PONGAROA NOTES.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 2774, 24 July 1907, Page 2

PONGAROA NOTES.

LITER Ait 1 AND DEBATING SOCIETY.

(From Our Own Corespondent.) Tlie Pongaroa Literary and Debating Society met on Thursday evening last, tJie subject under discusiou being ‘‘The Bible in Schools." This vexed question is often considered in certain circles to be of too sacred a character to be discussed by the general public, inasmuch as it may hurt the feelings and sensitive sensibilities of the various religious denominations in the colony—Dominion I—but the subject has been forced on the attention of the public of New Zealand by tlie action of “The Wellington Citizens’ Bible in Schools Committee,” in sending a referendum circular to the school committees throughout New Zealand. Consequently it has become a political question of far greater moment than it appears at the first glance, tor whatever touches tlie pockets of the ratepayer is the germ, the “To be or not to be” of the whole subject, irrespective of creeds and dogmas. _\! r Frank Kent occupied the chair, and presided with admirable tact throughout the discussion, which was conducted on both sides with a frankness and absence of personality beyond praise. Mr J. Allen opened in the affirmative. maintaining that, owing to the want of Biblical instruction in the State schools, the morals of the rising generation were deteriorating, and said, in effect, that surely in a Christi ian country the young ought to be made acquainted with the “Book of Books,” and that the proper place to do so was in the public State schools of the colony- Dominion ! He contended that the children of the colony were growing up around us as ignorant as Pagans of the precepts of Christianity, which were so necessary to fit them for the battle of life. He gave various reports from newspapers regarding the referendum, showing that maiiv school committees were in favour of the programme contained therein, ana concluded a very able address amidst applause. Mr Ligertwood took the opposition side of the question. He said he was not there to advocate the claims of any particular sect, for, be it understood. 1 hat however much any denomination may dub themselves “The Church.“ we are all sects, as there is no State church in the Dominion, and never would be ; and although he quite agreed with Mr Alien that the precepts of Christianity helped to tit the young for the battle of life, that

1 was not the question at issue. It was the “How, when, where, and by whom?” were these precepts to be taught. The church of professing Christians at the present day. instead of being one and indivisable. | had developed into ail endless number | of sects, each at variance with the other, and pitiable in their helplessj ness to arrive at any common basis. | He objected in toto to the pro- | gramme laid down by the referendum | circular, which, on the face of it, whs either an exhibition of ignorance I of man's duty to his. fellow man (he | admitted the sincerity) on the part of (the framers of that programme, or a ! deliberate attempt to stir up sectarian strife in the hope that in the f general scramble for State aid, some portion might tall to tlroi rown particular sect. The Bible was to be read !ms a classic. Which Bible? The Be 1 vised Version? the Douav version? or what other version? for there were many versions, and the believers in the various versions and particularly in tlie various interpretations are ratepayers of the Dominion. No colli- ] incut is allowed except geographical,

grammatical and historical. Take | the verse, John 6 and 54, and we ! land the State school boy or girl slap ‘ tip against the doctrine of “Transubstantiation,” and still the believers in that doctrine are ratepayers cf New Zealand. The geography of the whole earth is taught at present in the State schools, and as to the historical part what comment can a teacher make on this subject? Just imagine, if you can, a pretty school marm explaining to a class conscientiously the historical fact that the world was made in six days. Bang comes a half bric-k of granite or old sandstone flung by the hands of Hugh Millar’s ghost, and upsets the whole theory; it is not fair to the conscientious young lady ; her present salary won’t run it.

Comment is also allowed in the grammatical part. Here is a splendid opportunity for the misguided zeal of a teacher t<j air nis favourite isms.” Take this sentence “Thou art Peter, and on this rock I will build my church.” It would be very interesting to observe, in the sentence as it stands, by what process of grammatical analysis the teacher is to prove that. The word rocK j lias no connection with the principal subject Peter, which means a rock. | This brings us face to face with tlie I doctrine of 'Papau supremacy,” which may lie right or wrong, hut the i fact remains that 112,000 believers | in that doctrine are ratepayers in I New Zealand. The inevitable result of such mixed teaching would be that I when young New Zealand lias to unlearn a vast amount of it, they will j be forced to the conclusion of Thomas i Carlyle that "all men are liars.” | The chairman congratulated both speakers on the able maner in which j they had handled the subject, and j their frank courtesy on both sides, ! and after several terse criticisms, the voting resulted as follows: For Bible in Schools, 4, against 8, majoi-cy against 4. Mr A. C. Tucker, solicitor, who is leaving the district tor Waipukurau resigned his position as secretary -uid treasurer of the society. This was received with evident regret, as he has been the mainstay of the society since its formation. He was accorded a hearty vote of thanks lor his services in the past and received many good wishes for his welfare in the future. Mr J. Allen v, a unanimously chosen to succeed him. In view of the recent even s here, the next debate ought to get a bumper bouse on August Ist. next. Tlie subject is “Would a publican s license in Pongaroa be ill the m terests ot the district ?"