Bible Teaching in Schools.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7353, 22 July 1902, Page 4

Bible Teaching in Schools.

* A me.';lJrjg of ladies and gentlemen interested in tho promotion of Bible leaching in State Schools washiM lust evening in tho Fire Uvigndc U:ili. There was n very largo utlcniinmso, and ficv. jG, 0. Harper, ia tho abse_o<! of the Moyor, presided. A number of apologie3 for absence were received and rond from several ladies and gentlemen. Itov. I. Jolly moved, That a society be formed to bo called tho Palmorelon North Society foe tho promotion of Bible teaching in Stato Sohools. Mr Jolly preccedsd to speak of tho fact that all the nations o! Europe, with tho excopt on of France, included Bible leaehinp! in their educational systems, and ■ found it. necessary in tho lotmaiion of the characters of Ihoir children. He cnlurgid upon this point, : ' and said that when ono or two colonies ' of Australasia stand almost alono in ' Christendom in ignoring religious education, it is not lo their cicdi:. From o literary point of view he also argiud tlie Bible should bo read in schools, otherwise they would not have an educational system worthy lo bo given to the children. Apart from tho Bible they had no other means he said, of giving children anything like decent moral instruction. In cor.c'usion the speaker d<alt with several objections or nidicullies lliat might bo rinsed, and showed how they could bo ovoreoroeCnjUain S, D. B. Hewitt seconded Iho motion. Ho contended that education consisted in lha development of all the faculties in men and women, ami if i religious education, woro left out, a j 1 human being would no; bo properly ' developed intellectually or spiritually. Rev S. Lrtwry spoko as one who had not been prejudiced in favoc of the matter owing to many dilucultics which ho had seen' in the way, but if tho ; tnoyemonfc would overccme the growing 1 ignoranco of children on religious subjects, then it would hive his siippor. Oilior s-peakcrs'wero Mrssrs W. Park, Dixon, llaydon. H. J. Mauson, arid IJ. 1 S. Astbury, utl of whom supported tho motion, which, aftor Kav Jolly had replied, was cavriol unanimously Tho X' v 0, 0. Ilirpcr having briefly related tho history of (ho movement, moved—'1 That tho objects of Iho society b.- : To demand such alteration in tho Education Act as will prescribe that Government schools bo opened daily wiih tho Lord's Prayer ; that on certain days of tho week simple los?om on selected portions of the Bibfo be given by 1 the teaehsi-3 during school hoars. Provided that (a) there Ipssouh shall bs of n strictly undenominational char-ester; (U) thiu teaches s who conscientiously object to givo them shull not bo compelled to . do so, and scholium wtajse paren'S liave conscientious obj> ctions shall not be compelled lo lvecivo theui. To urgo members of Parliament aud candidates 1 for election tr> piecs the above alteration on the Legislature." Ho stated that the portions of Scripture to bo r. ad would be selected, and simple notes furnished i by a committee of representatives of vn--1 rious Christian denominations. Ho added thai there whs a tendency to acf ccpt a series of lessons selected by a Royal . Commiseion in Victoria. Tho various ; p'jinU of. the resolution wero elucidated > by tho mover, end continuing his rei marks, Mi; Harper said that, the clergy ! had ayreed to givo up v previous pro- ' posal to soach in the school during 1 school hours. He said, in referoneu to j making the Question n sin« qua non for ] candidates for Parliament to answer, . I hat he could not support this, but he ' bßlievod the movers would have in ask i for a referendum. This matter, howover, wonld bo diucussod later ou. The ) question in tho past had beon o private ono, now it wa3 a public one, and they would sco how the principal influential factors of the country took it up beioro ■ ihey made any dclinite inov«" in the . matter. They must, however, sco that 1 every candidate for Furlinment will be ) prepared to tako a aland on ono nids or the other. Mr 11. Haydon seconded tho motion, i which was supported by Itevs. Siduey ) Baker and Richards and Messrs Friberg and Astbury, and carried unanimously. I Mr K. Wilson moved, that the momi bersuip of the society shall consist of all who approve of the. object of the society as set forth by" schedule, and shall , subscribo not less than Is annually to its i hinds.—Soconded by Mr A. E. Whitei hoad and carried. On tho motion of Mr M. Henry it was resolved that tlio society shall consist of ; a president, secretary, treasurer, and a ■ committee of twelve, and tho following , officers were appointed:—President, Rev i C. 0. Harper ; secretary, Eov I. Jolly ; J treasurer, Mr K. Wilson ; committee, B the clergy of tho town, and Captaiu i Hewitt and Messrs W. Park, G. H Bennett, Haydon, Rutherfurd, G. J. Scott, Henry, A. E, Whitohead, D. , Mathieson, Billons, Ellis, and C. N. s Clausen.