LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15141, 4 November 1912, Page 4

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

TUAKAU SCHOOL'. Sir,—ln reference to a letter which appears in the Herald, dated October 25, under the above heading, and over the signature of " Edward Thorneycroft Frost,' in which he states that the proposal emanated from the Tuakau Progressive League and they first approached the "Board of Education on centralising tho present schools at Tuakau, Now, sir, I with others clearly stated from the public platform, at the public meeting convened by the league to discuss the question,- that the loaguo did not move in the matter previous to the Board's ' inspector coming up to the district. Mr. Frost evidently thinks he knows better. To clear the matter up in the eyes of the public, I make Mr. Frost, tho following offer: That if he can prove that the league did, either by petition or deputation, or if he can produce a copy of a minute from the league's minute-book showing that . tho league approached tho Board of Education previous "to the Board sending their inspector to Tuakau, I will donate £10 to tho Auckland Orphans' Home. If Mr. Frost, cannot prove his statements, then he shall donate £10 to the same institute. I think that should clear the matter up as to whose statements have been misleading. Ho also goes on to state that the meeting was overwhelmingly against the proposal of centralising the school. I fail to see whore Mr. Frost got his decision from. When the chairman was preparing for a ballot to bo taken for or against, some householders who were against centralisation objected to tho ballot being taken, unless Whancrarata house-, holder? had power to vote- When the chairman ruled that Whangarata school district was not included, they left the hall iu disorder, and no ballot was taken. Trusting that Mr. Frost will accept my offer. Dykes Fclton*. Farmer. Tuakau, October 28, 1912.

PRIZES FOB SENIOR CADETS, Sir. ln response to "Father" regarding tho above, may I say that, while J. should like to see that £9000 put to a more useful purpose, there is no denying that peoplo have a perfect right to please themselves as to how they spend their money, and tho objects they support. It may, however, have escaped your correspondent's memory that what " Mother " and I particularly objected to was the suggestion that our girls should get up bazaars, entertainments, etc., with tho object of raising this money. Wo thought they might be better employed, and as the system of compulsory service was the first causo of it all, I mentioned it. It in very pleasant to hear from •""Father" that the territorials are just beginning to lite the scheme, although, judging from the press, some of our local corps do not seem to be taking an increasing pride in themselves or their conditions just now. Your correspondent's reference to Cromwell is, I think, rather unfortunate, as the latter was a military despot, pure and simple. He was indisputably one of England's great men, but, he was also a sanctimonious bigot, and I cannot, understand how anyone can claim that "he won liberty of conscience for tho people," seeing that he was absolutely intolerant of any religion but his own. How much liberty of conscience- did he allow the people of Ireland, whrre "the curse of Cromwell on you " is used as an imprecation to this day? It is a fact, too, that the people of England got so deadly sick of him and his Ironsides within the short space of II years that a few months after his death

they restored and welcomed with, the wildest demonstrations of joy the King, whom it' had been the chief business of Cromwell's life to keep out. That Charles was a, profligate, and a most unpatriotic King, does not. alter the fact that the people brought him back delightedly. So that even in thoeo days there was a limit to human endurance, oven when it was a strong man who was forcing military rule on the people. Your correspondent might perhaps feel a \ little less bitter towards anti-militarists, and ! a little less inclined to indulge in wild talk about. " red" -socialists and shirkers, if he would try to understand that the International Peace Party and the International Socialist, party are composed of earnest men avid women in every civilised country in the world (and therein lies tho hope and promise of tho future), who are making a united effort to sweep away existing evils and bring in that era—

" When man to man the warld o'er Shall brithers bo an' a' that." Rose Road. E. Gibson*.

THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS, ,; Sir, —I see by your paper of the 25th inst. that Archdeacon Willis, as a member of tho executive of Bible in State Schools League, expresses the opinion that "even if I knew that every teacher in the Dominion would teach the Bible as a 'book of fables, I would still have the Bible taught." If the league is. willing to. confirm this statement, and also the archdeacon's other statement, that " they simply ask that the greatest literature in the world, namely, the Bible, shall be taught as literature." I think that very fewwould have any objection to the inclusion of the Bible in our ordinary school syllabus; but, then, what is the need of importing an "astute diplomatist," as Bishop Crossley calls Canon Garland, to convince the people of New Zealand that "God's Word" "has been filched from the parents of New Zealand in the schools." If the Bible is to be read in all our public -schools as literature only, then it would be necessary to make it clear to the people of Now Zealand and the school teachers that they were not agreeing to allow a committee consisting principally of reverend gentlemen, who show by their way of talking that they have never heard of the "higher criticism" of the Bible, even when expressed by leaders of modern religious thought, such as Bishop C'olenso, Canon Driver, and tho Rev. It. J. Campbell. If a 'book of Bible extracts is to be chosen, do not let. it bo such a one as I have in my possession, which is used in all tho publio schools of the province of Ontario, Canada; full of the myths and fables of a barbarous people such as the Jews were, as described in the so-called books of Moses, Joshua, Kings, Chronicles, and some of the prophets and psalms. If, as Archdeacon Willis says, we are proposing to adopt Australian laws which have been proved good by over 40 years' experience, and against which not a tittle of evidence, such as your correspondent (Xf Le Noir) adduces, has ever been offered, will the archdeacon jive us somo reliable evidence to prove that our own system of secular education is a failure, and that our children show by their conduct that they are inferior in rrioralitv to tliose -who have been educated in New South Wales or Queensland? How many of the women of. this Dominion belonging to any Church are ready to accept, the. statements of the members of the Bible in State Schools League. If there are any such persons, let them study the question for themselves, do not allow the clergy, or the Synod:?, to dictate to them on a question which will affect, the happiness and unity of so many families. But. although tho clergy as a body haTe insisted on women's silence in the churches, and want them to be easily-driven sheep,' still secular law says that woman can speak not only in the home, but in the pollingbooth, and there I hope she will teach the clergy that they must be silent in the schools, and learn that in these days we want facts, and not fables. A. J. Maloxe. I

fcn\—There appears in this morning's Hkbakp a letter by A.' G. Clarke, in which lie claims that the Roman Catholic Church is th* one religious body which recognises unanimously the Bible to be the inspired Word of (.oil. and that. nou-Catholie bodies place the Bible, on a level with the "bibles" of non-Christian systems. I wish to enter my protest against. Mich an unqualified assertion. With the exception of tho Unitarians the leading non-Catholic denominations' viz., Anglican, Methodist. Presbvterian' Baptist, Congregation&lisfc, Salvation" Army* Quakers, and Brethren believe absolutely in the infallibility of the Bible as the inspired , Word of God. The leaders of the Bible in ! schools movement have no designs on the children, to preach dogmas or creeds. They wish to give to the children the instruction which thev are entitled to— pure Word of God If is an appalling fact that there are children in this Dominion who have never seen tho Bible, and onlv know of God as si swear word. I appeal on behalf of the children for the Word of God which i-. able to make them wise unto Salvation I should like to ask your correspondents Dr. Geary (Reman Catholic Bishop of Auckland) and A. G. Clarke this question : The Bible being the " inspired Word of God '*— quick and powerful, sharper than any two edged sword, is it not able 'to instruct man woman, or child without the assistance or < interpretation of fallible man? In conclusion, I say give the children tho Biblical instruction tin*- need, and our responsi- > bility as a professing Clin jti.v' nation will as far as the teaching of children is concorned, be cleared.

Ronnr.T M. Bf.swick October 28, 1912. t.swicK.