THE Thames Advertiser. TUESDAY, JULY 31, 1888.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XX, Issue 6160, 31 July 1888, Page 2

THE Thames Advertiser. TUESDAY, JULY 31, 1888.

Tins vexed question of Bible-reading in schools was discussed in the Legislative Council on Friday evening, and as our readers will no doubt have seen. Mr Mcimes' resolution " that liible reading ju schools should lie 110 longer prohibited" was lost by 10 to 15 voles. The reading of the scriptures in our public schools, would, v.'c feel sure, not in any way tend to improve the morals .of tho children— unless the passages read were explained | by people competent to do so. As it has j been frequently pointed out, tlio diili-j .utdiy of deciding what scction of the clergy should undertake this task is an insoluble oije, and proves an olTeolire barrier to the cairying out of the wishes of those who desire to see the Bible read in the public schools. At tlio present time children of parents holding all kinds of religious views attend tho schools, and it is owing to the fact that our Education system is a purely secular one, that it is such a marked success. If the Bible were to be once introduced into (be schools, it would be at once the cause of dissatisfaction to numbers of parents, who would not allow their children to attend places of instruction where perhaps it was explained iu u inuuiwi: coil-

trary to their convictions. Under these circumstances ire think that oilo oi tlin most certain means of upsetting our present excellent system would be the permission of iiiblc-readmg in the public schools. It has been argued that scripture reading would tend to improve the morals of the children, but we must confess that wo doubt the truth of the assertion. Moreover there are churches, chapels, and Sunday schools innumerable in the colony, and in nearly every town there are clergymen of different denominations, whose plain duty it is to attend to the spiritual wants of the people. The duty of the State is to see that all children receive a sound and thorough elementary education —that they be taught to read, and write, and cipher and it is 110 busiuess of the State to interfere with the people's religion— that is a matter which the people must attend to themselves. Iu our present age of enlightenment there are able men I who Sunday after Sunday endeavour to I instruct, people in theological matters, i and that tho juvenile population should ! not have their spiritual A'anls neglected, j Sunday schools, with efficient touchers to explain the scriptures are attached to all most every church and chapel in the country. Surely this is enough, without expecting the State to teach theology i We must most emphatically protest against any tampering with the present Education system—and we consider that those who desire to introduce innovations in the direction indicated in Mr Menzies' resolution above quoted, arc not true friends either of the system, the country, or the people.