BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

Patea Mail, Volume XLIX, 23 November 1928, Page 3

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

a .\ v t n i-’Ui.rt'i;. \ UU'..'- iv. --•.■Jv.-eA quv-tu'n fur uGheh ;;;Gv,-v ;•< JivA mi.uiu.ie a! the l\.hua;Em is'sA ~ i'll Wed-tu.-x )y, Vk y x v .---A headed by Uo\, .V. u Mix'd ea Ilte b; ;;ni and »*kvsl G‘.;U the prixilcge uvi'v v".;.te> vd iV. is x ears bv ininv,i W el gixing Biblical iaMViwthn; it; .-wheels from nine to 9.15 a.u!, ou e-«c d«y per xx eek be resided. Mn WV.Uams. "ho nctexl ns spokes«A'V tUO dl'pU Ut t ix> it, MUll thill lit 11 ref x'vesnlu it; of pit routs "Inch h:ul boon tnkou So per cent. irf tlmse who xtdeo had expressed the wish tltnt tho permission nskotl tor should bo restoi oil. About .‘>l per rout, of tho parents vol In Christchurch, where another referendum had been taken, 40 per cent, -v of the parents voted ami SI per cent, were in favour of Bible instruction. Later, a further 30 per eent. had voted and of these 87 per cent, had ex pressed a wish that religious instniction be given. Mr. Collins: The SO per cent, you refer to as having voted in favour o! Bible in schools does not represent So per eent. of the‘parents but 80 per cent, of those who voted, which was 50 per cent, of the parents. Mr. Oram; Actually, 43 per cent, of the parents. Mr. Williams, continuing, said that the Bible Lessons Association guaranteed to have a teacher in every school in a certain area one morning a. week for a-quartcr of an hour. In large schools there would be severa. teachers, one for each room. A simple Bible lesson would be taught. In reply to Mr. Oram, Mr. 'Williams said if teachers cared to give Bible instruction to pupils their assistance would ibe 'Welcomed. The iehiklre-a would be allowed to ask questions. In reply to a further question Mr. Williams said that a text book based on the historical lessons of the Bible was what the Bible in Schools League was working for. This was' what "'as asked for under Mr. Isitt’s Bill, buq Parliament had turned it clown. Wherever the Nelson system had been trieu it had worked satisfactorily. The ministers were going to teach Bible history, and not denomimitionalism. The •were merely asking for a restoration of a privilege that had 'been enjoyed for 18 years that schools open one day a week at 9.15, instead of 9, so that . Biblical lessons could be given. Practically the whole school turned np at 9 o 'clock.

In reply to a further question ih'.' Williams said the. deputation Tepresonted all denominations except the Eoman Catholics. Air l . Oram: Jews. too. (Laughter.) In reply to Air. Adams, Air. Williams stated that the deputation represented both the Aliuisters’ Association and the Bible in Schools League. Personally, he knew nothing of a circular that had been sent out prior to the recent board election. Air. Adams: Have yon any great objection to taking the lessons at 15 minutes to ST instead of 9 o'clock'? Air. Williams; This would cause great inconvenience to children living at a distance from the school. It would make the children feel that they were being given 15-minutes extra school. ; The chairman said the fact that the ministers did not carry on instruction before 0 o'clock when the privilege of teaching from 9 to 9.15 had been discontinued, was a sign of weakness. The ministers knew that they were perfectly free to teach from 8.45 to 9 at any time, and yet had neglected to do so, and yet a Presbyterian minister bad declared that the children were asking why the ministers did not como up to the school and teach them. Air. Williams said the ministers thought the privilege would be restored before long. The chairman thought it showed laxity on the part of the ministers. They •should remember the saying, “Where two or three are gathered together,’’ and act accordingly. Air. Williams: 1 think probably it ■would have becu better had the ministers gone at 8.45. The Chairman: Don't you thiuk the ministers lost a lot of sympathy by 1 not doing so? Air. Williams: Perhaps so. The deputation then withdrew. The chairman then moved that permission be not granted for the Alinisters' Association to use the Nelson or any other system in the Wanganui district. They had a new syllabus coming into force in February, he stated, aud it would take the teachers all their time to get through their work. He hud been returned on a mandate to oppose the Bible in schools. Air. Adams seconded tire motion-and said that ho had also received a mandate of seven to one to oppose such a measure. Air. Oram said he thought that every child should have some form of Bible- instruction. The history of the Bible should be taught. Air. Hornblow agreed with Air. Oram and considered that it was essential that the children should have a knowledge of. God. Air. Tingey said lie was in favour of the Nelson system. Mr. Dukeson said he was in favour of the resolution as he did not think some of the children should bo compelled to have religious instruction whilst others were playing. Air. Homingway said the matter should be dealt with by Parliament aud tlic board should carry out the