RELIGIOUS EDUCATION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12776, 21 October 1919, Page 5

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION.

SYNOD OPPOSES CHURCH SCHOOLS.

AN ASSOCIATION CRITICISED,

The debate upon Canon Wilford’s motion regarding religions education for the children of the diocese was resumed at yesterday's sessions of the Anglican Synod.

The Rev J. de B. Galwey concluded his speech, which had been interrupted by an adjournment. Mr T. Hughes emphasised the necessity for religious education at the “ plastic ” ago. He said he thought that the religious education of children was a trust of ' the Church. It was their duty as citizens to make the State educational system as good as possible; it was their duty as churchmen to establish Church schools. He deprecated the critical attitude which some had taken up in regard to the assistance given by the Association of tho Love of God. The Rev H. Purchas said that he was opposed to the Church schools scheme. He disliked a system of training young children to a particular religious sys» tern which might not have appealed to them had they grown up in freedom of religious thought. He did not wish to criticise the Roman Catholic Church, but they all knew that much of tins Church’s power resulted from its educational system. It drew in the children while they were young, and trained them carefully to the Church’s system, so that they never kngjv freedom of religious thought. Religion should be introduced into the home, amongst the heads of the families as well as amongst the children. He thought that a Church school system would be disastrous to secular education in small centres. There might be, say, five miserable little schools of different denominations and one secular school. None could be successful, and the expenditure would bo large. He held the view that the Church school movement would create a narrow party spirit and intensify tho jealousv and rivalry between the different Christian denominations. It would iuvolve enormous expense, labour and difficulty, with a minimum of real religious sain. In dealing with another phase of the subject, the speaker said it was only the other day that a member of the Synod said to him that nothin? had so much harmed tho Church cause in country districts, and driven people away from Ohurca, as the introduction of ceremonialism, which was making such rapid advance. He could not conscientiously approve of the Association of the I.ove of God. The Rev T. M. Curnow said he thought that the Rev Mr Purchas had gone hardly far enough. It all depended upon the manner in which the children were trained. There was no objection to bringing up a child to a particular religion, provided that it was a right one. Ho deprecated any introduction of sectarianism. The Rev F. N. Taylor said he was glad that Mr Purchase had been so candid. * The suggestions of party had hitherto been rather nebulous, but now the subject had been treated openly. "With regard to the allegation of party he thought that there was a deplorable sense of humour on the part of some members of Synod. The suggestion that tlie educational board, which had been elected by Synod, was a party board, seemed to him ludicrous. They might as well call the Synod -a party organisation. The fact that tho end of_ the Roman Catholic church’s educational system was an undesirable one did not to him seem to present a stumbling block to the scheme of church education under discussion. Referring' to an allusion by a previous speaker, he said • that there were all sorts of. “ Fagins ” who desired to " get ’em while they were young” in Christchurch. It was the duty of tho Church to ho militant in this direction also, in order to save the young from being trained in the wrong way. Mr 0. C. Jones vigorously defended religious education by the Church. Too much attention had been given to the adult in comparison with that given to tho child, he said.

The Rev J. R. Hewland said he thought; that the English character had largely been termed by Ohnrch teaching. Ho could not understand Mr Purchas’s point that Church schools would intensify sectarian strife. If they so much feared sectarian strife why not close down the churches altogether? W hat was the a obiection to the teaching of the Church Catechism, which was the teaching of the Bible? He repudiated suggestions of party motive, saying that tho only motive behind those who were supporting the church school system. . was the love of xi urged a vigorous pursuance or the Church school project. TheJßev 0 Perry said he would be glad if Synod would* lay down a Church school syllabus. Something rnust be done to get their children into church. Many children who attended his church school did not regularly attend church services or Sunday school. In lus opinion a general rule should bo l A' d down that children attending Church schools should attend in a church at least once a week. Mr G. M’lntyre said he hoped that the church education board would do its best to foster Sunday school teaching. The Roy S. Hinson said that if thev really believed in their church' it folowed that they must, favour teaching the faith to their children. ° Mr T. Rowe sa id that there were certain parts of the church education board s policy concerning which b c had grave doubt, but he thought that it should ho given helpful criticism. He thought that money was being wasted upon certain church hostels. For instance he thought that the establishmcnb of tho Bishopscourt Hostel was altogether too premature, and that they should yet consider the advisability of closing it down and putting tho money to better purpose. He would have liked to see the accounts of the board, and to have had a. more definite deliverance upon its policy. At the evening sitting Canon Millord, m subscribing finally to the dis-cus-ann, said that he wished to see the children given that religions trainino- in Their school life which had been his"lob in schooldays. He saw other churches at work on the religious education oi their children, and he believed the Preshistorian Church had made great advancement in that respect in"” the last five years. But he looked to the Church of England to reach the top of the tree. Ho realised that money was wanted by tho people for many things. But he suggested that money tvas not wanted for the purposes to which it was being put, largely in this country, ! namely, luxury, gambling, and so forth, 1 but rather for. the providing of the means to help in the religious educa- | iion of children whose parents could not afford to pay for church day school education, and such like matters. It was only the church that could save the children of the land, and in. that spirit he asked the Synod to give its decision.

The motion was carried unanimously, and was followed by the Gynod engaging in prayer, and Bishop Julius invoking Divine blessing in the carrying out of the work.