SCRIPTURE GIFT AND PRIZE ASSOCIATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5394, 1 March 1879, Page 6

SCRIPTURE GIFT AND PRIZE ASSOCIATION.

The second annual meeting of the Auckland Scripture Gift and Prize Association wa-j held last evening, in the hall of the Men's Christian Association, Albert-street. The attendance was not as large as the evident importance of the association would lead one to expect; still those present appeared to b« thoroughly imbued with theim portance of their work. Mr. J. C. Firth occupied the chair. The proceedings haviug been opened with prayer, The Chairman' said: I feel greatly honoured iu being invited to take the chair at the annual meeting of so good and useful a society as the Scripture Gift Association, aud 1 congratulate its members and the public on the great success they have achieved in the most necessary work of makiug our children acqnainted with the noble lessons contained iu the best of all books—the Bible. During the year more thau 2500 prizes have been awarded in 70 day schools in town and country, for cxcelleuce in Bible knowledge ; besides which, more than 1000 Bible exorcises have beeu sent in, without awards having been made. That I regard as shewing a very good perceutage of success in conveying Bible knowledge, especially considering the natural difficulties in the way of boys and girls reraainiug in our day schools after regular school hours. This work has bf-eu doue at an expenditure of £229. Not the least of the benefits conferred by this unassuming society, is tbo fact that it has shewn how religious knowledge can be conveyed without interfering with secular education. The question of secular education is just now exciting a great deal of attention throughout the colony. Our Catholic fellow-citizens have determined to obtain denominational education if they can. To carry out this object they have decided to give a black vote against every candidate for the House of Representatives who will not vote for denominational education. A very largy proportion of the constituencies throughout the colony would gladly have a portion of Scripture read daily in our public schools, but in deference to the prejudices of the Catholics, they have submitted to the exclusion of the Bible from our schools in school hours. The Auckland Scripture Gift Association has endeavoured to convey Bible truth out of school houses. The same coursc is open to Catholics and all denominations. By this means religious knowledge can be much better conveyed to our day scholars than by the setting up of opposing denominational schools, and the priceless boon of good secular cducatiou would be secured to all classes and creeds. I must say, however, that I do not like the term " secular education." The word " secular" conveys a wrong impression, as it was formerly understood to mean an infidel. Such a meaniug is no longer applicable. The word does not nece3sardy mean irreligion, nor doe 3 it really mean auything opposed to religion. For instance, a priest or miuiat." - of religion engaging iu the secular work of digging in his garden. Is he therefore an infidel ? A grocer daily labours at the secular employ of weighing out tea and sugar. Is he therefore aninlidel? Our Corporation is engaged in the secular duty of making aud repairiug our streets. Are our worthy councillors then-fere infidels? Are tailors or carpenters infidels, because they engage iu the secular duties of making our clothes or building our houses? Certainty not. For these and a hundred others are merely civil employments—the ordinary duties of daily l»fe. Our fathers won for us both civil and religious liberty, but in fighting for civil liberty they cannot be said to have beeu infidels, though civil liberty is entirely a secular affair. I think we may advantageously terra our schools civil schools instead of secular school?, thereby removing a misapprehension which may still linger in some minds, and so prevent our antagonists from playing upon the imaginations of imperf* ctly informed people by putting in force against the reputation of our schools the philosophy of the old adage, " That if you can give a dog a bad name you may hang him at ouce." t hope then, when next the Education Act come 3 before Parliament, that the only alteration permitted will be the substitution of the word "civil" for "secular," and that our representatives will resolutely set their face*, against any interference with the system of education at present in force in this colony, and which is fitting every boy and girl for the civil duties which may devolve upon them, and whish will enable them to rise to I any position which their energy, skill, and industry, guided by a good civil education, may enable them to attain. The various religious denominations, aided by such societies as the Auckland Scripture Gift Association, may, if they will, set about the work—furnish our children with a religious education in a much better manner and with much greater success than by endes.. vouriog to destroy the. present admirable Bystem of civil education. (Cheers.) The Secretary of the Association (Mr. W. Rushbrook) theu read the second aunual report, which stated that the work of the society had greatly increased during the past year. The number of schools visited with Bible exercise during the year were : In the city and suburbs, 16 ; in the country, GO, —making a total of 76. The number of prize-books awarded was 251 f .K In addition to the Scripture exercise accomplished for 1 these prizes, over 1200 had been undertaken j since the month of October last by the same scholars, without award. Of the books distributed, 550 were finely-bound copies of the New Te-tament, the remaindor being books of useful Christian instruction. In September la9t special prizes were awarded to scholars in tho Auckland Grammar and Girls' High Schools, for essays upoo the "Life of Joseph." Thirty-six essays were received, and thirteen prizes awarded. As occasion demands and funds permit, Mr. J. S. L. Cox has been employed a3 and the committee return thanks for his court-sous reception by teachers in general. They also express their warm thanks to Messrs. William McArthur and Co., for free transmission of books from London ; to Messrs. Sargood, Son and Ewen, for similar service from Dunedin; to the Auckland Bible Society, for New Testaments; to Captain Logan, F. Larkins, and A. V. Macdonald, for gifts of books; to the owners of the s.s. Rotomahana, for free passages given to the agent of the association; to the Rev. J. N. Russell, Otago, for 1000 copies of a children's pamphlet; and to S. W. Patridge and Co. and Messrs. Morgan and Scott, London, for gifts of books. The report concluded as follows :—" Assured that no system of education, however □therwise perfect, which excludes the teaching of Holy Writ can fully meet the necessities of the rising generation, the committee, in entering upon the labours of mother year, confidently appeal to all who lave at heart the welfare of the youth of the jrlony for their continued and increasing aid ind sympathy toward this association, lesire and aim is to attract the youthful nind toward the f Word of the Lord, which mdureth forever/" The report of the treasurer, Mr. S. Rout, vas then presented. It shewed that £220 lOd had been collected during the year, tnd the same amount had been expended in he work ot the association. There are now fbout 350 small prize volumes on hand, ciaving read and presented the report, Mr. ■?out spoke with reference to the pressing lecessity there was for funds. It was deliable to send to London by the next mail .n order for books, and if cash was forwarded, they would derive great benefit, le hoped some of those who felt an interest n the dissemination ofj Biblical knowledge vould come forward. He also stated that a ;rcat deal of really valuable work the agent yas prevented from doing*owiug to the lack f means. It was a difficult mattrr to reach II the schools in the province. There were 12, and only 70 had been visited. Were unds available, they could all be attended. ] 'here were some parts of the province where hildren wero growing up in ignorance of ! Jod's Word—where there wero no Sundaychools—and it was to reach these that the , gent was wanted. The Ckairmax referred to the report of he treasurer, as shewing that much interest ras even now manifested in the work of the J Dciety, and hoped that intereat would ieadily increase. He desired, especially, to all attention to tbo efforts of the good t 'omen to whose unremitting energy so ( trge an amoant of contributed aid was due. 1 V T ere it not for them, more than one iusti- i ition in Auckland woul l have to close its > oors The people should feel grateful i ward them, and due honour should be a 2corded for their earnest Christian work. [e believed that this was a work which i suld claim the support of all good citizens ; s ud, to shew his opinion of its value, he i ;ated his intention of contributing £20 to t le funds of the association. t The Rev. Mr. Carrick then addressed i ie audience. He Btated that he would not t jcupy the attention of the meeting long, as t id. whole Rubject had been so thoroughly o iscussed by the chairman. His sympathy o as entirely with the association and the u ork it endeavoured to perform. It was I o

a work which deserved the attention an support of the public. The Bible had con to ua at no small cost. It had beeu gaine j by much trouble, anguish, and hloodshec ,i The watchword of the Reformers had bee j. first an intelligible Bible, and next an ops I. Bible. They wanted them now as much r ever, and evary work which tended to plac 1 the holy book in every child's hand should t i. supported by all. 'I he advantages of sue , a Bociety could be hardly over-estiraatec Its work was done quietly, and societ g reaped the benefit of it. There was abui dant opportunity for good work, and i y shauld not be neglected. He was in favou t of pure and simple reading of the Bible i i the schools, during school hours, leaviu denominational interpretation of the boo e out of tho question. If it was thrown oul c it did not put a gravestone upon the hope c f the nation. There was the home aud Sundaj k schools. Mothers ahould see that thei 1 children were properly guided in its know 0 ledge when young. If properly taught o J their mother's Unce, they would not forge . its teaching. Tie was glad to see this wor taken up, and hoped it would be continue! a Society needed it, and Christian men an women should see it properly supported. Rev. P. Mason thought the objects of th . Society a very good ono. It tiught til . young to search the Scriptures. Ho felt tin . the plan of work adopted by the associatio r in distributing priz .s was one of the be: t that could be employed. Children valt if prizes obtained by their own efforts mor ,r than mere gifts. They attracted luore attei y tion, not only from the children, but froi friends and parents. He had read some i theessays written upon the "Life of Joseph, v and they were highly crelitable to tl t essayists. The system of prizes should 1 s maintained, because its effeot was higlil tl beneficial. The work in the future would I s greater, and deserved support. The socio! tlid not take up tho posiiiun that the Scrii e tares should not be read iti the school. I: r believed there was a growing feeling i e favour of Bible-reading in public school t There should not only be the Bible, hi )f short historical sketches and extracts shoul 1 bo used, as they had been used in the Iris c natioual series of schnol-book3. i. Mr. EwiKoro.N" said that when the publ >1 knew the objects and aim of the aasociatioi i. it would not lack support. Jt simply too O advantage of the opportunity ottered by tl e Education Act to make tho Word of Gt i. known. Even if it was out of the school e still if the children grew up iu ignr.ran< 3 of the Bible, it was the fault of the i>ei>j> g themselves. He know the intiui'iicc excrtc was good, aud wanted to see it inereas n Before leaving the platform he said he con] i] not help referring to the great work doue 1: t the treasurer, Mr. Kout, to whose untirii: e exertions the great success of the society w; i- mainly due. 0 A vote of thanks was then tendered i 3 the ctlicers of the association, the youi 3 ladies who had officiated as aehoir, aud to M r lady collectors, also to the chairman aud tl 0 different speakers, after which the meetii; , separated.