TIMARU SCHOOL COMMITTEE. SOUTH CANTERBURY AMATEUR ATHLETIC CLUB.

Timaru Herald, Volume 2990, Issue XL, 24 April 1884, Page 6

TIMARU SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

SOUTH CANTERBURY AMATEUR ATHLETIC CLUB.

raouslr.

A fpori.il mepkinjs of tho Tim«ru Bchool (\.r,>mitte> was hell m the Board Root], Mam Schojl, )a f t Friday, to consider tlia question of Bible reading m the school, which question hud bo-n referred bick to tbe Ootimittee by tho sub-Committee (Messrs Bruce Hill, and Stone) on account of their not being able to arrange matters satisfactorily with the variius ministers. There we;?o prefoiit Messrs Gibson, Stone, Howe, Hiil, Rosliy, nnd Ingram (Hon. Sec). On the motion of Mr Gibson, seconded by Mr Howe, Mr Stone was, m the abseuco of the Chairmt.n' (Vlr Bruce), Toted to the choir.

The minutes of last meeting, and of the sab CoDiroitteo meeting held on Wednesdiiy lasl , ware read and m nfirmed.

Mr Stone and Mr Irgratn explained it length what took placo at the conference on Wednesday last bctwoen the Sub-Oommittae onil tho ir.inisle/8, a report of whioh bu already appeared iv tho Press.

Messrs Gibson and Howe wore disappointed nt finding no report from the sub-Cornruitlee on this important; question. It was usual for sub-Committees, when appointed to deal with questions, to report fully to the Oounutten on those questions and offer tome negeftion regarding them. The business of the meeting was then commenced by Mr Hilt moving— « That Iho notion of Archdeacon Harper m giving Bisle .n.truction iv the publio school, aa sanctiored by Die resolution passed on March 3rd lint bo approved, and that ho bo permitted to continue such lessons on the same system hs hir.herto." Mr Rowley seconded this. Mr Hill, m speaking to the resolution, aiid that Arohdcacon Harper had tried from t,ho beginning to initiate a system of pulilio instruction, and the otW ministers ouiiht to have followed his oxample, and tot, as it seemed, bo influenced by ft »pint of opposition to what the Archdeajon wanted to do. They objeoted to bis system, and after ho hud organised that system ruooessfully, they stepped m, oried it down, und Mid it was denominational j notwithstanding th»t the Arohdeacon had informed them at. tho ooiiforonea that he would teach do particular oreed t that ho would simply go. through tho Bible j bat that he objected to h»vo his olmmi interfered with, beoaui* bj-

doing bo all his trouble would go for nothing, and it would produce no i;ood results. The classes the Arrbieacon hid, Mr Hill imid, were two, one wa» for boye only, v-ho e>ttendod to the number of 40 ; the ot'er was for girls, and numbered 70. Surelj out of the hundreds that att.-nded the school, the other uiitiisttTs Could e^c- ! i get olasses. Ha remembered the eve.ih'2 t'-iii question was first discussed, and a remark of Mr TeggoU'i., that the other minister* had applied to be allowed to give Bible instruction just out of jealousy to Arehde&oon Hurper'o application. iTo (Mr Hill) bad since watched the niitti-r carefully and now believed t'lafc Mr Leggott'ii remarks were, sli hough taado at such nn early period, strictly correct. Jealousy was tho spirit tVnt was moving U-osa gentlouaon. If thoy really d«si?e<i t;> teach nt the soliool they could easily d> to without interfering at all with the Atohdeecon's clns?es. They could get up a class and then change ;ibeat among themselves. Archdeacon Happer had given his •word that he wsuld not introduce deroininationalism, and be would therefore say let him iilona. In fact, sbe Committee wou'd not be justified m interfering with bim so long as he kept within the meaning of the Education Act. It was ths Committpe't doty to ate thot tho e.-hool was properly tnanßged, and see that mutters went ripat. It wn« otit of th^ir power, howsver, to meddle with this (jilf'Bti"H. There was no proof, 80 far, of dec •mirationalism. The only thing the ministers said w»s that it wore v " denominational aspect" Their ideii of forming clnsses aicurdin" to standards would not work, b«ciime they could not force children to Blt'fid, and if any nhild hid n preference for one minister it was at liberty to attend hisclasa. The other mioistera' o^j'-ction was amyta, and it would only result m miserable fai'ure if tbey meddled with the chutes whioli had been nlreody formed. So far, (U he hud previously fatd. there wa» no procf of denominationat teaching, but whec this did occur it would be the .Committoe'slduty to,Btep m and interfere..

Mr Stone said Archdeacon Harper distinctly stated at the conference that he would teach children wbo belonged to any of the denomination!!, provided he budthe parents' cons;nt to do bo.

Mr Hill said m Hs classes th» Arehdoacon had get children' ot; different denominations. There were actually children attending it who belorged to no Sunday schiol, and therefore he w»a doing good m more than one direction.

ilr Bowley was of opinnn tbn resolution met the. case thoroughly. Eaih minister would by it have the same privilogos, and children conlctittend the ela»»eB they preferred.

At this stage Mr Bruce (the Chairman) Came m, and ttfter apologising for being a little late, said it was his opinion tbe ministers would not work together, and that the Committee would have to fay what course ihould be taken. He had said at tho conference that the Committee would recognise nothing shaping towards denomination&litm ; fihe teaching must bo Bible teaching pure and nirnple, and the ministers must tike the olaseos us they came, the earce as any cth?r teicher. If tho Committee, however, thought it right to introduce denomisationalism, they could do so, bat if not, and tbe minuturs wouli not agree, they mast close the door against the lot.

Mr Howe thonght the resolution before them gave undue preference to Archdeacon Harper. They must take it for granted il Archdeacon Harper assumes a position — ho had already assumed it — ha would only tiach denomiaatiorjalism j that he would Uike a certain line m expounding Bible teaching m accordance with the Church of SngLind. The fact of h-.a having got two acch classes together showed tb3t he hid a hold npon tbe children, and he (Mr Howe) was »lad to see ;>, and wished every minister had the same power. He ridiculed the remarks made about the jealousy of ministers, and said if tbe Committee threw ojien the doora to one minister, thoy really threw them open to all. Speaking of the m.inner <•( teaching, he thought arranging them m standards would only be reasonable and right, and he mentioned tho edvantafies th*t would attend such an arrsng<mcnt. He would oppose the motion.

Mr Gibson mored 03 an arjsen3ment — " CChat after attempting the introduction of Bible reading m tbe public school, and finding thn remit proriDg unnatiafacto^y, the Committee now withdraw all previous conceisiocs ami decline to allow any other subject, to be taught except the »ecul>r subjects albwed by the Act." This was seconded pro forma by the Chairman.

Blr Gibson said Air Hill bud hid great strejs on his remarks about the meuniag of the Act, but be (Mr Gibson) took it the Act was purely a secubi one. A clause bad beim inserted by the ullrareli|poua parties, but, m bia opinion, the frataers of the Act never iiitetded tbet reli(;ioa should be introduced into tbe schools. It bad been said tbe; had do power to interfere, but he contended they bal. Ha knew frotn the beginning that the- question of denomination&linn would crop v.p, and he had no hesitation m saving thai. Archdeacon Haiper was an oHra-donominationjlint. To prove it he quoted from a report oi the late Synod proceedings at Christchur.jh. The fact of the ministers disagreeing wsn cot to bo wondered at. The Archdeacon would toll them plainly that he would nol. teach with them ; that he did not recognise them as misieteis at all ; that they were minister* without a pedigree. The Oornmifcteu had, by their action, raided the denominutiooal devil •bout their ears, and tbe only safo courue was for them to allow the rcim'stars to take their children to their owa churches and teach them bj they like j. It was impossible to make everyone tlini the same with regard to religious topics, and therefore they should let tins question alone, let children meet on ouo common groucd, not create a scandal at ths fchool and do a great deal of hurra. It had been tried m many places, and invariably proved a failure, therefore be would again urgetbam U> have nothing to do witL it, simply do thenduty m a Committee as peaceub!y tie potsible.

Mr Stcnn thought they had made too much of tbe decomioalional cry altogether. He would likn to see all the ministers enjoy the same privileges. Booms had been placed at their diapoial, and if they did not like to take advantage of tbe arrangement, bjt fell out imon,; themselves, it waa only their business.

Mi Ingnim agreed with most of Mr Hill's remark?. They must do one of t»'o things, either get the ministers peaceably t) agree, or shut out Bible teaching altogithnr. He thought 10313 of the ministers hsvl shown a dog-in-tho-manger attitude. Archdiacon Harper bed shown the most spirit; m tho matter. He b&3 acted solely from reports he bad seen m the Press by going and taking cltuiaej m tho school, and the other ministers baj an equal right to do the same.

After Mr Hill had replied, the Chairman explaiced that tbe Her. Mr Gillies wsßntWellingion when the Committee passed their resolution m Marcb.and thought Mr Ir gram's remarl|a3out th» Archdeacon showing tbe.moit spirit uncalled for. The question, b.) thought, wee whether they would ullow Archdeecon Harper (o go on, throw tbe onun on the wholo of thu ministers, or ahut the school altogether. It would bo a pity if tbo amendment was carried, but speaking his own sentiments, be would rather tee it carried than sco detiominitionalism introduced into tbe school.

Mr CKbson's amendment was then put nnd loit. only the mover vo'ing for it.

Mr Hows then moved, and IS* Gibson seconded, a farther amendment as fc-lloTs : — " Ihi» Committee, re Bible reading io schools, is of opinion the interchangeable ivitera oi the rsßietort) conducting tie cldsmii is less liable to {outer a denominational spirit m the school, anil thii Committee declines to recoeniie any other mode of working i the claife* to forued to be arranged either from the standards the children are working m or by their Bibls reading capacity, an the miniateia may decide,"

On this being put to the vote Steesrs Gibion, Howe and the Chairman rolvd for it. and Meisrs Stone, Ingrurn, Hill and Bowiey against it. It waa therefore lost. The original .motion .was then put and carriod, Ihe voting tieinj: for it, Meatra Hill, Bowhy, Stone and Ingrain | agaioit it: Meaira Gibson, Howe and the Chairman. 11, wjb decided that » copy of tberosolation by neat I© all '.be miniiters. Ihe CcmojitUfl then rote.

A half-yearly general mutting of this Club was held at tho Ship Hotel on April Bth. There wan a «ood attend'irce. of raejnbers. and Mr 0. 5. Orbell, Tiee-Prcsident, occupied the chair.

The following pimons having been duly proposed oDd seconded, were elected members of the Clul) :— Messrs G. \f. Greenwood, P. Ford, R. K. Boultoo, H. B. Black, J. Sanderton, Joseph Deswick, W. Q. Polhiil, a. Coward, 11. Gtillincham, A. Johnston, T. Smdoisoo iind K. Cof.toD.

A roporl. wbb received from a »üb-Com-mittee nppcinted to deal with those matters, recommending the erection of a lean-to, 20ft by lOfr, at ihe reir of the Grand Stand, aud the engagement of n married man as resider.t caretaker. They were induced lo make this recommendation because of tlio destruction of properly by larrikins, which had put them to an expense of about £20 per annum m repair of lorki', windows, etc. Mr Meaton stated that he was on the groucd* thii previous evening, and fouud a water-tip r inning and the oinderpatb reduced to the condition of a swarcp.

After a discussion of the subjeejt, it was resolve-?, on the motion of Mr Ferguson, seconded by Mr Hamorsley, to e.dopt the report and to lutborise the Committee to hare rhe lean-to erected.

The follo'ting new rale, proposed by the Committee, w«s considered: — "That no raomber whose subscription sbiill 1)0 m arre are, or who Bha 1 owe nny money to tbe Club, will bo permitted to compete m any race promoted by the Club, or to »t'te, or to take any part at nny lieetiug thereof." Mr Woolltombe proposed and Mr LeCron seconded — " That the recommendation of the Committee re payment of subscription be adopted, to bs inserted m the place of part of RuleT., relating to subscription?, with the wonie a3ded that ' if not piid within six montha from date it becomes due, and ciusb for such non-payment not having been ibo*n io the Butisfaction of the Committee, such member ehall cease to belong to th» Club.' " Mr Ferguson moved and Mr Clulre commondalioi of the Committee re subscriptions be adopted."

On tin! anj-ndment being put, ten vote* were given for and five against it. The ainenrimejt tit adopt the rule proposed by the Committee was therefore declared carried and the motion lost.

Mr LeCren proposed, and 11 r Tosswill seconded — "Tiatthe Committee be recommended to irßert a boys' race m the programme, to be run for by sons of members, under 14, to be a handicap race."

This motion was lost by ten vateii to seven

Mr Woollcombo proposed, and Mr Hallamore seconded a vote of thaofes to the S.O. Club for their bandsom* donation of £45 to the fuoda of the Society. — Curried unani-

The cinder p«th laid down hati not proved tbe success thut was anticipated, and Mr Hamersley suggested that no further expense should be incurred m connection with it. The cinders did not bind properly, and the path was practijally a failure. A desultory cooveraation tock p ? .3ce on the sabjoct, m the cour«e of which the opinion w»a expressed (hat the cinders and the binding material used wera not of tbe right sort. Ko decision was come to as to w lat should be done.