BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXII, Issue 12796, 30 September 1905, Page 4

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

To the Editor of the " Timaru Herald." Sir. : -As ]Mr 11. A. Wright is to speak on the' subject of Bible in Schools to-morrow night might I ask that he specially give us some b'ght- on the Boman Catholic aspect of the question. I ask this not as an opponent to the movement, but as one representing a large class who sincerely need light on the subject? Some time back the Catholic bishops then .asse&bled at Wellington issued their manifesto, which by the way was the best and _sanest thing yet set in type on the subjept, and so far I hare neither read nor heard any equitable answer to it. Would it be asking tbo much to request. Sir Wright to deal point by point with the articles in that manifesto ?. The explanations no doubt- would be reported , in the Timaru papers, and others like myself who could not "attend to hear the address cpuld probably get some- help in they matter. What -appears passing strange is this. Almost- to a man the nonconformist clergy in: Kew Zealand sympathise strongly with the Passive Kesisters in the old . land, who are refusing to pay'rates that go to the support, of an educational system that is against their interests-. Yet in this colony forsooth these same men who pity the Kesisters in. England would thrust the same injustice upon the Catholics of this colony by compelling them to pay rates and taxes that.help to support an educational system that is diametrically opposed to their religious training and beliefs. In questions such as these we must rise out of our peculiar views and cabined beliefs to a higher altitude, and there view the whole question • by getting things, intheir right perspective. The point is not "what I would like," or "what I believe about the Bible," but "what-is: just and fair,"

The special tenets - of the Catholics axe as precious to them as the sectarian views of any .other branch of'the- Christian Church are to others. -We all by training -and temperament accept our religious colour .through glass of varying tints, Wild it seems to me in a colony such as this, where there- are so many sects, that we need to leave all religious things strictly to the churches and let the State adhere strictly to things secular. If this wish of .the " Bible in Schools 3 * party is ever successful, then in all justice the. Government; must give a substantia! grant for Catholic Schools. We must ever give to others the same" libertv of thought in religion, politics, or aught else, wHich we like to enjoy ourselves. As Mr Wright is here and is the mouthpiece of -the party, he may accede to this wish and give us some light on this special aspect of the question. We all know the children need religious instruction and are deplorably ignorant of the Scriptures. These are commonplace truths. It is the thorny i parts of the question that need dealing with. ; I am, etc., , ~ „ JAS. H. fi. CHAPPLE. .. '.Manse;. St. '-Andrews. -