BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9855, 24 July 1914, Page 3

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

■' ~' (TO THI MHTOR.) Sir,—Would you agifrr "allow me space to make a few remarks in reply to the kindly criticisms of "A Mother" and "Alex. Watt"? "A Mother" asks me which of thi cl«rgy we shdold distrust. Undoubtedly those- who are ignoring Christ's precept, when He said "My~> Kingdom is not of this world." When .the churches oj;ganisa and attempt to terrorise the civil power as- the Biblein-Schools leaden arc, they become a political party, and. if "A Mother*' would only read history, shewould see what such parties have done in the past,. There are three issues before the country on this question, Bible reading, in schools, right of entry for the clergy, and the referendum. With rcferendSito the first, I am quite.open-minded. Whjr cannot, those who advocate this put forward some clear convincing facts t Statistic* clearly show that our'naiional school system is giving good results, and it is surely not too much, to ask those who are clamouring for a change to show that u will be for the better. I once went to hpar an eminent prelate lecture on Christianity. Amongst other things, he told us this': "That Ireland could be truthfully called a land 6f saints, a holy isle, that for the past" eleven hundred years had been sending holy men abroad to Christianise the world." Now it appears to me thai if eleven hundred years of Bible influence has brought Ireland to what it is to-day, we ought to consider whether, the Bible has |hat tremendously elevating influence on national character tliat its advocates claim. With regard to the of entry I'll give you my jexperience. In my Bchool days I went to no less than five denominational Schools controlled by three different sects, the last one when I was a well-grown youth capable of appraising the value of Sectarian -teaching. we spent a great deal of time riding the Bible and prayer book. We h. dit firmly impressed upon us that the church of that sect was a most noblo church d -wended right down from the Apostles, and that other churches '—well, they could not be considered iphurches at ail, mere modern innovations. Now mark ill'! result, '.he general tone of the school was an arrogant contempt for all other beliefs, and it manifested itself in this way. In tin same town not far off was a school of another creed, and our boys kept up a perpetual feud, jeering at jtheir church and exhibiting air the hatred that religious amnio-.irv .could suggest. This made such an on mc that I have never got over it, and lis it is why to-day I support a national secular system of education. Mr Watt* gently insinuates that all the bigotry is on my si; l -, but who is it has been hurling epithets -i' Godlossness and paganism at our education system? He is also under the impression dint the ecclesiastical conscience has improved, and is now not so likely to go to extremes, but whon I read of clergymen threatening members of Parliament with politi- al extinction unless theism demands are gra: i • i I think a good strong trace of the old leaven is still there, and only requires favourable, conditions to become as malignant ns over. With regard to tho referendum, I am for j ever and always against it, mqre especially on a religious question. What light does the Bible shed on it? Do we find Christ I hectoring the civil power, or challenging ' tho Jewish hierarchy to a referendum ns i to the adoption of His'teachings' I think I He took a very different line, and I that no man who is capable of taking a calm, enlightened view would ever advo- j cata that such a question should be re- I ferred to the judgment of the impulsive, wayward, irrational mob. But on the question of plain Bible-reading. I am open to conviction, if anyono can show me that where it is in operation it is developing a higher standard of national life than our present system.—l am, etc., J. PARLANE. ,