RELIGIOUS EDUCATION IN THE SCHOOLS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9905, 25 November 1893, Page 4

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION IN THE SCHOOLS.

TO THE BDITOH. Sir,—ln your comments upon my letter, written a week ago but published on Wednesday, you allow, that I was right in pointing out the significance of the vote given by the synod of this diocese, but you seek to nullity that significance by calling attention to the vote of the General Synod given well nigh two years ago in favour of grants to deneminational schools. To my mind the fact you allude to rather adds force to the significance I called attention to than diminishes it, and when it is remembered that the Christchurch diocese, which took the lead in obtaining that vote from the General jSynod, has now entirely seceded from that iposition, and done its best to induce other dioceses to adopt a different platform, it is pretty evident that the next General Synod will not take up the denominational position. As to the prospect of finality for the plan of allowing religious instruction within school hours, my :meaning was that the plan itself offers reasonable ground for finality for the reasons given in my letter; but of course this was upon the supposition that; the plan I advocate will eventually find acceptance by the whole churchy and the letters I have received from Auckland downwards afford reason for believing that such will-be the case. The plan of the Bible text book has only been adopted in certaiu quarters m the hope of uniting all religious bodies upon this question; but as this will not even unite the variou3 dioceses of our own communion it is pretty certain that the movers in this matter will see no good ground for foregoing their own convictions, and the alternative will be either a return to denominationalism or the adoptionof such a plan as my synod proposes. You will excuse my adding that I cannot see why a paper like the Otago Daily Times should use its great influence for the support of secularism, which really means the, upgrowth of generations without the sanctifying influences of religious knowledge and conviction. I always believed your paper earnestly desired to promote all that is good for the body politic. You surely cannot mean that religion is not so! Should such be the case, I may quote from one of the letters I have just received, urging me to proceed in the matter in hand. The writer is of what is known as the humbler class, arid after telling me that all'her consolations in life are derived from her religion, she says that this religious knowledge was obtained by her in the day school of the village in which she was brought up.—l am, &c, S. T. Dunedin. - Bishopsgrove, November 21.