BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16569, 5 June 1914, Page 2

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

MEETING AT PAFANUI. A meeting under the auspices of the Bible in State Schools League was held last night in St Paul’s Schoolroom. Papanui. There was a good attendance, and Mr C. E. Salter presided. The Rov P- N. Knight said that ho was there to advocate a referendum. There were some questions with which tho peoplo were not qualified to deal. Fiscal, military and railway matters and questions of pure politics were outside the range of popular management. These matters required the attention of experts. . Not so the Bible in schools question, which was a question for the individual. It was c question that should be settled out of politics, and by the vote of tho people of the land, concerning, as it did, tho deepest and eternal interests of the children. The majority should not trample upon the rights of tho minority, but, in a matter like this, the majority should rule. He was unable to understand how anyone could stand up on the platform and deny the people the right to settle the question for themselves. Children could not bo taught morality apart from religious sanction.

In connection with the Nelson system, said Mr Knight, under which he had taught ,for twenty years, clergymen took tlie children half an hour before school and half an liriur afterwards. It was. a wrong principle to thus associate the Bible with the idea of punishment. Another reason why the Nelson system failed was because it depended tco much on tho attitude of tho teacher. Every obstacle could he nut in the way. The speaker had had experience of such treatment, yet could do nothing. In the case of one school, 290 children attended the classes. Upon the arrival of a new headmaster, however, the number rose to 900. It was not right that success should be made or marred by headmasters. No harm could come to the children if the clergymen of each denomination taught tho children belonging to their own denomination. Tho Bible stood for truth, honour, purity and stainless integrity. It would he a shame if the children were to bs denied .this priceless gift.’ Tho Rev H. Williams said that they were told that if tho Church did its work there would ho no need for the movement. But the Church had only one hour a week to teach the children, and then with merely amateur teachers. Tho Church was, in fact, asking for a greater opportunity to teach, anti by no one should that opportunity be denied them. As things were now, religion simply came in at the back door; but religion was tho basis of all good living. The State was not being asked to teach religion. Tlie peoplo were requesting permission to teach it themselves. In Parliament, in gaol, and in tho Territorials religious influence was introduced. but from the schools it was excluded. When children noticed that seven hours a week were devoted to arithmetic, with, say one hour to religion, they naturally concluded -that religion did not matter much.

Mr W. S. G. Cameron, tbe electoral organiser of the League, stated that 140.000 electors had explicitly signified tlmir adherence to the principle of the referendum. Tlie unwisdom of further delay should ho impressed upon the Government.

Mr J. C. Adams, chairman of the. Canterbury College Board, of Governors, moved tho following resolution:—“That this public meeting held in St Paul’s Schoolroom, Papanui, in the electorate of Riccartnn, pledges itself heartily to support the platform of tho Bible in State Schools League, and requests that a referendum be taken thereon; also that this meeting records its protest at tho inaction of the Govdvnment in the matter, and urges upon tho Government the necessity for granting without further delay the people’s request for the referendum, fearing that the effect of delay would be to causo the question of religious instruction to become predominant at- the next general elections, to the overshadowing of party and other questions.” Tho resolution was seconded bv Mr A. Corby, and was carried with only three dissentients. [Per Press Association.] DUNEDIN, Juno 4. At tho Otago Educational Institute to-day a member moved that the Institute regarded the ■ - authoritative teachings of the Bible as the only satisfactory basis of moral teaching. After a very brief discussion it was resolved to pass to tho next business, the mover of the amendment expressing the view that they might be six years discussing the question.