BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15707, 8 March 1913, Page 4

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

REV. MR JOLLY'S REPLY TO BISHOP CLEARY. (Per United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, March 6. The Rev. I. Jolly replied to Bishop Cleary's denunciation of the introduction of the Bible into State sdhools to a largo gathering to-night. Bishop Crossley, who presided, referred to the progress of the league in North Auckland particularly, and. assured his hearers that the league .had a big future.

-Mr Jolly, in a forcible speech, said that while the league agreed with the Roman Catholics on some 'points, the htte; demanded denominational grants for their schools, which would not be granted without wrecking our educational system. The training and formation of the character of children was tho first consideration, and the State was <bound to take such steps as were practicable to secure that and to have Christian ideals taught in the schools. Bishop Cleary had charged the Australian authorities with mutilating the Bible, and blamed the Christian churches of approving of Biblereading lessons. Nor was he more fortunate in his attack on the character of the selected lemons, but the selections showed there was no thought to eliminate the supernatural from the narrative. The teacher did not give sectarian or, dogmatic instruction, but saw that the lesson was read intelligently, and if he chose brought out a moral lesson. It was with pain that lie observed that Bishop Cleary had charged the league with using the conscience clause as an instrument of proselytisnv to tamper with Ditholic children. That was an absolutely false accusation. If the majority of the dominion's people wanted Bible instruction in schools they had the right to demand it, while protecting the minority oil the conscience clause.