Scripture Text-Book Association.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5094, 13 September 1894, Page 1

Scripture Text-Book Association.

— ■> Last evening a meeting was held in the Eaßt Belt Wesleyan Schoolroom to explain and advocate the introduction of the Irish text-book into the public Bchoola of New Zealand. The Bey F. W. Isifct said it was a serious thing that in a Christian land the Christian Book should ba excluded. He knew there were difficulties in tho path of this movement, but they were net insurmountable. He would accept any reasonable compromise, so long as the children came under some religious influence. Mr J. L. Wilson eaid that once ha objected to the introduction of Holy Scripture into the schools, but the textbook removed the difficulty. He thought tbo text-books were admirably adaptgd for the purpose. Ib was a remarkable fact that the text-book came from a Roman Catholic country, and Catholics should be with them in this movement. There was no force in the objection that it would np3Bt the present system. The Rev H. Williams explained at length the textbook, and stated that it had been in use in New South Walts since tho foundation of the national system there. Mr J. Smith hoped no paina would be spared iv tho agitation of this question. Mr Lilly aleo addressed the mooting.