THE CANON’S BULL

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 8776, 4 July 1914, Page 4

THE CANON’S BULL

Several newspapers are aghast at tho severity of that good man Canon Garland. They have come to tho conclusion that the worthy Canon has condemned to a warm place all and sundry who differ from him on tho question of the Bible-in-the-Schools. They belabour him. accordingly, and it seems that in their eyes tho moral is that the Canon has exceeded his authority. If tho Canon has really done this thing by bell, book, and candle, wo can only say that we are very glad to learn that his judgment is “ultra vires.” For our part wo’ take leave to doubt whether the Canon did reaiiy go so tar oven without bell or boos, or candle. Ho is one of a body of rospousiole gentlemen who understand how to play with tiro, and are very careful how they do it. Tho real moral of his story, winch has driven some of our contemporaries into decorous forms of condemnations, does not concern tho Canon individually at all. it concerns our old friend the “Man-in-tho-Serect” who may not understand quite how to play with fire. A number of good reasonable people have got it into their heads that Canon Garland has drawn a sharp fire lino between tho sheep and the goats in this matter, of the (School Bible, and a proportion of them is’not astonished: does not even shudder. What does tho man-in-tho-streot think- of this question ? Eor several reasons that is not a question to bo asked of tho “man-in-the street.” But tho Referendum Bill proposes to ask him not only to give bis opinion, hut to act on his opinion at tho polls. Now, if a majority sides with the opinion that the line of fire must he drawn between tho Bib’o renders and tho others, there wi’l he a precedent. Tho next possibility is obvious. Some one will declare that tho line of fire must bo shifted, so as to. bisoct religious beliefs, and the question of that line of fire will goto another referendum, offering the majority tho power of settling the place where tho new lino of fire shall be drawn. Then tho lino will be drawn between some religions and other religions. And what then? Ask history. Tbo answer will keep the Bible Referendum off the Statute Book.