BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

Taranaki Daily News, 7 October 1927, Page 9

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

SUPPORT OF THE ANGLICANS CRITICISM BY PRESBYTERIANS. EVIDENCE BEFORE COMMITTEE. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. Bishop Sadlier, of Nelson, gave evidence before the Education Committee in support of the Bible in Schools Bill, which, he said, was favoured by the majority of Anglican clergy. The Nelson system was inadequate. It meant really not the “Bible in schools,” but the "Bible out of schools.” It was hardly qualified to be called a system, but its advent in Nelson caused a bitter controversy. At best it was only an heroic attempt to atone for the absence of the Bible from the schools. Teachers were quite able to teach facts regarding the life of Christ as required under the Bill. He could not see how the conscience clause would lead to victimisation. At present very few children received religious instruction, but under the Bill it would be possible to reach all. The Rev. Robert Wood, a retired Presbyterian minister, opposed the Bill because it did not provide an adequate solution of the difficulty. He was an advocate of the former Bible in Schools League, but he considered Mr. Isitt’s Bill undemocratic, since it ignored the referendum. The Scottish people by referendum settled the presence of the Bible in schools by an overwhelming majority in its favour despite great Press, parliamentary and clerical opposition. The present Bill would result in secondary schools losing such religious teaching as they enjoyed now. It would cause strife, and the present position was preferable. It was incorrect to sav that our schools were Godless.