THE BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS EXECUTIVE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13210, 17 February 1905, Page 6

THE BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS EXECUTIVE.

APPOINTMENT OF .ORGANISING AGENT. At. a recent mooting of the Executive of the Bible-in-Schools Confcrcncc held in St. John's class-room, Wellington, tho Rev. Dr. Gibb presiding, it was on tho motion of Bishop Wallis, 'seconded by tho Hon. Mr Arkwright, unanimously resolved to appoint Mr R. A. Wright organising agent. Mr Wright is engaged in the printing busin'ess in Wellington and is a member of tho firm of Wright and Camion. lie is well-known in the city as a man of high character and excellent business aptitudes. He is a prominent religious worker and has played a largo part in social and philanthropic movements, His experience of political campaigning is also considerable, and tho Executive expect that ho will render the cause invaluable service afc the time of the next, election. Inasmuch as thero has evidently been some inisunderstading of the nature of the political somces expected of the agent, we are able to state definntcly what, the Executive hope to accomplish in this connection. The Bible-in-Sohools movement will in the future as in tho past he absolutely destitute of party political colour, but an effort will be made to enroll all electors favourable to a special Bible-in-Schools Referendum Bill in societies pledged to insist that parliamentary candidates shall promise to secure the necessary legislation. The formation of such societies-will constitute n large part of the agent's work, and he will alsj endeavour by public meetings and the distribution of suitable literature to make tho question a live one at next election. Mr Wright hopes to begin work about the end of this month and will open his campaign 111 the South, probably in Dunedin.

An application has been made in Melbourne for a supply of the Victorian textbook, and it was reported that in response to this a small number of copies had been forwarded by the secretary of tho A 7 ictorian League; There ee-ems to 'be some difficulty about obtaining the number the Executive desire—a number adequate to supplying all public libraries and such like institutions with at least one copy each. It was resolved to make a further effort to obtain a lnree supply, and the disposal of the copies in band was meanwhile delayed. It was intimated that a copy of the pamphlet containing three specimen lessons, and the headings with scriptural rcferenoe.s of all the other lesions, had been sent to all ministers of religion, head masters of schools, members of Parliament, and editors of newspapers. _ The Canterbury Biblc-in-Schools Association wrote to express their approval of the appointment of an agent and to promise a contribution of at least 0110 hundred pounds towards his expenses. Various other societies have expressed their intention of assisting the Executive to meet, the largo expenditure involved in this new departure.'