BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23033, 10 May 1938, Page 12

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

RELIGIOUS EXERCISES APPEAL BY ARCHBISHOP [by TELEGRAPH OWN correspondent] DARGAVILLE, Monday An appeal to individuals and congregations to lodge a request that the present rights of Christian parents and children in connection with the national system of education should be neither curtailed nor removed was made by Archbishop Averill when defending the continuance of religious exercises in schools at services which he conducted throughout the Nor.thern Wairoa district. The archbishop pointed out that he was seeking assistance from congregations in this matter as it virtually affected the spiritual welfare of children attending State primary schools and, consequently, the spiritual welfare of the Dominion. Various Anglican churches in the district passed resolutions protesting against the intention of the Minister of Education, the Hon. P. Fraser, to take from school committees the right to permit daily voluntary religious exercises at the opening of schools. A similar resolution was passed by the Dargaville Presbyterian Church. GATHERING OF PROTEST MEETING IN TOWN HALL A mass meeting of protest against the proposed abolition of the voluntary religious exercises in State primary schools is to be held in the Town Hail at 8 o'clock to-night. The chairman of the meeting will be the Rev. R. Ferguson Fish, and speakers will be the Rev. Dr. A. Hodge, Canon W. W. Averill. the Rev. F. Handy, Mr. A. Carmichael, Miss H. E. A. Small and Mr. W. E. Vickery. The following resolution was passed at a meeting of the Beresford btrcet Congregational Church: 'This gregation solemnly protests in the name of Christian democracy against the expressed intention of the Minister of Education to terminate the daily voluntary religious - exercises in the State primary schools of the Dominion, in opposition to the clearly expressed wishos of the great majority of the parents of the children concerned.