SUNDAY READING.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 144086, 3 May 1913, Page 6

SUNDAY READING.

Notes of a sermon preached by the Rov. J. W. BURTON m the Whiteley Memorial Church. SECTARIAN TEACHING IN STATE SCHOOLS. Text: “Simon, son of John, lovest thou me more than these? He saitk "unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knoweat that I love three. He saith unto him. Feed my 'a mbs. —John XXI., 15. New Zealand, during the next year or two, is likely to be aroused on the question of the introduction of religious teaching into State Schools. Me have, at present, an excellent system of education, and we shall have to jnovo with care and caution before we interfere noth it. I am far from agreeing with those who state that the present atmosphere of our schools is godless and irreligious. Far from it. I believe that there is a very high tone in the majority of our schools, and, if there is not dogmatic instruction in religion, there is assuredly inculcated much of the essential spirit of Christianity. There i.s sure to he much feeling over a question which touches so nearly sacred beliefs, and we must guard ourselves from the errors of prejudice. M e must give all sides credit for sincerity, and our criticisms must bo of ideas and systems, not of men and motives. Nor is there any need for one side to suppose that it has the peculiar blessing of God as opposed to some other. There is just a danger that wo should put ourselves in the UNCTUOUS ATTITUDE and with an amusing Pharisaism thank God that wc arc not like tho poor publican who does not pronounce our pious shibboleths. This is a question upon which every man must use his reason and judgment—and give equal liberty to those who differ from him. A “Bible in State Schools League” has been called into being with tho object of introducing a certain .system of religious teaching into our New Zealand schools. Wo may be Bure that it lias been formed with the highest objects in view, and we must, whether we agree with the programme or not, treat it with respect. But let us be perfectly dear in our minds as to tho platform of the 'League which wo aro asked to support. There aro many people who aro by no means clear, and if the name were changed, aa it might hv every right be, to “.Sectarian Teaching in Stale Schools League,” they would immediately dissociate themselves from it. And yet one is as truly a plank of the platform as tho other. . With the first object of Bible instruction, though 1 see many difficulties, 1 am in cordial agreement. 1 feel that our children ought to he given the valuable knowledge which is stored up in this most wonderful of all books, and . I have no doubt that arrangements could be made whereby 1 this could he dime. Wo arc placed at a ;disadvantage in New Zealand, so far as this question is concerned, in that our teachers act under education ’boards and committees which have in their hands tho appointment of teachers; whereas in New South Wales, for example, teachers arc civil servants, and appointed by a central and not by a local authority. M T o can easily see .the feeling which would he aroused in a Bin all district if a teacher, who happened to bo of a denomination which • was other Thau that of the majority of Hho people, Were appointed, and had to .instruct tho children in the Scriptures. .Even under present conditions this sectarian element enters into tho question; and I think under the new proposals other arrangements for the appointment of teachers would have to 1)0 made. But it is tho second plank of the platform from which 1 dissent so strongly that 1 cannot he silent in regard to it. Tho League asks that we should vote for tho ministers of tho various denominations going into the schools during school hours, separating off tho children according to the sectarian predilections of their parents, and giving them sectarian instruction. This, to me, is HATEFUL IN THE EXTREME, and will tend to foster those “unhappy divisions” which all broad-minded men will do their best to heal. if it i.s desired that the minister, as a specialist in religion - , should enter our schools, then what is wrong with the excellent system which has worked for a number of years so smoothly and effectively in New Plymouth? During the two years that 1 have been in your midst, wo, as Presbyterians, Anglicans, Baptists and Methodists, have given instruction in your schools without the slightest friction; but wc have givqn it on an unsectarian basis. M’o classify our children according to standards, not according to religious persuasion and teach them thus. I maintain that the League, by binding up these Two propositions in one issue, is, unwittingly, misleading tho people. It is also disfranchising a large proportion of the electors. Tho League asks us to vote for a “salt and pepper” proposal. If a man says, “1 want tho salt of Bible knowledge for . my children, hut I don’t want the pepper of sectarian teaching in tho ■ schools,” it says to him, “Then, you cannot vote —wo won’t give you tho salt without the pepper.” I submit that such an issue is grossly unfair, and ESSENTIALLY UNDEMOCRATIC. I trust that no member of Parliament will ever agree to placing such an unfair referendum before a people. Lot the issues be divided —and there is no possible reason why they' should not be—and if tho people vote for both, ivc have then a cfear pronouncement of public opinion. But. why should our school buildings bo utilised for purely sectarian teaching I honour tho Roman Catholics for their attitude, much as I dissent from it. They say plainly and frankly that they want denominational instruction for their children —and they put their hands in their pockets and pay for it. If a Methodist or Anglican wants that for his; children —let him do the same; hut do not lot him come with appealing hands to the Stato for Help. ' ' . It will bo objected, however, that the League’s proposals are the outline of a system —a system that is stated to have worked successfully elsewhere. But why carry over holus-bolus a system which may or may not be ideal lor our laud? It is quite open to us, 1 should think, to select the best elements from any system and jombinc them into a new one, if wo so determine. I have yet to be convinced that tho system is so successful as its advocates declare. A boy once wrote an essay on Pins, and made the surprising statement that “pins had save ! hundreds of lives.” When his teach • er asked kirn. How.?, be

people not a-swallowin’ em.” In some I such way the sectarian clement has been successful in New South Wales. Taking the figures as published by the League, the Ministers of the Anglican denomination visited the schools on an average of once in seven weeks, the Presbvterians and Methodists each went about once in twenty-five. weeks; while all other denominations put together averaged only once in thirty-five weeks! It does not look as if the Churches, by their support, were strongly in favour of the system. It must be remembered that the conditions in New South Wales,, as compared with Now Zealand, are specially favourable. About three-fourths cf tire people reside in cities or towns, and are thus within easy reach of tho ministers; but here we have proportionately more country schools, which make visits dillicult. Then we have this problem before us for explanation. In Victoria, where there is no religious instruction 'n the schools, tho criminal returns are the lowest for Australia; in New South Wales, where this much-vaunted system lias been in operation for fifty vears, the number of crimes is the highest per thousand —nearly three times those of Victoria. The usual reply to this is that there was a convict’ element in New South Wales, which accounts for this predisposition to wrong-doing. But Blair’s History of Australia shows that Victoria suffered as much, if not more, from convicts than New South Wales. Whether that be so or not,.we might reasonably expect hotter and more positive results after half-a-ceutuvy of influence on tho youth of that State. When we come to direct religions activity we arc confronted by exactly the same problem. If we wore to test by Church attendance, Sunday School effort, Foreign Missionary enterprise, Victoria comes an oaav first. Why is it? Surely you are not going tb maintain that the teaching of religion makes a people less moral No; most decidedly not —but HOW the religion is taught has an undoubted effect. In New South Wales we have a perfunctory, mechanical. State mothoil of teaching upon which people rely. Tho parent naturally thinks that as the State makes arrangements for the religious instruction of youth, he is more or loss relieved from responsibility; and there is bred, thereby, an individual indifference. .In Victoria, where there is no reliance possible upon tho State method, those who are concerned regarding tho religious condition of tho people make personal effort; and so we have healtiiior Sunday Schools and a more active religious community. It is the old question of the State Church or the Free Church. Tho command of our text, "Feed my lambs,” was given to those in spiritual sympathy with tho object. It was to bo the outcome of love. And herein we touch an eternal principle. The food must come from sympathetic hand*. While, therefore, I support the first plank of the League's platform because it' will give to children knowledge which ought not to ho denied to thorn, I do not expect any magical results from such instruction. No formal, -class-method will ever put the spirit of Christ into a child. There aro some who seem to think that the mere reading of tho Bible will have some mysterious effect upon the child —just as a Muhammadan thinks that a quotation from the Quran Batoned round the neck will keep oft plague and fever —but I have no faith in such charms. But I want to emphasise to-night, as earnestly as I am able, the command of our Master, “Feed my Jambs.” This i.s primarily the DUTY OF THE PARENT, and, no matter how good a system of instruction wo may evolve outside tho home, whether in State or Sunday School, tho responsibility is not shifted from the shoulders of those to whom Cod has committed tho care of children. I am not pleading for the dreary and old-fashioned form of family prayers —though they are' better than the present absorption in worldly affairs, but 1 do ask that you Christian fathers and mothers give up some definite portion of your time day by day to tho instruction and nurture of the souls of your children. I know tho difficulty of teaching tho Bible to young children, and to read it through chapter by chapter to them is only a weariness; hut there are many and splendid helps in this direction, and tho few minutes with the Bible, can bo made both interesting and profitable to the little ones. Whatever may he your views on the question of religious instruction in the schools, make certain for your own children of a high, spiritual and sane religious training in j the home. That is vastly more imf portant than any class lessons whether in day or Sunday School —for the home is over mightier than the school.