BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23026, 2 May 1938, Page 11

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

IGHT OF RECOGNITION STATE VIEW CHALLENGED DAILY' RELIGIOUS I EXERCISES RCHBISHOP'S CALL TO ACTION A pastoral letter calling on all lembers of the Anglican communion, o take a positive and'decisive stand or the recognition of God in the public chools is to be issued by Archbishop Lverill and will be read in all Anglican hurches in the Auckland diocese next iunday. In response to an inquiry the archlishop has received from the Minister if Education, the Hon. P. Fraser. a leclaration of bis intentions concernng religious exercises in schools. The Minister says: — "Clause 39 of the Education Amendnent Bill proposes to give statutory ipportunity for the Nelson system ok : •eligious instruction and provides for he ordinary opening time of schools jeing postponed or the ordinary closng time being advanced for half an iour on two days of each week for the purpose. Evidence to be Heard "I have indicated on several occarions that 1 consider the system of religious exercises introduced in recent rears under the direction of the Bible- . in-Schools League to be contrary to the Dftep-expressed decision of Parliament, and that I propose to give Parliament an opportunity to decide the matter in a definite manner. Ample opportu-i nity will be given to the representa- , tives of the Bible-in-Schools League and all others interested to place their • opinions before Parliament Education Committee of the-House of " Representatives before the 'matter is finally decided.'' . •/ In addition to the action of Arihbishop Averill, public opinion is being mobilised by the Bible-in-Schools League through all branches of the Christian Church, and a public meeting is. to bo held in the Town Hall on May The league forcefully objects to an> contention that the voluntary five minutes of devotion with which over 400 of the primary schools in New Zealand now commence each day is contrary to either the spirit or the letter of the Education Act. "An Empty Offer" It points out that when the Education Act was passed in 1877 the question was raised by the Legislative Council, which took exception to any idea of excluding the recognition o£ God from the schools. The House of Representatives, in reply, directed attention to the authority in tho Act under which the school committees, supported in many cases by plebiscites of the parents, have introduced the voluntary daily exercises. This authority was repeated in the 1914 Education Act. Ministers and others who have organised and who give instruction under the Nelson system regard the offer of two half-hours a week as an empty one. In the first place, it is impossible now to cater for more than a few of tho schools in the country districts. In the cities the number of classes is more than the available number of teachers from the churches. In one Auckland school alone 26 teachers are required, without considering the claims of other schools in the district. In others up to 12 are necessary. No matter how keen they are these teachers could not visit all the schools twice in each week, nor could they withdraw from industry many more than are at present available. BILL DENOUNCED INSTRUCTION A RIGHT u ANTI-GOD LEGISLATION n CRITICISM FROM PULPIT [BY TELEGRAPH OWN CORRESPONDENT] "WANGANUI, Sunday Preaching from the pulpit of tha Trinity Methodist Church to-night, the Rev. Raymond Dudley vigorously denounced the Education Amendment Bill on which a special committee is hearing evidence. The preacher said the bill proposed to prohibit the short religious service now permissible in the primary schools of "the Dominion, and he referred to the general trend of that legislation as "anti-God." : > <: •• "Reverence of God is life's most supreme duty," he said. "Man cannot live by bread alone. The Prime Minister has often quoted those words of Christ, but it all seems to be a colossal bluff, and a lot of mummery. What rightful place does God possess ixt the primary education system of our land? Where are the schools where religious instruction is regarded as a right, and not. a privilege? Whore is one Minister of our Cabinet, who is prepared to stand with Dr Cyril Norwood, former headmaster of Harrow and Marlborough, and now president of St. John's College, Oxford, and declare, 'Religion and education are bound together,' and is that not true?" > Mr. Dudley said people of the worlft to-day lived in a machine age, a scientific age, even in an age of knowledge!, but tney did not live in a wise age, because the secret of wisdom has been largely lost. CHURCHES PROTEST RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED A resolution of protest against the proposal to stop the preliminary religious exercises at present being given in many day schools was unanimously carried by a very large congregation in St. David's Presbyterian Church last night. The congregation had been addressed by the Rev. John Flynn, of the Australian Inland Mission. The resolution, which was in the following terms, was submitted by the Rev. W. Bower Black:—"That this congregation of St. David's Presbyterian Church, Auckland, views with grave misgivings the Expressed intention of the Minister of Education to terminate the daily voluntary religious exercises in the State primary schools of the Dominion, and would enter a very earnest protest against any such action. The Church regards this Very brief opening exercise in the schools as one of the most valuable things secured by the Christian people of the Dominion for their children—tho simple daily acknowledgment of Almighty God, without which we consider all education lacks its true significance.' 1 ' ' ' Similar resolutions of protest against the Minister's expressed intention were unanimously adopted at a number of city and suburban churches. ... At St. Luke's Anglican Church, Mount Albert, a demand or . . a J e^ eT dum on the question was added to tn® resolution of protest, , . -i»