CHURCH SCHOOLS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23044, 21 November 1936, Page 9

CHURCH SCHOOLS

QUESTION OF STATE AID COLLEGE HEADMASTER’S VIEWS (Per United Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 20. “ I often wonder whether the church has gone too far in its protests against social abuses. Have we made our protests part of our religion? We must be honest with ourselves.” This point was made in the Presbyterian General Assembly this morning by Mr J. B. Mawson, headmaster of St. Andrews Presbyterian College, in the course of an address on church schools. In asking whether the church had all the appeal it should have for youths, Mr Mawson asked was there any reason why he should not go to ? race meeting if he was fond of horses? Why should he not dance if he was fond of dancing? There was the extreme case of a man being regarded as non-Chris-tian if he d'd not believe in prohibition. “If we want to be a strong influence with youth, we must be honest with ourselves,” he added. Dealing with church schools. Mr Mawson asked if members had faced the facts with regard to State aid. Personally he thought all the arguments were in favour of State aid along the lines the Catholics were asking for. “ Is not our attitude against State aid merely because the Catholics favour it? ” he asked. “ Let _us be honest with ourselves. It is the only solution I can see for the church and for the world.”