BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS MOVEMENT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9503, 28 May 1913, Page 2

BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS MOVEMENT.

MEN'S MEETING. Between 50 and 60 men were present at the meeting held in St. Andrew' 9 schoolroom last evening in connection with the Bibie-in-State-Schools movement. Rev. A. Doull presided. Canon Garland spoke on the platform of the movement and the attitude of the various churches to it. He gave a resume of what John Knox had done for education in Scotland. Every parish church in that country had its parish school, where not, only the Bible was taught but also the I I shorter catechism. The speaker also re- [ ferred to ,the attitude of the Presbyterian Assembly of Australia, which, at its last meeting, passed a resolution calling upon tho Presbyterians of Victoria and South Australia to do all in their power to brmg the Bible into the State schools. The Modj erator of the Assembly on two successive | occasions had addressed pastoral letters to j the Presbyterians of those States urging them to support the movement. The meeting wa« largely of an informal character. Rev. D. Hird also spoke, stating that while a great many theoretical and technical objections might be made against the introduction of the Bible into State schools, ho wag influenced by two considerations. The first was the need of a great number of New Zealand children to-day who received no religious instruction whatever. Secondly, his recollection of the Bible instruction given in the parish school which he attended in Scotland and tho impression it had made upon his mind. Questions were also invited. Pastor Johnstone asked that since tho proposal was that the parents should have control of the question, what would happen if tho father was of one religion and the mother of another. In answer, it was stated that no such case had been heard of. One speaker volunteered the statement that in such a case the mother should have the control. At the conclusion a men's branch of the league was formed with Mr T. R. Hodder as' 1 convenor. A large number of men handed in their names as being' willing to act 011 the men's oomnxittee.