RELIGIOUS EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5501, 28 February 1896, Page 1

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS.

*_ [Peb Press Association.] WELLINGTON, Feb. 27. A large public meeting in support of Scripture lessons in schools was held tonight in the Opera House. Mr Duthie, M.H.R., who presided, said that the present Education Act had been in force for twenty years, and it could now be fairly and calmly reconsidered and examined as to whether it was for the good of the community and whether anything better could be devised. People could not shut their eyes to the fact that a very large number of the population of the colony were not connected with any church, and their children did not receive any religious instruction, And this in time must have an undesirable effect on the community. Bishop Julius, of Christchurch, moved — ""-That this meeting, while approving of a national system of education, feels that there is in the present system a grave defect in the exclusion of Holy Scripture, and the meeting therefore cordially : supports the Scripture Text-book in Public Schools Bill introduced in Parliament in 1695, and , urgently presses on the Legislature that it may be made law during the session of 1896, being of opinion that such ; system, if carried, would greatly strengthen ! the present national system of education." He was not proud of the present secular system of education. Our State schools gave a good education to the young and attempted to give moral education, but when it came to spiritual education the Legislature said they had nothing to do with that. This, he contended, was wrong. Thespiritual edu- : cation of man was of the very highest importance, as the spiritual faculty in man should control every other faculty. He believed I that it was in the interests of the State that our children should receive a thorough and all-round education. He did not ask that the State should take in hand instruction j that Should be given by the Church, but i he did hold that the State should give a certain amount of religious instruction, upon which the Church could build. All denominations were practically agreed that I they wanted the simple Word of God j taught in the schools with the aid of a textj book, containing extracts from Scripture pure and simple, and with a conscience clause forbbthteacners and children. Householders : should be given an opportnnity to say i whether they wanted this or not. He ! warmly denied that this innovation meant j the. wrecking of the national system of i education and the' introduction of denominationalism. The Rev J. Pateraon, Wellington, seconded the resolution. He said that he most thoroughly approved of the national system of education, and would resent anything that would tend to weaken it. The proposals contained in the resolution would serve to strengthen the system. Bishop Waflis, Wellington, spoke in support of the resolution, and referred to the perfect harmony that existed among the various denominations on this matter, which made him hopeful of success. He thought that the present system of educa- | tion was one of the glories of this country, and he would be intensely sorry to see it superseded. People should realise the fact that the introduction of the Irish textbook into the schools was in the interests of the present system, as it would prevent future applications for aid to denominational schools. The resolution was carried almost unanimously, only eight hands being held up against it. i , • „ • Another resolution was carried, endorsing the action of a representative committee of the clergy and laymen of Wellington who had voluntarily associated themselves to promote the object of Scripture teaching in the public schools,' and begging them to continue their efforts in this good j cause until the object was attained.