SUNDAY SCHOOLS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17776, 11 May 1932, Page 3

SUNDAY SCHOOLS

COMPULSION PROPOSAL SHOCK FOR CONFERENCE SYDNEY, April 21. Compulsory attendance at Sunday schools to been forced by the Educat'idn Department was the aim of a motion which was introduced by Mrs. E. S’, bond, of the Methodist Young People’s Department, New South Wales, at the Sunday School Convention at Adelaide tliis week. The resolution caused much surprise to members. Strong protests were itiade by leading ministers and teachers from all States. “It is Mohammedanism and not Christianity which uses force to promote its faith,” said the Rev. E. H. Vines, of: New South Wales. Other delegates said that the proposal, would cripple Christianity in Australia. Mrs. H. S. Bowden, also of New South Wales, seconded the motion, but the chairman, the Rev. John Mackenzie, ruled that it be referred back to the New ‘South Wales Council. 1 The convention, he said, had no time to attend to the matter in a general -way. Mrs. Bond said that the subject had been discussed before the New South Wales Stale Council. Trouble had arisen, there, through the actions of Communists. In one hall in Sydney children, of Communistic followers met, and were taught to hate the name of God. They wore provided with si: Bible and etieouraged to kick the book about the floor.. , i State authorities should force children to attend Sunday school in the same' wav as day schools. “Many people would keep their children away from primary schools if it were not for the regulations,” she said. “The same applies to Sunday schools. People would ob ject strenuously at-first, but in time they would submit as they : do with ordinary methods of education.”