THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS, AND MR BEGG AT THE BOARD. TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 5938, 19 February 1881, Page 3

THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS, AND MR BEGG AT THE BOARD. TO THE EDITOR.

Sir,—l cannot any longer reproach the Bible-in-bcncols Association with inactivity, but I must say their last move docs but display the same insensitiveness to social justice and Christ's method which has marked, as it seems to me, their entire policy. 1. They are trying to use the schools to obtain information of a politico-religious nature. The teachers are not maintained for the purpose of giving instruction to the Association, and it is certainly ultra vires tor them to do so in school hours.

2. The precedent is a bad one, since it opens the way for Archdeacon Edwards to inquire about Sta'eaided schools, Mr Fitchett about his scheme, myself about the claims of Christians secularism and everybody about anything. 3. It is unfair to the taxpayers to exclude thorn from expressing an. opinion. State education is grounded on the general interest of the community, and not only on the wishes of those whose «-ood fortune it is to have a child of school age. 4. Mr Begg's notion that " secular " means " nonsectarian "is very subtle; but, with all its refinement, it = will .not carry the inference that "the Bible in Schools.' is non-sectarian; for, not only will thi3 policy open the way to denominationalism, but it is denorninationalism of an agglomerate kind. 6. The remark on the temperance text-book, that too much is already being taught in too little tim» goes against any further reduction of the time by Introducing yet another subject; for the Association propose a "10per-cent reduction" from the period of secular teaching; and for this 10 per cent, the State is tOJY», Tl£ s my tho old system of tithes, against which the English farmers are beginning to agitato with some success.

6. I do hope the teachers will hesitate before they consent to become the illegal tools of a political and religious organisation, and at least delay till it is ascertained that such action is really within the letter of the Act, as. I am sure it is not in its spirit. 7. It is to be regretted that Mr Fulton's sensible speech was not followed hy a firm vote that it was for the Biblc-in-Schools Association, as for every other association, to "work their own oracle," and not burden the schools with service outside the proper work of teaching. v I have long held that the separation of secular from religious training is a necessary limit of State education. I have always maintained in a quiet way that such was the only just and truly Christian course • and when the matter is brought, to open debute and made crucial, there is no course open for me, as an honest man, but to express my convictions with plainness of speech, though these devout convictions may shock the mistaken though sincero notions of uiv friends.—lam, &c, ••

J. Uptox Davis.