CANON GARLAND IN WANGANUI

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 12856, 16 December 1912, Page 2

CANON GARLAND IN WANGANUI

MEETING IN ST. PAUL'S HALL

There 'was ?. fair attendiance in St. Paul's Hall on Friday evening when Canon Garland delivered an address on the introduction of Bible reading into the public schools. Rev. H. Reeve presided and with hdm on the ipdatform there were representatives of most of the churches. Proceedings commenced with a hymn, a prayer by the Rev. Luxford and a reading by the Rey. Martin from tihe text book for Bible instruction in Queensland. The Rev. Reeve then introduced Canon Garland cand commented briefly on the proposal. There was overwhelming proof, he said, that the system works smoothly without sectaTian strife. Canon Garland said dt was a pleasure to speak on this subject to any

audience which wias willi-nig to listen

and to learn. The question was a most important one for on the religious teaching of the children depended the future of the State. He (believed the

education system was the better when it was controlled by the. people and the N.Z. system wanted only one thing added to it, but it was the keystone — the teaching of the Bible in the schools. Whenever this has been inserted, the more people attempt' to disturb this system the firmer it stands. All the churches save one are satisfied iwiltih this system and (prefer it to tlhe denominational. Only one church want:ed State aid for its schools, but there w&s no hope of that being granted. Canon Gariland then refuted ia stiatemen'fc that the Hon. Denhaim, Premier of Queensland opposed the introduction of the. Bible into schools as it would inevitably Idad to giving the Catholic schools State aid. That was eight

ye-ars ago and his final opinion was contained in a paper laid on the taMe in Parliament, that the Romian Catholics had no claim to State aid fior their schools, all the more so as they now had the same opportunities of going into the State schools as the. Protestants had. The Canon then •proceeded to explain what the "Australian" system is.' It was called Australian "because it had been adopted by four out of the six States. Scripture lessons would bo a'ead by the children from a Schipture roading book to be issued by the Education Dept. The teachers would bo required to supervise, treating the lessons as lessons from an ordinary leesou book and without giving religious in&tru<>tion. There had been great opposition but once tho Govt.'s book-■ wm issued there was not a word against it. On the {Literature Committee of the Education Dept. there were two Roman Catholics and ho boro testimony to the assistance which they rendered. The teacher did not teach religion, but he

taught the literature iand : the moral

lessons. There was no necessity for a confccieivo© clause for teacter®. The clergy also had the Tight,to givo instruction during the school hours. . A

conscience clause was provided which gave the (power to the /parent to say whether the child should receive the to--ligious instruction. That was the keystone of the whole situation—placing the power with the parent, the-rightful-place. Some parents did not agree- with the Bible. Their opinions might Ibe regretted, ibut they had tho right to their opinions. But to-day the minority imposed its views on fhe great majority. The League was putting forth no. new thing. The various churches were putting forth something that had stood the test of time—the Australian system. Once it had boon adopted in any State, it was never taken away. Would any system which Parliament could terminate in ia moment (have existed if d,t had not given satisfaction ? What did politicians look for? Votes". If the people were not satisfied they would return men of their way of thinking to Parliament. Not even the liabour Party bad touched at, l>ut the Hon. McGowen, one of the best mien who ever walked, supported n't. The intro? duotion of the Bible -into schools would not upset things.- From January Ist, 1904, Norfolk Island was governed by N.S.W- and the first law passed was-.to introduce the 'Bible into schools. Up to that moment there had been only denominational schools, but within two years there was not one. They were all undenominational and no friction at iall was caused. It wa6 the same in Westralia arid Queensland. The result had been tq solidify the national system. What could be done in Australia could be done in New Zealand. Canon Garland then went on to deal with some of the objections raised. The introduction of the Bible was not an innovation, but *a restoration. It was ia sorry day when the innovation wias made. There were only three English-speaking IStatea which did not imakc provision for the teaching of religion in the sohools- 1New Zealand, South Australia iand Victoria. Which would be first tto oome into line? Tho introduction of -the Bibl© into schools would not .break up the educational system. What happiened in Queensland? Every church (with the exception of the Roman Catholic) was pledged to support tho national system of education. The (Roman Catholic Church threw itself against the whole community in endeavouring to upset the national system. Oanon Garland then went on to refer to and scouted the statement that New Zealand teachers could not ibe trusted. In

Australia there was not ia case on tc-

cord of a teacher giving a lesson mv proporly. Wore the New Zealand teacJi-

ors less to b© trusted? Ho did not think so. In concluding, Canon Garland said they claimed that the Bible should ibe taught not only because dt was their religion but ibecause they were living under the Union Jack. How could it be said that the children had b&en educated ainlees they knew the English Bible, unless they know the literature on which all other literature was based ? It was part of the English constitution. Magna Charta was only tho embodiment of much that had gone before. The foundation ,was King Alfred's domes, written dn 1881. In this was included four chapters from .the Bible. The British constitution, had never been altered and was fo-ased on Christianity:

Mr W. Bruce, the Rev. J. A. Luxford and Mr Gilbert Carson, "also spoke and after a couplo of questions were dealt with a vote of thanks to Canon Garland concluded the meeting.