The Bible-in-Schools Conference.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 75, 8 May 1903, Page 5

The Bible-in-Schools Conference.

(By the Rev. Isaac Jolly, M.A.)

The Conference which met in Wellington last week to arrange (or the adoption of o. Bible Lesson Book was a matter of colonial importance. It ia intended to ask the Legislature to have the voice of the people of the colony taken on the question of the lessons being- used in the public schools within school hours. .Never before was there such a representative gathering- on this subject in New Zealand. And the result of the Conference has been to put the question of Bible In Schools in a position which it has never before occupied. It will be seen from the names of the delegates that they represent all tiie ' churches of any importance in New Zealand, except the Woman Catholic. They are as follows :— I Anglican—The Bishop of Waiopu The Dean of Chrfstchui-ch Rev j' Campbell (Christchurch), Rev' F* H. Sprott', M.A. (Wellington) Rev" C. C. Harper, M.A. (ralmerstori North), Mi- Bovan-Brown (Christchurch). Presbyterian—The Rev. Dr Gibb (Dunedin), R e v. James Paterson (Wellington). R O v. Jsaac Jolly M.A. (Palmerston North) Rev J McKenzie, M.A. (Christchurch)'" Mr J. G. W. Aitkon, M.H.R. (Wellington), Mr James McKcrrow •Wellington), Mr W. 11. Rose (Oamaru) Methodist-Rev. J. A. Luxford (President of Conference*, Rev. W C. Oliver, Rev. H. Bull, Mr C S Howard, Mr J. A. Flesher. Primitive Methodist—Rev, J. Dawson, Mr C. M. Luke. Congregational—Rev.' J. R. Glasson, Rev. Newman Hall. Baptist—Rev. Charles Dallaston, Rev. R. S. Gray. Church of Christ—Mr W. If. Green' (Bunedin). The Wellington Bible-in-Schools Association Prof. Easterfield, and Rev. W. Shirer. The Auckland Bible-in-Schools Association—The Rev. Gray Dixon At.A., and Rev. Yv. S. Gillam. On assembling the Conference unanimously appointed the Rev. Dr. Gibb, of Bunodin, as its chairman! After discussion it was agreed "That the Victorian scheme of" lessons be accepted as the basis of the text-book to be used in the State Schools of the colony." The conference then divided itself into three committees to examine the Victorian lesson book in detail. This lesson book has three grades—the senior, the intermediate, and the junior—and each committee went carefully over one of the grades. The result was that the Victorian lesson book was, with a few slight alterations, unanimously adopted by the conference. A committee with the Rev. Mr Sprott, of Wellington, as convener, was then appointed to revise the notes appended to the lessons. These notes are to contain no dogmatic teaching whatever. The conference also agreed to make the following recommendations :— .

(1) When the question is submitted to the vote of the people the form should be "I vote for the Bible lessons in the public schools," or "I vote against the Bible lessons in the public schools." (.°.) That the iirst half hour of each day be devoted to Bible lessons. (3) That the teachers may give simple explanations oi a literary geographical, and ethical character. (4) Tl'.at teachers who conscientiously object to give Bible lessons shall not be compelled to give them, ami the children of parents who conscientiously object to thu Bible lessons shall not be compelled to receive them. The members of the conference interviewed Wie Premier on the subject of introducing Bible lessons into Schools. They wore introduced to Mr Seddon by Mi- J. G. W. Aitken, M.1T.11. The Rev. Dr Gibb, the Bishop of Waiupu, and the Rev Mr Lu::ford (President of the Methodist Conference) stated the case for the conference. In reply Mr Seddon spoke of tile representative character of the deputation, and ot the large majorities voting in favour of the Bible lessons in School, at the plebeseites taken in different parts of the colony some time a.go. He said the Government intend to introduce the 'Referendum Bill again next session, and when that "is passed they would regard this as a subject to be sent down for the decision of the people.

Before closing- the conference a representative committee, with Dr. Gibb as convener, wan appointed to take the necessary steps to advance this movement., the Duriedin members with the Dean of Christchurch to be t-ho executive. A strong feeling of gratification was expressed by the various members of the conference at "the friendly spirit which all displayed and at the unanimity with which the decisions of the conference were arrived at. This conference marks a great step in advance in Ihe movement to re-in-troduce the Bible into the public schools of the colony.