SUNDAY COLUMN.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 134, 29 July 1911, Page 2

SUNDAY COLUMN.

o BIBLE TEACHING IN STATE SCHOOLS. AN HP-TO-DATE REVIEW AND 4 .APPEAL. (By the Yen. Archdeacon Willis, Cambridge.) Article VI. THE CALL FOR EXITED ACTION. When 1 began this statement of the case for the Bible in Schools, i. had before me the hope that the friends of the Bible in Schools movement might make tins the year for putting forth all their efforts to secure a referendum on the New South Wales system at the approaching elections. But 1 find there is something yet to ho accomplished before we are ready for tins demand. A change has been taking place in the views of many of us. There is a growing feeling that vve ought now to ask for something better than what we asked for nine years ago. There was then a very general agreement in favour of so much of the New South Wales system as ensured Bible instruction being given by the teachers in all the State schools without any reference to teaching by the churches. The Presbyterians, the Methodists, and the Anglicans and some others of the Christian bodies had attained a large measure of unanimity on the question. Since then, however, there has boon a growing feeling that the i ortion of the New South Wales system which we were not asking for is too important to leave out, namely, the opportunity provided under which ministers of religion can claim to teach the children of their own obuiclies during school hours. if, then, this feeling should become general, what wc should ask for now is the New South Wales system in its entirety. In the oamp'det 1 wrote nine years ago I advocated only the partial adoption of the Now South Wales system. I have since become convinced that we should do n uch better to adopt the system as a whole In our adopting anything : s a whole which is giving general satisfaction elsewhere, we can reasonably hope foi a like result here, whereas it might bo otherwise if our adoption were only a partial one. The fact, moreover, that three out of five of the other Stiites of the Commonwealth—namely, West Australia, Tasmania, and Queensland as well as the'community of 'Norfolk Island—have adopted the system as a whole, should have ?omt weight with ns in New Zealand. Then, again, is not the thought of an Australasian scheme of religions instruction in the schools a line 'deal to keep before us? New Zealand loves to do great things, and it is well nigh already in the power of New Zealand to make this ideal a reality. And it is only Neiv Zealand that could do it. All the other States together could only make the scheme Australian, but New Zealand can make if Australasian, if she will. There would, moreover, he a special fitness in all the Australasian dominions following the lead for good of the oldest State in Australia. In tin’s connection it is worthy of note also that public opinion in Victoria is rapidly tending in the samedirection. The following is from an Australian newspaper “As illustrating the growth of public opinion foi a uniform system of religions instruction, Victoria as well as Queensland is now agitating in this direction. In Victoria the churches have in like manner to Queensland agreed upon the same system for introduction there; and in a deputation to the Victorian Minister of Education representing their view's received a reply from him to the effect that lie could not see that what worked well in other places in Australia should not work equally well in Victoria, and that he would submit it to Cabinet for consideration.” But is New Zealand ready for the change? Or, rather, are the people of New Zealand quite ready for a vote on the New South Wales system? It must he admitted they are not. Tiie New South Wales system as a whole lias not yet received the formal approval of tho supreme governing body, either of the Presbyterian Church or of the Methodist, both of which bodies had supported the effort nine years ago. Nor lias any other Christian body that I am aware of except the Anglican yet formally declared itself. This being so we must be content for the present to band all our effort attaining unity amongst ourselves. And can we not unite for so great a gain? Christianity and religion and the Bible are now virtually shut out of the schools, and the great proportion of the population are, growing up without them, and the next generation cannot help being pagans unless we unite to come to their Help. How different tilings might be under the changed conditions. Let me quote again from an Australian paper the expel fence of a teacher in one of the States. ,

An Australian Picture.—“l have had twenty-seven years’ experience in our State schools. At my present: school nearly 200 children attend of all denominations. Teachers have no difficulty in giving their Bible les-

sens. No friction between teachers and clergymen visiting occurs. We like and value their visits. They are beneficial in all respects. Instead of causing sectarian strife they rather tend to break down sectarianism. Tire whole system is admirable, and in my opinion the best solution yet devised of a difficult question. I have Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian and Methodist clergymen visit my school and take their own children. There is never the slightest objectionable consequence. Such is simple fact of my long experience. Certainly it tends to raise the standard of the morals and conduct in and out of our schools. 11

To sum up the position, I have endeavoured to show in these articles that- a knowledge of tho Bible

is or supreme importance to tho people generally, that the State virtually destroyed the machinery which at one time existed for Bible teaching in the schools and has since put nothing in its place, that a vast number of the children of the Do-

ninion arc growing no without any adequate knowledge of the Bible, that the only sure way to provide that ail shall have an opportunity of knowing the Bible is to restore it to the schools, that there would be a great gain in having a Bible foundation laid by the school teachers in every school in the land, that an opportunity to fellow up this teaching during school hours should be given to clergy and churches wherever t could be used; and that, moreover, there is no difficulty for the like is being done in many parts of Australasia, and has done without opposition or offence for over forty years in New South Wales. All that is needed now is for the' friends of Bible teaching in New Zealand to unite and work for the same thing. I would conclude with an appeal for such agreement. I would appeal to all the Christian people of the Dominion, to the presiding members of the var ious Christian bodies and dl other ministers of the same in tho first instance; but also to every electw of the Dominion who may read this statement of the case for the Bible teaching in the -schools, to ivory man and every woman who loves God, his neighbour, find bis country, to take their individual parts in this >;reat movement for - God’s glory and [Tis people’s good.

Lot us sink minor differences for the common welfare and agree to ask for this well-tried system. Let ns nray for success and work for success, and sncces will crown our el-'oi-ts. Let ns join in a new referendum league witli branches everywhere hedging ourselves to pull together \nd to ask for tho same thing. Such i movement would be irresistible; and Government and Parliament and the nombers individually would all alike vgree that the people should he givm an opportunity to decide tho question and that their decision should be given effect to.