The Wanganui Chronicle. AND PATEA-RANGITKEI ADVERTISER. "NULLA DIES SINE LINEA." MONDAY, MARCH 2, 189G.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXVIIII, Issue 12123, 2 March 1896, Page 2

The Wanganui Chronicle. AND PATEA-RANGITKEI ADVERTISER. "NULLA DIES SINE LINEA." MONDAY, MARCH 2, 189G.

BIBLE- READING IN SCHOOLS. Local option in the matter of Biblereading should, we think, commend itaelf to everybody. And this, we understand, is all that is claimed by tho present promoters of Scriptural instruction in the State schools of the colony. It is asserted that the greatmassof the people are in favour of Bible-reading. If that be so, who is to deny them what thoy'wanh And what better way can be suggested .of ascertaining definitely what they want than submitting the question to the rote of • tho householders in* the various localities ? At the public meeting held in Wellington en ■ Friday Bight we notice that tho Eev. W. Baumber, pastor of tbe principal Wesleyan Church iu the city, -expressed the belief that, if the questiou could be fairly put to the fathers and mothers of this colony nt lonsfc 80 per cent, would say they wanted the Bible taught in tliopublie schools. Bishop Wsllis adduced what he considered satisfactory proof, not merely that tlie people were with the promoters, of the movemont, but that in a short time Christian men might be joined together in -unity. He pointed to the fact that, a short time ago, a canvass was made in Palmerston North, in favour of the proposal to introduce a Scripture text-book into the schools, and tha result was that Il62peoplo signed iu its favour and ill declined to sign. At the public meeting .in Wellington the platform was occupied by leading clergymen of the Anglican, Presbyterian, and Wesleyan bodies, and the chair was filled by Mr John Duthie, M.H.R. Mr Dutliio had just previously expressed his opinion on the subject with some emphasis at the meeting of the general assembly of his own church, and on Friday night .he reminded the meeting that when before the electors five years previously he had spoken in favour of some Scripture lessons being given, and he was still of the same opinion. "They coald not," lie' said, "shut their eyes to the fact that many children were not receiving any religious edncation whatever, and the result could not fail to be generally folt by the country as a whole." The Rev. James Paterson, the wellknown Presbyterian minister, who is a member of the Wellington Education Board, declared that "the readers used in the schools were permeated with religion, and the moralß of the children were well looked after by those in charge of them, but it was not right that tho Word of God and religious instruction should bs entirely excluded from the subjects taught." Tho principal speaker was Bishop Julius, of .Christchurch, who closed a lengthy speech with the following remarks : — " All denominations were agreed that they wanted God's Word taught in their schools — not denoms inatioual teaching, bnt tho Word of God taught and explained, with the aid of a text book, with extracts from Scripture pure and 1 simple, taught >by tho teachers with a conscience clause for both pupils and teachers ; and further, that the householders should be given tho option of saying whether it shall bo taught or not." With the latter proviso we should think everybody would be satisfied.