RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION IN SCHOOLS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CIX, Issue 13113, 29 April 1903, Page 5

RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION IN SCHOOLS.

THE WELLINGTON CONFERENCE. [Per Press 'Association.] WELLINGTON, April 28. Th* Conference* .on the subject of securing a foxtnbook for Bihle-reading in schools was opened to-day. There wore twentynine delegates present, representing all parts of the colony. The Rev Dr Gibb, of Dunedin, who presided, reviewed', the proceedings which had led to the Conference being summoned, and reminded the delegates of the agitation a few months ago in various parts of the colony in favour of Bible-teachiug in State schools. He generally approved of the platform, which he said was that some means should be devised whereby there would be a repetition in the schools 'of the Lord's Prayer and Scripture readings from an approved textbook. He felt assured that a referendum would disclose that an overwhelming majority of the people were in favour of such a.n alteration in the educational! system. The Presbyterian Assembly had approved of the Victorian scheme of Scripture instruction in schools, but the Presbyterian delegates were left with their hands as free as other delegates. The Conference should either adopt the Victorian scheme, modify it, or formulate a scheme. Having come to a decision it should then take its scheme to the Premier and, in the name of the Churches, ask the Government, through Mr Seddon, to' adopt l the scheme. The first step taken by the Conference was to decide that the Press should he excluded from its deliberations. Subsequently the Secretary announced that the following resolution had been passed :—“ That the meeting proceed to consider the Victorian scheme of lessons as a basis for ‘lessons to be adopted for use in the State

- schools.” I The Conference will resume in the mom--1 ing-