BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVII, Issue 144, 20 June 1913, Page 3

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

[to the editor.]

■ Sir,—Unlike "Monist," I do not : possess works ' cby all the great_ thinkers, embracing all shades of opinion," on Biblical criticism. Such, an extensive library is far beyond, my means. There are few men qualified, by ability and training, to make a right use of such stories of learning, and, by all the tokens, "Monist" is not one of them. Considering his marvellous literary advantages and boasted erudition, he acquits himself badly. Indeed, I would not notice his yapou rings were it not for their possible evil effects on simple-minded people, who naturally think that where there is so much smoke there must be some fire. In dealing with "Monist's" effusions I must, of necessity, be pointed and brief as possible. It is unnecessary to defend Christianity as against Buddhism or Mohammedanism. Plainly the future of humanity does not lie with either Buddha or Mohammed, but with Christ. This is a clear case of the survival of the fittest. "Monist" is hard driven for an argument when he extols Buddhism, the religions of despairing pessimism, which he calls peace, at the expense of Christianity. "Christian writers inform us that j theirs is the only religion." How ab- j "surd ! Christians know that there are other religions; and they are glad to think that in many of them there are. elements of truth, that have made them the shelter and discipline of in- j numerable souls. Christians, how- | ever, believe that theirs is the true j and final religion, in the sense that i God has perfectly revealed His grace | for our salvation in' the person and j wqrk of Christ. "Monist" will know better next time how to state the Christian position on this point. "The Bible is responsible for rivers of j blood!" Sheer nonsense! Not the I Bible, 'but the fierce passions of ignor- j ant, misguided, and wicked men are responsible for such horrors. Let the Book be tested by its fruits. It is not true that one. distinction between Christendom and the non-Christian world is that Christendom is able, . when grave social evils are exposed, to respond with a passionate protest, and determine that these things shall cease? Outside Christendom these evils create no astonishment, and call forth no protest. Instances will readily occur to every intelligent per- , son. This is the result of the teach- ; ing and the spirit of that Book of , God which "Monist" dares to villify. j And what ails "Monist" at that grand i old man, Moses? Oh, "his senseless ! intolerance," forsooth! Ingersoll ■ used to go up and down the United , States lecturing, about "The Mistakes ; of Moses" ; here we have "Monist" . prating about "the senseless intoler- ■ ance" of Moses. The science of Biblical criticism has made it impos- ' sible for the Ingersoll tribe to fatten any longer on the mistakes of Moses, except at the expense of the very ignorant. If "Monist" had profited, even a little, by his profound Biblical studies, he would have a truer conception of the significance of Moses, not for the Hebrews only, but for mankind. The merest novice in Biblical criticism would never dream of speaking about the mistakes of Moses, or about the senseless intolerance of Moses. His point of view j lifts him above such crude blunders, i

And now I come to a veritable ! jungle of absurdities about truth and its reception, into which no wise man I would willingly enter. But from the { maze of words* we gather that j "Monist" fancies'he has discovered a j short and easy way of disposing of the j Bible as the Word of God. For ages j men have been trying to get rid of ! this insistent old book. It has ! Aveathered many storms, but at last i has met its fate. Oh, "Monist"!! truly you have immortalised yourself! Why not come forth from the modest shades of anonymity, and in the face j of day wear your laurels? And what j is this easy way of dismissing the Bible? Simply assume that if the Bible is the "Word of God it will make ' the same appeals to all alike, and meet with the same response from all ; alike. Only get two Christians, or, j for that matter, any two persons to | disagree about the Bible and its ! teachings, and the thing is done. Let j us see how this simple principle would j work elsewhere. Here are two rail- j way-men, and their eyesight is being j tested. One declares that a certain | object is red in color; the other that . it is green. Shall we say, then, that | one of thes is color-blind? Not at j all. There must be something wrong j with the ol\iect; else, how could it ap- ' pear red to one man and green to another? Let them throw the stupid thing away, and drive ahead regardless of consequences! And that is 1 just how "Moriist's" simple test I would work. I have already, in effect, j asked him to name any object, or j any truth of nature or of morals, j that makes the same appeal to every- j body. Why should he think that, in ! | this connection, the spirit of man— | mind, feeling, conscience, will—should bo refused the legitimate exercise? ' "The Word of God is a discerner of'l the thoughts and intents of the , heart." "Monist" has seen fit, . ! Under the cloak of anonymity, to as- \ sail some of the dearest religious convictions of this Christian community. ,' I venture to say that no man of real ; culture, feeling compelled by what- ! | ever cause, and to Mis sorrow, to hold > j negative views on religion, would proclaim them in the vulgar and reckless , fashion he has done. ; W. O. ROBB. j Springlands, June 18. j

_ _ ! [to the editor.] ' Sir,---There is such an amount of misunderstanding over what the "Nelson System" means that a numbe/ of us would like you to let the public know what it is, and in what, way, by its means, Bible lessons are given in the public schools at the present time without infringement of the Education Act. PARENT. j

RELIGIOUS TEACHING IN ! | STATE SCHOOLS. I THE NELSON SYSTEM AND ; HOW TO INTRODUCE IT. ; The Nelson method of giving ; religious instruction in State schools has been in operation,, in the city ' named, since 18P7; the staff of Bible \ teachers includes ministers and [ members of the Protestant Chruches; • the teaching is entirely undenomina- ! tional, and is given within tho | ordinary school hours, but outside | tho statutory or legal hours; a largo \ majority of parents approve of their j children attending, and 97 per cent. fof pupils do so. The system is now 1 beiiiir followed in several centres of the Dominion, and at least 15,000 children are under instruction. 1. School-time required by the Education Act- is two hours forenoon and two hours afternoon : but in si majority of school five hours are occupied.

A school with only four hours teaching has, at present, no ! room for the scheme. 2. The Boards (by a recent Appeal ■ j Court decision) have authority in fixing the number of legal school hours, but committees determine when the schools shall open and close. 3. The committees have power foo grant u.se of school buildings ! outside the legal school hours. \ In order to start— ' Get ministers and others willing to assist and form an Association. Send out a returnable circular to all parents of school children asking I <lAre you willing that attending i School, should receive Bible in- '; struetion in a manner that will not interfere with the Education Act^ ■ Answer '' Commonly teachers will not object to supply lists of pupils. On the returns being favorable, resolve to petition— \l) The Board, through the Com- ; mittee, to reduce the legal \ school hours by half-an-hour -on 1 one forenoon of the week. If j school usually starts at _ 9 I o'clock, then on one morning j the legal hour would be 9.30, j Afterwards iix the morning ] most suitable for State teachers and all concerned. If Committee refuse to forward, then send petition direct to the

Board. (2) The Committee to grant the use •of the school buildings, during the above half-hour, for religious instruction. If these requests be granted, then arrange for the members of the Association to start Avork. Appoint a teacher for each standard, if possible; prepare a list of Bible lessons and discourage all denominationalism., When assembled_ sing a hymn, if convenient; unite in the Lord's Prayer or others let the children read the portion of Scripture, then expound and close with Benediction. Penny New Testaments are very useful. If the State teacher is willing his presence helps discipline. At the end of each year, arrange an oral examination for junior pupils and a written for senior and have a public prize-giving demonstration. Should the petitions be refused, the remedy is at the annual meeting for election of School Committee. The Boards are elected by the committees, and if a committee Avill persistently ask that the 25 hours per week be reduced to 24£, experience slioavs that they will succeed. A number of Boards have not fixed any hours as the legal number, and in such districts, so long as the hours of the Act are not infringed, the matter is in the hands of the committee. It is competent for a State teacher, as a citizen, to give religious instruction, Avhen arranged as above, if he so desires; out the Bible lesson must not appear on the school time-table.