receive Church instruction from your own minister like they do in Suncay School.” It was all very well for the children in the towns, but how about those in the backhloeks? There are many growing up ignorant, that there is a "God in Heaven, of the Saviour who died for them, even of the Bible Itself. She was «sked to represent Hikurangi, though through a mischance that branc?i was disfranchised. Well the Hikurangi branch was strong for the Bible in Schools League. In Hikurangi a girl of eight was asked by her teacher to learn the 23rd Psalm. “Where do you find it?” “In the Bible.” “What is the Bible?” “The Bible is God’s Book. Haven’t you a Bible at homo?” “Oh, the minister came the other day to baptize the baby and asked for a hook of some sort, and when mother said we hadn t one, he pulled one out of his pocket. Would that be a Bible?” Such ignorance was common, alas, all through New Zealand. She made a powerful appeal for unanimity on this subject, and asked them to combine to adopt, tho system which so manv thousands of people had favored. How can the children ever reach that Better Land of which we sing, if thev have never heard of it? If the delegates knew the lot of the children in the hackblocks, they must vote for the Bible in Schools’ ’ League. Mrs Mitchell said that if they all saw to it that tho Bible was read in their own homes there would not be so much need for the cry for Bible in Schools. Miss Roberts supported 1 the amendment. She had last year seconded the motion in favor of the Nelson svstem. She said there was no one who was supporting the platform of the Bible in State Schools’ League wno felt more strongly on the subject than she did. She was giving ua a great deal when she said she would support the amendment, hut she did so in order to avoid any chance of friction.

AN OUTSPOKEN MOTION ADVO-

CATED. Sister Nora said that she came there to represent Gore, but through some irregularity as to her instructions from that branch on matters other than this under discussion, Gore had no vote. She was against the amendment, and held that the Convention should give an outspoken utterance on the subject, and not adopt a colorless resolution like the amendment. which meant nothing. She appealed to delegates to settle the question now, as if they did not they would be too late to take. advantage of the opportunity of having a referendum on tho subject taken. As a Presbyterian she would like to say that leading men like Dr. Gibb, Graham Balfour and others were whole-hearted for the Bible in Schools’ League, while only recently the General Assembly had re-affirmed its support of the League by something like 140 votes to 13. The Methodist Conference had only last week reaffirmed its support of the League by an overwhelming majority. The Methodist Conference of Australia had sent a cable to the League wishing it God speed in its work

and a speedy success. Sister Nora was proceeding to refer to the Nelson system, but was ruled out of order as the President said that that system was not under discussion. Mrs Goffe said that her branch (Gisborne) had sent her to vote for the resolution, but for tlie sake of the W.C.T.U. she would vote for the amendment. ' , , , Mrs A. R. Atkinson said she had felt very strongly on the matter, and liacl even suffered 1 public persecution on its account, but she would sacrifice her own opinions and vote for the amendment in the interests of peace. She would hate to have a vote taken on the matter, and for it to go against supporters of tho League, becaiiso many of thciiyjf coming nslnnifife/ for branches, thr#gh npM’&.ulVofMffieirs, founth tjienisfuzqA-'mifable to vote. For/ It/e sdUrMil the big fight thet A/d- a/cad, let them introduce uotMg wlii/li would bring in dissension in tlie convention or tho unions. By adopting the amendment, no one would be sacrificing their principles. Mrs Graham said that they must remember that many came there with instructions from their branches to support the resolution in favor of the League. THE AMENDMENT CARRIED.

Mrs Cowie rose to speak, but was ruled out of order. The amendment was then put ? and a number of delegates stood up m support of it. , r „ Among these was Mrs Harrison Lee-Cowie, the mover of the resolution, who again asked leave to speak, and said that, unless she were allowed, she could not withdraw her motion. Leave was granted, and Mrs Cow le appealed to her followers to throw m their lot with the supporters of the amendment, though she could not agree that the League system tended to sectarian strife. It had been admitted that last year’s resolution was a mistake, and that was all they wanted She then said with visible emotion, “Madame President, I vote for the amendment.” . . , . This gracious action in the interests of harmony was highly appreciated, and Mrs Lee-Cowie’s pronouncement was warmly applauded. The vote" was then taken, and Miss Henderson’s amendment was carried by 32 votes to i. 'The Doxology was then sung. “So it goes out- to the whole world, said Mrs Lee-Cowie, “that we are solid for the Bible in Schools.” (Applause.) The amendment was then put as the substantive motion and earned on the voices.