BIBLE IN STATE SCHOOLS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15262, 28 March 1913, Page 5

BIBLE IN STATE SCHOOLS.

RESOLUTION OF LAY-READERS.

At the conference of lay-readers in consection with the Anglican Church in the ! diocese of Auckland, held on Wednesday, under ( the presidency; of the Bishop of Auckland, an' interesting discussion took place on the question of the introduction of / Bible-reading into the ; State schools of, the Dominion. ' The Rev. Geddes, who bale.bad experience the working of the Australian system in' North Queensland; gave. the meeting the . result of .his experience, especially , in country districts, and stated that the system worked without. any friction. ' Ihe same theoretical difficulties were advanced in Queensland before the passing of the Act introducing Bible-reading into the schools as are now being advanced in New Zealand, but experience showed that when the ; scheme was put into practical operation these difficulties vanished into thin air. The following resolution was carried with one dissentient: —"In accordance with the decisions of the General and Diocesan Synods, this conference of layreaders of the diocese of Auckland pledges' itself to support the objective of the Bible in State Schools League, and requests, that a referendum of the whole people of the Dominion be taken to decide i the question." ! A meeting of ladies was held on Tuesday; afternoon' at Papakura, ' under the presidency of the.Rev. W. C. Wood, when an address was given by the Rev. A. Miller, of Auckland, on the objects and aims of the Bible in State Schools League. A branch of the Women's League , was constituted, with the. following officers: President, Mrs. W. C. Wood; vice-presi-dents, Mrs. Dawson Madill and Mrs. Phillies: secretary, Mrs. A. Willis; and a committee of six, consisting of Mrs. Wynne Williams and Miss Potter and two representatives from the Methodist and Presbyterian Churches.