BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9222, 29 April 1908, Page 1

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

«. VIEWS OF AN AUCKLAND CLERGYMAN. [From: Our Correspondent.] AUCKLAND, April 28. Writing to the " Herald " on the question of Bible teaching in schools, the Rev W. Beatty (vicar of St Mark's, Remuera), says: "During the twenty-two years of my residence in Auckland, this question has been under discussion in ecclesiastical assemblies and at public meetings. Ido not see that any real advantage has been made, that we are any nearer to a solution of the difficulty. During the same period the prohibition movement has made great strides, and serious changes have been brought about in the laws affecting land and labour, and this in the face of vigorous opposition by those whose interests were at stake. In many constituencies the views of a can- | didate ior Parliament on any or all <-f | these last questions would seriously affect his prospects of success. Is thero any constituency in New Zealand in which a candidate's views on ' Bible in schools' would further or hinder his election? Is there any definite proposal for the alteration of the v Education Act which commands the enthusiastic .support of a. substantial majority of" Christian ministers? If there is, I am not acquainted with it. A good many Anglican bishops and clergy want church teaching, not Bible teaching; a' good many Nonconformists desire that religious teaching and secular teaching should be rigidly separated. See-, ing that during so many years nothing practical has been achieved ,-and no workable proposal evolved, 'I think there was ground for the assertion that the said agitation was largely insincere and artificial." Mr Beatty quotes a number of^ facts in support of his statement that bishops and clergy are not fitted for carrying on the work of religious education consistently and successfully. He_ says: "Bishop Neligan organised a Bible in Schools League, which was to work wonders. Several headmasters of public schools in and near Auckland Avent on the committee, numbers of Bibles were purchased and sent to the north for the use of schoolmasters who promised the bishop to give scriptural .teaching to their scholars and expressed devout thankfulness for the opportunity. That League is dead, and the headmasters know why it died. It is very much easier to use rhetoric about paganism than to join heartily in united Christian