BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

Otago Witness, Issue 3148, 15 July 1914, Page 34

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

PETITION IN PARLIAMENT. PROTEST AGAINST THE REFERENDUM. WELLINGTON, July 8. Representative Roman Catholic organisations, through Mr Veitch, petitioned Parliament this afternoon, voicing the objection to the Bible-in-Schools Referendum Bill.— / ROMAN CATHOLIC OPPOSITION. GORE, July 8. At a meeting of the Gore branch of the Catholic Federation the following resolution was carried unanimously, and it was decided to forward copies of it to the member for the district and the Minister cf Education:—“This meeting, representing I£QO Catholics of Gore parish, strongly protests against the proposed referendum on the question of the Bible in schools on the following grounds :—(1) That taking such a vote as is proposed would be directly subversive to the rights of a largo section of the community, inasmuch as it would be an effort to settle a pure question of conscience by a majority vote; (2) that it is a proposed attempt by a section of the people to foist upon the public a narrow and selfish sectarian scheme without regard to the conscientious objections of minorities; (5) that the State, as such, has no authority to teach religion, and that such a Referendum, it carried in the. affirmative, would be a mandate to the Government to both frame and teach at the public expense btate religion.'’

■ TIMARU, July 8. The Timaru branch of the Hibernian Society, at its half-yearly meeting, at which there “was a large attendance, passed unanimously a resolution protesting against the referendum as urged by the Bible-in-State-Schools League. CHRISTCHURCH, July 8. It was agreed, unanimously "at a social in connection with the Catholic Federation this evening “ that this mass meeting of Catholics under the auspices of the Christchurch Diocesan Council of the Catholic Federation, representing the Catholic voters of Canterbury and Westland, in common with 80,000 Catholic voters of the dominion, while thoroughly appreciating the efforts of non-Catholics to provide moral teaching based upon religious principles in schools, emphatically protests against the introduction of Bible-reading into State schools and against the proposed referendum on the question as a violation of the rights of conscience of a large section of citizens, an injustice to teachers, and an

iniquitous proposal to tax all the people to pay for the teaching of religion acceptable to certain denominations only and utterly opposed to the beliefs of others. That copies of this resolution be forwarded to the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, and members representing the districts.”

BISHOP SPROTT’S DECLARATION. (Fnou Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, July 8. ‘‘ I believe that, despite all opposition,” declared Bishop Sprott, D.D., in opening the Wellington Synod to-day, “ a referendum Bill containing our question and ours only will be passed this session. If so, the Question will be submitted to the people in December next. Between now and then it behoves all members of the Church to bestir themselves, so that when the question is submitted it may receive an overwhelming affirmative answer. The passing of the Referendum Bill, remember, does not place the Bible in the schools; it only sets the people free to deal with their own schools. That achieved, our true work will begin—work of an educative character, explaining and removing misapprehensions, rousing a sense of responsibility, etc. In December next, what appeal there is will be on the very date of the centenary of the coming of Christian civilisation to New Zealand.” ANGLICAN SYNOD’S APPROVAL. WELLINGTON, July 9. The Anglican Synod, by 100 votes to 2, carried a resolution expressing approval to the Government for introducing and to Parliament for carrying through the first reading of the Religious Instruction Referendum Bill, and ‘‘earnestly hoping” that the Bill will pass all its stages this session. PETITIONS AGAINST REFERENDUM. (From Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, July 9. A number of petitions protesting against the proposed referendum on the question of religious instruction in schools were presented to the House of Representatives yesterday. Three were further instalments of the petition from the Catholic clergy and Catholic federated societies. These were presented by the Hon. A. L. Herdman {ll6B signatures), Mr T. M. Wilford (408' signatures), and Mr F. H. Smith (288 signatures). Two others were instalments of the petition circulated by the National Schools Defence League. They were presented by the Hon. F. M. B Fisher (1836 signatures), and Mr W. A. Veitch (1434 signatures). In every instance the petitions came from the electorates represented by the member presenting them. July 10. A number' of further petitions protesting against the jioposal to submit the Bible-in-schools question to a referendum was presented to the House of Representatives to-day. The following members presented petitions on behalf of the National Schools Defence League;—Mr Escott (332 signatures), Dr Newman (933 signatures), Hon. A. L. Herdman (ICOI signatures), and Mr Atmore (728 signatures). The following petitions were presented from the Roman Catholic clergy and Catholic Federated Society:—Mr Hanan (678 signatures), Mr Seddon (1022 signatures), Mr Mander (306 signatures), the Hon. W. Fraser (252 signatures), Mr Campbell (610 signatures), Mr Davey (1094 signatures), Mr Buxton (755 signatures), Mr Okey (218 signatures), the Hon. R. H. Rhodes (457 signatures), Mr M‘Combs (202 signatures), Mr Colvin (1009 signatures), Mr Tsitt (795 signatures), Mr Sykes (238 signatures), Mr Wilkinson (102 signatures), Mr Hindraarsh (794 signatures), and Mr Escott (261 signatures). Mr Atmore, in presenting tbe petition forwarded to him, moved that it be referred direct to the Education Committee, but to this the Hon. W. Fraser took exception, saying that all the petitions should bo dealt with in the same way. Mr Fraser then moved that all Sio petitions received should go to this committee. This motion was carried. GOVERNMENT ACTION COMMENDED. GORE, July 9. A meeting of the Bible-in-State-Schools League operating in the Matsura electorate and parts of the Wakatipu and Clutha electorates, and representing the combined Presbyterian, Anglican, and Methodist Churches, the Salvation Army, and many members of other religious denominations, resolved : * ‘ That this league expresses appreciation of the action of the Government in introducing the Referendum Bill asked by the league; that members of the above districts be urged to support by their vote the wishes of so many of their constituents, who desire that the whole people, whether opponents or supporters of the league’s proposals, should have an opportunity of giving a decided vote thereon at the ballot-box at the next general elections. , MR MASSEY’S PLAIN TALK. ON SECTARIAN SQUABBLES. WELLINGTON, July 10. Members of the Anglican Synod, which is now in session, waited in a body to-day as a deputation on the Prime Minister in connection with the Bible-in-Schools Referendum. Nearly a hundred clerical and lay members of the Synod attended. Ur Sprott (Bishop of Wellington) thanked the Prime Minister for receiving the deputation, and read the resolution recently passed by the Synod, expressing appreciation of the Prime Minister’s action in promising the Referendum Bill. His Lordship also expressed the hope that the Bill would go through all its stages during, the present session. The resolution had been carried by 100 votes to 2. He -would lay stress upon one point—viz., that they were not asking members of Parliament to express any opinion upon the merits oa* demerits of the system of religious instruction. They merely asked for machinery by which the true wifi of the electors might be taken. -There seemed to be a misunderstanding on this point. Mr E. Hadfield (mover of the resolution at the Synod), and Mr George Shirtcbffe

also briefly expressed the wishes of the Synod. They traced the history of the desire for recognition of the Bible in the schools, and generally submitted the arguments recently expressed at the Synod. Mr Shirtcliffe also emphasised the point that all that was desired just now was an opportunity for the people to express an opinion once and for all on this question. Otherwise, with the unrest among people, it would in all probability obscure other important political factors." Messrs D, M. Yeats (Hutt) and C. W. Lee (Aramoho), both State school teachers, expressed opinions as to the desirability of having the Bible in the schools in order that a lack in moral instruction might be supplied. Mr Massey, in replying, said he did not propose to discuss the whole question of Bible reading or Bible teaching on schools. “I have no doubt,” he said, “it will corrie later on, either in the House or on the platform, but as far as the resolution of appreciation is concerned and the points mentioned by the speakers, I would like to say that I have only to consider whether the Government is justified in standing in the way of the people in an expression of opinion on an important question, in which a number of the community—probably a large majority—-are concerned. Ministers had,” he said, '“concluded that they would not be justified in taking up such a position. The Bill had been placed in the Hon. Mr Allen’s hands, and would be submitted to the House in the .near future. ‘‘You understand, of course,” sa;d the Prim’c Minister, “that it is not intended to be a party question”—(“Hear, hear”) —“and I''want you to understand that there are. differences of opinion on the part of members of the Government with regard to the Bill and proposal. I know there are members of the Government who, in accordance with their convictions expressed to their constituents, will vote against Mr Allen’s proposals. “Personally,” continued the Prime Minister, “I don’t pretend to be a bit better than the average citizen, but I have long been of opinion that it was a great pity that representatives of Christian sects were not able to join in arranging a scheme by which the rising generation in the schools might have Bible knowledge imparted to them without the sectarian element being introduced. I am sorry to say we have not reached that stage yet.” —(“Hear, hear.”) The Bill, Mr M-assey added, would be introduced within the next few days—-viz,, the second reading would be taken within the next few days. In all probability Mr Allen would proceed with the Bill next week. Ho could say, however, that there would be no attempt whatever to mix up the proposal with the ordinary politics of the country. —(Applause.) Bishop Rprott thanked Mr Massey on behalf of the. Synod. NATIONAL DEFENCE LEAGUE. DEPUTATION TO MR MASSEY, r WELLINGTON, July 11. A deputation representing the National Schools Defence League waited on the Prime Minister to-day. and urged that the Referendum Bill should not be passed. Professor Hunter said that plainly and candidly the league felt that it had not been fairly and squarely treated by the Government. Last August it had been led to believe that the Prime Minister was utterly opposed to what might be called sectarianism in schools, and that so long as the Government was in office nothing would be done inconsistent with free, compulsory, and secular education. Events had proved that it was obvious that the Cabinet, in introducing the Bill, had considered the views of the opponents of the league. The deputation considered that the Bill should not have been introduced by Cabinet Ministers. The Premier said there was another side to Professor .Hunter’s statement. He had y always made it clear that he believed in the Bible and stood by the Bible every time. It was a sorry state of affairs in a Christian community when Christian sects should combine to keep a knowledge of the Bible out of the schools. It was a pity that the Christian representatives did not join and arrange a system by which religious instruction would be imparted in the public schools. Mr Massey added that many people had asked for the opportunity of giving an opinion on the question, and it was for Parliament to say whether they should have a referendum. Mr Massey added that this was not the first time that this matter had come before the country. In ISOS a Bill was introduced, providing for Bible lessons in schools. It was introduced by a private member, and the division list was very interesting. It had been said that the members of the Roman Catholic Church in the community were opposed to the referendum being taken, but he wanted to call attention to the way in which members of Parliament who belonged to that faith voted on the Bill. He road from the division list the “ Ayes ” for the Bill- He considered that when 150,000 people asked for a referendum it would not be right to stand in the way of giving an opportunity _ for an opinion if Parliament was willing. The Bill was being prepared by Mr Alien, not as Minister of Education. No pressure had been brought to bear upon members to vote for the Bill, and when the division took place it would be found, probably, that as many members of Cabinet voted “No” as “Aye.” Mr Massey, in conclusion, said that every opportunity would be given by petition and discussion and otherwise. There would be a straight run for all of them. He remembered one passage from the Bible quoted by the speaker (who had shown a good knowledge of the Bible) —the golden rule: “Do unto others, etc. (From Our Own Correspondent.) WANGANUI, July 12. At the quarterly meeting of the Eltham Methodist Circuit the following motion was passed after considerable discussion: “ That this meeting expresses satisfaction with the action of the Government in introducing the Referendum Bill as asked for by the league, and strongly urges upon the member of the district that his action in Parliament should be of such nature as will show that he is prepared, by voting for the Referendum Bill, to trust to the people to settle this matter lor themselves*-

The meeting points out that Parliament is not being asked to decide on the merits of the Bible in schools, but to allow thy people to express their will on this matter.”