The Wanganui Herald. [PUBLISHED DAILY.] FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 1910. BIBLE READING IN SCHOOLS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXV, Issue 13059, 29 April 1910, Page 4

The Wanganui Herald. [PUBLISHED DAILY.] FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 1910. BIBLE READING IN SCHOOLS.

subject freely discussed at many of the leaseholders’ meetings held throughout the Dominion on Monday last was the [uestion of introducing the “Kelson sys;em” of Bible-r'eading into 'the State iohools. Considerable interest was taken in the subject in some of the cities, and .u some cases the meetings were packed iy the Bible-in-schools promoters. At Auckand, where the subject was introduced by afferent members of the Auckland Minis„ors’ Association, the proceedings were of x lively character at two or three of the neotings. At St, James’s Hall, Welliug:cm Street the householders by 300 to 13 refused to allow the matter to he discussed, the chairman contending' that if ;hey wanted to consider the matter of lible-roading they should call a meeting <f householders for that express purpose: . le ruled that Monday’s meeting had been called for the express purpose of electing, i School Committee. At Ponsonby the dev. G. Bond questioned each candidate is to whether he was in favour of the ‘Nelson system” of religious instruction a schools, and the election resulted in the eturn of some favourable to its introduc:ion and others opposed to it until the hectors at largo had declared themselves a favour of it. At most of the meetings ,;i other parts of Auckland resolutions avouring the Kelson system were carried vith little or no opposition, though Korth;oto rejected it by 38 to 28, 20 abstaining from voting. At most of the meetings icld in Christchurch the desirability of providing religious instruction in schools ■vas affirmed, though in one or two cases, rs at Waltham, for instance, the houselolders very emphatically objected to any, interference with the present system. The majority of the Wellington householders -vho were present at the sparsely-attended noetings on Monday evening were likewise lympathotic with the “Nelson” system, diough one teacher—Mr W. T. Grundy, of Hyde Quay School (years ago a denomi'.ational master in Birmingham)—very emphatically stated that ho was not going :o allow anyone to come into his school uk! give religious instruction, even if his tetion meant his resignation. At only two iF the meetings in Dunedin and suburbs vas the question of Bible-rcading mentioned. In one ease a petition was placed m the table for signatures in favour of .utroducing Bible-reading, and at another —Port Chalmers—a clergyman expressed -lie cordial appreciation of the local clergy ionoerning "the hearty co-operation of the icachmg staff in connection with the liblo-rcading class hold before school muis. Deferring to the “Nelson system ” it may be explained that it derives the rame from Nelson because it was first introduced in that town about ten or twelve /ears ago. It is really a compromise upon a perplexing question—the addition of religious instruction in school hours to the regular syllabus; and under it the school w ? ek is reduced by half an hour on one

day in the week—from 25 to 24 J hours — the other half-hour bein'' devoted to Bible-rcading and csplanati-.a. Ibis means that on one morning in the week school does not open until 9.50, although in reality the children arc in attondanco from 9 o'clock. Of course the children are r.ot compelled to attend the Bible lessons, and it is claimed that these who absent themselves (and they arc very few) by direction of their parents are not allowed to suffer oh account of their conscientious objections. The whole system is optional. No School Committee is compelled to adopt it; no child is required to attend the lessons if its parents object; • The lessons are given by other than tlia teachers—usually ministers in the district, who agree among themselves as to the bread basis of the instruction—and the teachers. are not necessarily even present during the lesson. Judging by the results of Monday night’s meetings, in at least three of the four cities there appears to be a big majority of hour; holders in favour of the modified “Nelson system.”