BIBLE IN STATE SCHOOLS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue XLVIII, 6 March 1914, Page 3

BIBLE IN STATE SCHOOLS

DISCUSSED AT MKTHODIST CONFERENCE. LEAGUE'S PLATFOHM lIPHKLD (By Telegraph.—Special to ''Mail.") DUNEDIN'...Th.is Day.

Special interest attached to hist night's session of the Mo'hcdist. C< nfirence a* portion of the time was set down for discussion on the Bible, in State schools question.

The Rev. C. H. haws introduced discussion by stating that the coimnit;ec to which the matter had been referred had tabled the following resolution;— "That this conference aflinns its adherence to the platform and objects of the Kible in State Schools League, and congratulates the League on the success which has attended its efforts during the past year, and urges the Government to pass the necessary legislation to enable the people of the Dominion to express their will concerning this important question at the next general election."' Mr Laws also explained that the Conference in the previous session, had decided that discussion on the matter should b» limited to half an-hour.

This aroused opposition in some quarters, and over half an-hour was spent in an endeavour to decide the limit cf debate. It was pointed out by some rrembers that half an-hour did not allow cf free and full discussion, and it was urged that if that limit wtre adhered to. then the Conference should simply re-affirm the resolution carried by it last year in favour of the League platform for a referendum. AfUr various suggestions had been re jeeted, it was finally decided that the mover of the resolution should have ten minutes, and the mover of the amendment five, and the mover of the resolution five final minutes to reply, the re niaining 10 minutes to be used by other speakers. The Rev. J. J. Lewis (Pttone) moved die resolution which had been tabled by the committee, in a thoughtful and eloquent speech. It was inconceivable, he said, that any Methodist Conference should reject such a resolution. The referendum in Queensland had shown a najoritv of 1700 in favour of the Bible in schools, the voting being 74.228 for and 56,681 against. With regard to the question as to whether the scheme was workable, the speaker said that their Conference had appointed a committee to gather evidence on the matter. Some of the committee had been hostile, but by sheer force of evidence they had been brou'/ht round to their way of thinking. (■\poiause). Up to December last 130,000 electors of New- Zealand had signed cards in favour of the Leagues platform. - Mr J. A. Flesher seconded the motion. . Rev. John W. Burton then moved the fiillowin" amendment : "That this Conference regards the proposed referendum on the Bible in State schools question in its present form as distinctly unfair, in that it disfranchises so manv members of the comrrunity who. while agreeincr with the first section cf the proposal which aims at the introduction oi the Bible into our Sate schools, cannot conscientiously vote for. the second section, which seeks to introduce an edions form of -sectarian instruction to our children. He said he objected to the referendum proposals because it meant disfranchisement of many, as thev could not vote Yes or No on the straight out issue. He did not believe anv intelligent House of Parliament would allow such a referendum to go before the people. He was just as keen on the introduction of the Bible int.; the schools as Mr Lewi = but thev did not want to see the strife of the Old Land. The children should be tawtht not to think on denominational lines,-but in a great Christian manner Rev. J. A. Sumer spoke briefly .n 'support of the amendment. The Rev. C. H. Law.i .poke .n hvm,r of the motion, as also did the Rev. W. Sl Mr' Lewis replied in a rapid five minutes' speech, and the vote was then taken On the amendment being put it was defeated by. 86 votes to 15, and the motion was carried by 95 votes to 14.