BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

Wairarapa Age, 28 July 1930, Page 4

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

AGREEMENT BETWEEN LEAGUE AND CATHOLICS. STATEMENT BY REV. BLAMLRE6. Interest in the agreement between the Bible in Schools League and the Etonian Catholic Archbishops is very keen. The Rev. E. O. Blamires, New •Zealand Secretary of the League, referred to this agreement in his address last night. The opposition of the Reiman Catholics had been withdrawn, he said, on the understanding that, in any Bill the League might be influential in introducing into Parliament, the consciences of Roman Catholic teachers and children should be protected by providing a general exemption for them from participation in the Bible lessons, and, further, that Roman Catholic taxpayers should be freed from paying any part of the additional expenditure should such bo involved in introducing Bible lessons into the schools. The exempted pupils would be given separate secular instruction while any religious lesson was proceeding. The League had no hesitation in granting the exemption, as part of its policy was to exempt for reason* of -conscience. The provision for exempting Roman Catholics from •payment f<»r religious lessons in which th«»y did not participate was in harmony with the principles of Free Churchmen in England years ago who refused to pay the education tax and organised a passive resistance movement, because their consciences could > net approve the methods of religious training then operant. Those Who fought and suffered under such circumstances could hurdly refuse exemption under similar conditions to Roman Catholics. Mr. Blamires paid a tribute to Archbishop O’Shea, with whom principally the negotiations of the League representatives had. been carried on. His frank straightforwardness and unfailing courtesy had won from them unstinted praise,, and the conciliatory.spirit shown had made possible the happy conclusions arrived at. The question cf State aid had been thoroughly weighed by both parties in the agreement, but did not enter into the decisions. The League's representatives knew perfctly well that the Roman Catholics would not change the convictions they held that for the secular instruction given in their schools they had a claim on the Government, but with frankness equal to that of the Hierarchy concerned stated that they could not allow this claim to be a factor in the agreement in any wajr. No change of conviction in this respect was expected on either side. Apart from the question of State aid, therefore/the proposals had been made anc| accepted, and the final outcome was entirely satisfactory. Especial appreciation was shown of Archibshop Redwood's closing words in his manifesto, wishing the League “God speed in carrying out their proposals.” Some of the differences that had been an obstacle for the past fifty - years in the way of introducing the Bible to its proper place in education had now been settled. The settlement would have great political significance, land the religious import was fax-reaching. Prejudice must be overcome and intolerance. and bigotry receive no countenance, The forces of religion had the common foe of secularism to fight; and it was reasonable as well as Christian to recognise the many paints of agreement between Christians of all churches. They could all approve the ■principle of the closest association of religion with general education; no Christian who understood child nature could conscientiously uphold an entirely secular education, and no nation could be truly and permanently great while life was based on a secular principle.