The Doctor Scores.

Observer, Volume XIV, Issue 793, 10 March 1894, Page 3

The Doctor Scores.

The people of Auckland have been much interested during the past week in a somewhat warm controversy that has been proceeding between Dr. Laishley and Canon Mao Murray on the question of the use of the Irish Scripture Lesson Books in our private sohools. Both gentlemen have written ably, but there is no question whatever that Dr. Laishley has hold of the right end of the stick. He has certainly made out a very strong case against the placing of these lesson books in the hands of a child — much less their study in mixed classes of boys and girls.

The doctor has furnished a dozen examples of passages from the Old and New Testament that in his opinion should not be made the subject of class lessons for very young people. They are, as he says, grossly improper teachings for children, and even if the Scripture Lesson Books were admitted to our public sohools to-morrow there are very few parents who would be willing to have placed in the hands of children of immature and innocent minds these cullings from the more indecent passages in the Scriptures. They are certainly not fit or proper subjects for young children to study, and it would be shameful to have young girls reading them out before boys. Nothing could be more destructive to their innocence and feminine delicacy.

Canon Mac Murray defends the insertion of suoh passages in the Lesson Books on the ground that it is desirable to teach to the young the lesson that the body is the temple of the Holy Ghost and should not be defiled by adultery, fornication, and bo on. Well, is it not possible to commenoe such instruction too soon ? and is the proper place for it before a mixed assemblage of young boys and girls, some of whom, at least, would not know anything of such things and none of whom would read the passages quoted without a blush ? I question if Canon Mac Murray himself could read to a congregational sewing meeting one of the passages quoted by Dr. Laishley without blushing. Ido not care to quote them in theße columns, but here is, at least, an example. Reference is

made to the rite of circumcision, and one of the words to be explained in the leßson for the day is ' circumcision.' And this to a class of boys and girls. Dr. Laishley is right. The Irish Lesson Books, in their present form, are unfit to be read in any public school.