ZEAL AND PEETENCE.

Observer, Volume 6, Issue 155, 1 September 1883, Page 3

ZEAL AND PEETENCE.

Amidst the endless babble and din of contending theologians and secularists over the " Bible-in-Schools " question, it is quite refreshing to see a little wholesome light shed on the question by practical and unbiased minds. People of all creeds and shades of opinion, who have watched the struggle from ati independent stand -point, have long harboured grave suspicions' as to 'the, thorough sincerity of' the majority of tfrtfsie who-

have 4 been mpsfc $lai|ip ; foussia^Ke|r f'dftijinc^atign of " tsl-ddless ?edfi'b\tf&4" afadMtfeir Bible^r§adikig v in the schools], at least as w ilie motives, by which they professed to be actuati|d. It has been subjpected that the ostensible attack is only a feint, mere smoke, to' cover, an -organised onslaught on the system itself, with a view to its destruction, and a return to denominationalism. The majority of the clergy have hot yet become reconciled to State education, or to the new system which deprives them of the control of the youthful minds, and consequently of the men and women, by means of intluence in the schools. " Religion," says a modern writer, in. his preface to Edgar Quintet's " Religious Revolution of the Nineteenth Century," "religion ia not only the basis of education, but its very principle, and no education that ignores the religious sentiment will ever successfully compete in influence with one'of which that sentiment is the main object, even though plainly inferior in all technical points and radically corrupt."

In other respects the cry about the want of facilities for religious instruction in the schools is hollow. It is used to cover the apathy of the churches. We base this opinion on the notorious fact that the clergy as a body have not availed themselves, and do not even now fairly avail themselves of the facilities offered for religious instruction. Let some one take a census some Sabbath of the clergymen who actually attend and assist in the Sunday Schools. How many of them have attempted to impart religious instructions in the cammon schools when the way was open to them to do so ? In Dunedin a conference has organised a regular system of attendance, but even there the clergy as a body exhibit a disposition to shirk their duties. A reporter for the Dunedin Stay has recently been interviewing the teachers on the subject of religious instruction, and he gathers, as a reflection of the views of the majority of these teachers, that there is great danger, if they give their assistance to the clergy, of their being ultimately left to do the work mainly themselves. Says one teacher " Some of 'the clergymen engaged in the woi'k have even stated that they had little doubt that after a short time they would get the teachers brought in to take the burden of tke work. They, get you to assist, for example, and by-and-bye they come in, and give you a pat on the head, say 'you are doing very well indeed,' and ' you will not need my help,' or ' If I should not be present on such a day you can just carry on the work yourself.' Then gradually their visits would get like those of angels — few and far between. I should like to see the clergy recognising this as one of their first duties, namely, looking after the religious instruction of the young. I would regard it for my part as quite as important as their ministrations on Sunday. They should set to their work and •do it as one of the main parts of the minister's duty, and not seek to throw the task off their shoulders on to any , other shoulders whatever."