THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13750, 15 May 1908, Page 6

THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

CONSIDERED AT GISBORNE. [BT TELEGHArii:- —OWS COR DENT. ] Gisborni:, Thursday. Tjik ' Hawke's Bay Presbytery lias considered a remit from the General Assembly committee on the Biblc-in-schools question. ■ The committee recommended that, the ministers enter the public schools outside of the formal school hours, but inside the ordinary • school hours, on the Nelson system. Throughout the schools of the Dominion 110 classes of this kind had been formed, with an attendance of 10,000 young people, who, however, were only a fraction of the 120,000 children attending the schools of the Dominion.

The Rev. William Grant said that the Nelson system had been a great success in Gisbornc. In the three schools, 800 children, being 80 per cent, of the whole, were receiving. Bible lessons one day a week in their several , standards, under , a staff of 13 teachers.

The Rev. T. A. Ashcr pointed out that the -Hawke's Bay Education Board had formally disapproved of the Nelson system, and if they carried out their action consistently the Gisborne arrangement would be stopped.

The Ilev. Mr. Ait Icon .said that the Wanganui Board had taken the same position as the Hawke's Bay Board.

The Rev. A. Whyte congratulated the Presbytery 011 the great progress of sentiment in, this matter. Tho Nelson, system far more than doubled the present religious instruction of the young, but it fell far short of the intensity and thoroughness. they, had known in Scotland. Ho could not rest until all the ministers went into the schools daily, as had been done in Havelock for over eight years.