THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16568, 4 June 1914, Page 8

THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

. TO THE TOITOE. Sir,—ln your news columns the other day you gave an account of the Bishop of Auckland's ideas regarding Heaven. I presume that such views are acceptable to members of the Church of Eng'and- Last Sunday night we had Mr Collins lecturing on the Bishop's teaching regarding the Resurrection of Jesus. Mr Collins asked in the course of his remarks what would.happen to a teacher in any of our, primary schools who dared to give a similar explanation to an inquiring pupil during the Bible lesson which it is desired to introduce into our schools. The teacher is not to be allowed to give explanations, however, a wise provision. But it should also be provided that pupils must not ask questions. A special Act should be passed imposing suitable and dreadful penalties for infringing such a rule.

An alternative would be to compile a State text book which would satisfy all religious bodies, from the Church of England to the A booa which is capable of such widely varying interpretation as we find to-day illustrated by the Bishop of Auckland and equally earnest and well-informed Salvationists, would almost seem to need an explanation - here' and there. Canon Garland and his retinue, however, evidently wish to adopt the good old motto; "Ton pays your' money'and yon takes your choice."—l am, etc., MTTHOLOGIST.-