BIBLE READING IN SCHOOLS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 9484, 23 July 1902, Page 1

BIBLE READING IN SCHOOLS.

(To the Editor of the Herald.) Sir, —I should like to say a few words with regard to a paragraph in last night's "Herald," alluding to Mr Paterson's sermon on Bible reading in schools. I agree with Mr Collins that "the time has come for teaching moral truths in our schools^" and with* Mr Paterson 'that the ethics of Christendom rest on the teacliings of Christ—on New Testament scripture— but I have far too much respect and affection for our grand old Bible to regard it in the light either of an infallible Pope or of a mere fetish, and I cannot, therefore, admit that such moral teaching would be attained by Bible reading in schools. Bible reading without explanation would be worse than useless—mere waste of time. To Bible reading with explanation by either a Roman Catholic or Unitarian teacher Mr Paterson might object just as much as others would object to explanation, by Presbyterian, Wesleyan, or Anglican teacher. Therefore it was arranged, and, as I think, most . wisely arranged, to admit teachers1 of all denominations to the school buildings, to impart to the children such theological instruction as their parents would desire. So very haltingly, .however, have Christian, ministers and others availed themselves of this provision, that the need has arisen for general moral as distinguished from particular theological instruction, and it is this that Mr Collins as well as "" jriany earnest Christians and anxious . are now pleading for. ' In England, so far as I can ascertain, the present reaction against Bible reading in schools is even stronger than that against "secular" education in New Zealand, and the reaction in both cases has arisen from the increase of the larrikin —or to put it mildly—unmoral elementso prevalent among-the young people of the day. Already in England the school boards of Leicester and other towns have introduced "systematic moral instruction" and with marked success. The tlianks of the community are due ] to Mr Paterson, for drawing attention to the hideous sham of swearing on the Bible. An honorable man's word is as good as his- oath any day, and the. frequency of perjury—sheeted home, susor all-unsuspected—proves only clearly how little- a dishonorable man; -cafes either for God, Truth, or the effects of a lie on his own character. "Kissing the Book" is a filthy, insanitary ■habit as well as an unholy one, but it is also a habit for which each of us, and not the Government, is individually responsible, for, as Mr Paterson must have overlooked, the ceremony is by no means compulsory.—l am, etc, '* M. H. SIEVWRIGHT. Gisborne, July 22, 1902.