BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 146, 27 July 1914, Page 5

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

DEPUTATION TO MINISTER. Press Association. WELLINGTON, July 26. The Bible-in-Schools League again used the means of a deputation on Saturday to endeavour to press the Government to force the Referendum Bill through Parliament. About 300 followers of the League, headed -by Canon Garland, waited on the Minister of Education (the Hon. James Allen) on the steps of the old Parliament Buildings. Canon Garland, in a speech much on the lines of previous ones on the subject, again urged that the people should have the right to decide whether the Bible should be taught in the schools, just as the rjght was given on other questions. He also stated that, far from the movement disuniting the churches, it was making them combine in a comman cause and sink their differences.

A new note in the controversy was introduced by the Rev. John Paterson, of St. Paul's, Presbyterian Church, Christchurch. Mr Paterson has recently come from church work in Sydney, and he gave his experiences of the New South Wales system of Bible teaching which the League is urging should tfe introduced into the dominion. He said that in New South Wales absolutely no friction has arisen between the churches over the matter. The ministers of the various churches did not look askance at one another when they met at the schools, and Roman Catholic teachers gave the lessons without a sign of the sectarian issue being raised. He pronounced the scheme in New South Wales as an undoubted success, and discounted the statements made by the opposing party in New Zealand that there had been trouble there.

Miss McLean dwelt at length 011 her experiences in religious instruction in the • secondary schools, and Colonel Powley, of the Salvation Army, urged that it was absolutely necessary that the children should have the ground work of a knowledge of the Scriptures.

The Hon. J. Allen, in reply, said that they knew the position regarding the Bill. It had been introduced by him as a private member. They knew that there were certain petitions before the Education Committee, and those would have to be heard. He himself had had his mind made up for years on* this question. He thought that the secular system must be maintained, but without some satisfaction for the conscience in this question it could not be a continued success. Some of his colleagues in Cabinet were not with him in his views, but they had given him facilities to have the question decided by Parliament. " There will be difficulties in getting the Bill through,'' concluded Mr Allen, "but I am going to do my best to surmount those-difli-culties. I most earnestly hope that Parliament will pass the Bill. There is one point which is overlooked. I think it only asks that the people should decide on this question. If they should so decide there will be yet another step to take. (Applause.) I give to you my assurance that so far as it lies in my power I will endeavour to put the measure -through." Cheers for the Minister and for? Canon Garland concluded the gathering.