BIBLE IN STATE SCHOOLS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15237, 26 February 1913, Page 8

BIBLE IN STATE SCHOOLS.

AIMS OF THE LEAGUE.

PROSELYTISM NOT DESIRED.*./' *

[BY TELEGRAPH.— ASSOCIATION'.] :: : ■'.-•-.••". CHKISTCHUBCH. Tuesday. A very large gathering of supporters .of ■ the Bible irC schools movement was held, in the King's Theatre to-night to hear - addresses from prominent advocates of the ■-,;

■ Canon Garland (organising secretary of ~ the Bible in Schools. League) said ! the aim that night was ,to give utterance to «;.< the ' conviction 1 that- the religious teach-.",? ing of tha children of New Zealand was*'-, more important than any other subject in'. ;; political circles. In every institution tha •-; Christian faith found its right and pro--- ! per place except in the State schools. That anomaly must give way. Children must receive the same 'treatment as that given them if they unfortunately found "; their way -into gaol. In only two other, parts of the British Empire was there, nc 4 provision made for'giving Bible instruct tion to the children of the schools. ; - '. ;

Every mar./was entitled to his opinion, ; .:| but unfair statements must be combated. r i Bishop . Cleary , had attributed .to : him the statement..'; he had : boasted ~ that some .; 32,000 Roman Catholic children ■ were being "" proselytised ,■ | in Nee,/ ''.Wales. He had never said .-;•'■ that, because he did not believe -in \ proselytism, and the system left no rooia • for: that. The facte were that there the.: children read their lessons -of:. their :'w?il'3 freewilh : and with their parents' ; consenl' Their conscience could not be vio v ied. - '. r Cardinal Moran, who had been *evon more bitter against the movement than" Bishop Cleary, had said . the Scripture : ' lessons being read were but. garbled <$«•$? tracts '.. not worthy of Australia/ but he . would suggest there should be substituted •" for them the four Gospels. If that was all '■ the difficulty of Bishop Cleary the speaker \' ; would be willing to meet him more than'v; ; half-way. ■ -. :.- ; *'-|f The foregoing, proved. Cardinal Moran4 saw no difficulty in Scripture- lessons for l Catholic children in,, the State schools^':« The movement did not aim at destroying-" the national character of the educational- ; system. It was desired that religion* in- :?. struction should merely receive the reo'/j- ; . nition and facilities offered in other .institutions. • '.'■'- ( ■",.. i ■;.'.-