THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15175, 14 December 1912, Page 8

THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

BISHOP CLEARY IN WELLINGTON.

[BT TELEGRAI'It. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, Friday. At the Town Hall to-night Bishop Cleary delivered a lecture on the Bible in schools movement. The Mayor presided.

Bishop Cleary dealt in detail with the objections of the Roman Catholic Church to the proposals of the Bible in Schools League Ho mentioned that the league demanded in effect that the Education Act should bo free, compulsory, and narrowly sectarian, suited for only one group of consciences. Catholic teachers, he said, could not accept the dogmatic principle of private judgment, and the discipline of their Church prohibited them from reading or explaining versions of Scriptures not approved by their spiritual authority. The league proposed to force them, and other great bodies of unwilling teachers into conformity by dismissal, which in view of the Government's practical monopoly of such employment, might mean ruin to them and their families. Teachers were to be denied rights of conscience, which were accorded to the worst criminals in the Terrace Gaol. '

At the conclusion of Bishop Cleary's address Mr. T. M. Wilford moved, and Mr. J. Hutcheson seconded, the following resolution;—

"That as citizens and taxpayers of this Dominion we pledge ourselves to oppose the scheme of tho Bible in Schools' League as an invasion of the rights of conscience, and inimical to the real interest of religion and religious peace." This was carried practically unanimously by the 2600 people present.

THE LEAGUE'S ORGANISER.

WORK IN WANGANUI.

[BY telegraph.— ASSOCIATION'.]

Wanganui, Friday.

Canon Garland is at present in Wanganui in connection with the movement to introduce Bible teaching into the State schools. He has already addressed several meetings and except for a few keen opponents, is receiving good support.