The New Zealand Tablet. Fiat Justitia. FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 1881. THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS, OR GOD AND MAMMON.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IX, Issue 428, 24 June 1881, Page 13

The New Zealand Tablet. Fiat Justitia. FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 1881. THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS, OR GOD AND MAMMON.

aaE^ffiHE Bible-in-Schools Association have presented •/iggMr their petition in Parliament, and the petition, jUHK' coming as it does from the Bethel, has beon very V&SfflZj* fitl y presented by the Bethel's worthy representaSJK£ij& tive in the Government, that is the Hon. Thomas *m&* The stronghold of the petition is, as it was to be expected, the majority, the idol of the hour,

and in the worship of which our " Evangelical " friends are united, as indeed they are in other respects also, with the wild atheistical mob of the Revolution, from one of whose writers we lately gave them a quotation to serve towards their edification and encourage them. That there should be such a thing as justice in the world never seems to strike them, but, even if it did, they would despise that contemptible thing a minority — none but the many-handed should obtain aid ; none but the loud-voiced be heard. In the second clause of their petition, then, our suppliant pietists declare themselves " deeply impressed with the conviction that disastrous consequences are certain to result from the exclusion of the Bible from the public schools." Is this the conclusion from serious study, or has it come of a pious belief ? If it be the result of study, it would seem to differ from the fruits other people have reaped of their investigations. We were, for example, told the other day that many millions, of Bibles have been distributed throughout Germany of late years by the British and Foreign Bible Society alone — not to speak of all that Protestant Germans must have become possessed of otherwise. And what is still reported of the people who have read these Bibles ? We quoted lately from the Edinburgh Review certain details of their condition and their irreligion and immorality are found there to be the things they are most remarkable for. " Disastrous consequences " have followed here notwithstanding the superabundance of Bibles spread abroad. Again, in another column of our present issue we give figures from a non-Catholic source to show how among Bible-reading peoples suicide is vastly mor« a custom than among peoples who have not the " open Bible." In London, again, among a population largely instructed in the Bible, we are told that there were recently in existence 16,000 women who had murdered their children. And these are all cases in which "disastrous consequences" have occurred. But if we come to individuals we find it still the same. Who, for instance, could have been better versed in the Bible than Professor Robertson Smith, excommunicated a month or two ago for heresy, and surely the Bible-in-Schools Association will admit that heresy in the Kirk is a most " disastrous censequence." If our friends, then, argue as they do a little further on in their petition — and concerning which argument we shall have something more to say also — that since a certain section of their fellow-colonists are dissatisfied with the schools as they stand, it cannot matter to them if they be changed still to their dissatisfaction, we may with equal logic argue that since "disastrous consequences" have followed on the reading of the Bible, they may be viewed with equanimity when they follow on its exclusion. But to come to the clause with which we are principally concerned ; it runs as follows :—: — 6. That your petitioners believe that no injustice will be done to parents who object to Bible-reading in public schools by its reintroduction, inasmuch as the larger part of those who oppose it are equally opposed to the present secular system, and to any national system of education which does not provide aid to denominational schools ; and with respect to the small minority of the parents who are perfectly satisfied with the present system, their rights will be £ Sfi^SS^ Z & co °« !ienc e clause permitting parents who object to Bible-reading to withdraw their children during the time fixed for Bible-reading, without prejudice in other things. It is very hard for us to believe that these petitioners believe anything of the kind, since they give a reason for their belief that they have been told, over and over again, is not true. They have been told frequently that there are many features m connection with Biblical schools that make them even more objectionable to us than the secular schools themselves. For us they are equally godless with the secular schools, while they are still more strongly aggressive against the Catholic religion. No Catholic child attending such schods will be safe from the attempts of " Evangelicals " to pervert him, and a long experience of their pious tricks enables us to know intimately how clever and persevering they are in this matter. Biblical schools are sure to be hot-beds of bigotry m which Catholic children will he continually subject to insult and petty persecution. As we said again, in an article lately published by us, their establishment would offer a premium for the oppression of Catholic parents. Catholic teachers whatever might be their abilities, would be excluded from them, and their establishment here, while the attendance at schools is compulsory, would be a partial re-enactment of the penal laws repealed by the Imperial Government— inasmuch as it would establish the compulsory attendance of Catholic children at schools distinctively; Protestant. Oace more

there would be the injustice, akin to that of the Tithe of old in Ireland, of taxing us for the inculcation of a religion we have no part in. Our money would go to aid in paying teachers and building Rehools for the purpose of teaching Protestantism, and to insist upon this would be an injustice so glaring that it must strike even the dullest intellect. We cannot believe that any hon. member, not blinded, like the Minister who presented this petition, by an insensate bigotry ; or not trading upon his piety, can for a moment give such a proposal his serious consideration. Meantime, it is still most instructive to find how these people, who profess themselves so anxious concerning the disasters to arise from the exclusion of the Bible from the schools at which their children attend, have all this time kept close their purse-strings, and provided no better system for their children — the "disastrous consequences " would be far preferable to this. It will, however, be a genial task for the Hon. Mr. Dick to try if he cannot persuade Parliament to permit his pious clients to include God also in the service they have hitherto so exclusively rendered to Mammon. Should Mr. Dick succeed in having the services united, he will rise above the common level of the Bethel of which he now forms a merely ordinary ornament, and for thus bringing about an improvement on Christianity, declared impossible by its Founder, he will deserve to have* his memory handed down to posterity as that of a most accommodating pietist — the least of his rewards "will be to have engraved upon his tombstone the coat-of-arms of the Bible-in-Schools Association — the symbols of the united God and Mammon — a close-shut purse and the " Word " without price.

The Industrial Exhibition now being held in the Garrison Hall, Dunedin, is most euccessf ul as showing how completely the Colony is capable of relying on its own resources, and how independent it should be of importation. Nothing can exceed the excellence of the articles of colonial manufacture there on view. For material, construction, tasteful appearance, and enduring qualities they are unsurpassed by anything of the kind that can be found elsewhere. Among the most striking exhibits we noticed the furniture shown by Messrs. Guthrie and Larnach, and Messrs. A. J. White and Co., of Christchurch. Both of the firms in question have a show of upholstery that would do credit to any establishment in London or Paris. Some cabinets especially to be found in their compartments are extremely beautiful. Mr. A. Walker, of Dunedin, exhibits one of Davis's sewing-machines at work, and close by is one of Wanzer's, also busily plied, so that visitors may have an opportunity of studying the relative merits of both. Messrs. Barningham and Co.'s grates and ranges are especially deserving of mention, and speak volumes for the Victoria Foundry, where they were cast ; they are not rivalled by any imported goods, and are much cheaper. Mr. Robin has a handsome assortment of vehicles, remarkable for strength, finish, and elegance of form. Mr. M. Fleming shows a case of his celebrated boots and shoes. Mr. Donaghy has a variety of ropes and cordage of very fine quality. The exhibits of Messrs. Watt and Company, and Mr. Sinclair, are also highly creditable. It would, however, be quite impossible for us, in the space at our command, to make a pretence of commenting on, or even mentioning, anything like the whole of the exhibits, suffice it to say they are without exception most creditable to the exhibito^ and such as the colony generally may be proud of. The Exhibition was opened last week : most noticeable feature in the opening being the recital by Mr. Thomas Bracken of some fine lines composed expressly by him for the occasion. Mb. Fboudb who is, when rightly considered, chiefly notable for his falsification of history and calumnious treatment of every subject that has not hia good will, has now distinguished himself by being false to the trust confided to him by a friend who is dead, that is the late Thomas Carlyle. We fancy, however, that in this instance truth has gained by Mr. Froude's falsity ; England, indeed, has loßt an idol, or hat an idol sadly marred with patches of clay let in among the gold of which she still considers it to be constructed, but, at least, human nature is revealed to us in its naked deformity, and amongst its highest natural gifts we are enabled still to discern its entire pettiness. Mr. Carlyle, it seems, was in the habit, so to speak, of making sotto voce remarks which he by no means desired the public to hear* and these it is that Mr. Froude has published— bitterness, envy, egotism, such, we find, was characteristic of the sage. Mr. Froude has, indeed, acted a false part, as, nevertheless, it might rationally have been expected, but no condemnation of his falsity can mend the matter, for Mr. Carlyle's fault lay not in having his jottings pub. lished, but in his ever having made them, or entertained the thoughts that prompted them — the wish to conceal them savoured, moreoveri somewhat of deceit. Meanwhile it is not without its use for us to am that the universal satirist had in himself something deserving

of satire, and that his mould was not altogether removed from that in which had been cast those whom he declared to be " mostly fools." An extraordinary outbreak has occurred in Marseilles, occasioned by the attack of the members of an Italian club upon French soldiers returning from Tunis. Two hundred Italians have been arrested, and the excitement caused in Italy is intense. It does not seem probable, however, that any hostile movement between the two nations ooncerned will follow. Italy is too well aware of her weakness to risk a war with France. Nevertheless in her present unnatural condition it is hard to say what she may not undertake. Thk English Government, it is said, have been disturbed by the operations of Fenians in England and America so much as to induce them to make representations to the Government of the United States on the subject. So far contemporary history has not made us aware of what it is the Fenians have been doing. The depopulation of Ireland still continues ; 250,000 people have disappeared since the census of '71 was taken. Such are the fruits of Britiah rule and of the reign of landlordism. No pestilence has ever been so effective. We are told the Government are meeting the views of opponent! of the Land Bill so as to facilitate its passing. Does this mean that they are adopting the amendments whose end it is to neutralise whatever elements of good the Bill has it it ? It at least looks like it. Meantime the proposals of the Irish bishops will be found in another column, and they are well worthy of consideration. By. the mail which left Dunedin on Saturday we forwarded to the address of Mr. Patrick Egan, Treasurer of the Irish National Land League, Paris, orders on the Bank of England for the sums of £100 (first instalment of the collection at Dunedin) and £21 12s 6d, subscribed at Charleston. There was also forwarded to Miss Anna Parnell the address drawn up in accordance with the fifth resolution passed at the Dunedin meeting, and a copy of which will be found in another column. We see that Miss Parnell had commissioned Mr. J. W. Walshe to win the ladies of Australia to the cause, and we have no doubt that it will give her much satisfaction to receive evidence that ladies in New Zealand are already its strong supporters and sympathisers. The report of the Commissioners in connection with the Otago Central Railway has been published. The conclusion arrived at is the following :—": — " As a whole, we have been deeply and favourably impressed both with the present and latent wealth of this important and magnificent district, and we cordially recommend the completion of the Otago Central Railway as not only being an absolute necessity for the prosperity of the existing population, but as in itself holding out every prospect of a lucrative return, and being certain to exercise a beneficial influence on the future progress of the colony. In our opinion it is a matter of colonial concern, which should be removed beyond the region of local jealousies or prejudices, and should command general support." We find the following instances of exceptional landlordism in the Freeman, and consider them deserving of special notice :—": — " John Vandirkist, Esq., agent to Lord Limerick, seat the rent-warner around amongst the tenants on his lordship's Clare estates who hold farms under him at the Government valuation for years past, to say he whs prepared to make a reduction of 30 per cent, on the present rent. Such generous acts in such times are worthy of publicity. While on part of the same estate, which is unfortunately in the hands of what is termed a middleman, some of the tenants are compelled to pay the rack-rent of double the Government valuation, and have received letters from the attorneys threatening them that unless the rent due up to and for the 25th day of March, 1881, together with 6s 8d costs, be paid on the first day of May, they will put their claims into the high courts, but consenting to the paltry reduction of 10 per cent." A letter signed by three tenants on behalf of themselves and others runs as follows :—": — " At the present time, when the allengrossing topic is the land and landlordism, it is a pleasant thing to be able to record acts of kindness on the part of the landlord, and the tenants' feelings of gratitude which must necessarily spring from such acts. Here in Clare, in the month of March last, on the property of Colonel Vandeleur, the rent due on the Ist May, 1880, was demanded. The bulk of the tenants attended and simply asked the kind-hearted agent, Francis B. Keane, Esq., what he intended doing with them. The unhesitating response was the accepting of the rents at the Government valuation, accompanied by the intimation that such tenants as were then unable to pay, would be granted not only thiß indulgence, but also the very important one of an extension of time to clear up their liabilities. If such acts as these were universal, there would be no necessity for a land agitation ; the best feelings would subsist (as ought to be the case) between landlord and tenant, and our poor country, instead of being a by-word among the nations, would be happy and prosperous," A propos of the strict enforcement of quarantine consequent on the outbreak of smallpox at Sydney, we have heard of an instance in I which a ship, which arrived in Port Jackaon some years ago with the

disease in question on board, and which was consequently subjected to a long quarantine, had been met some distance off the Heads by a butcher's boat from the city. Three men from this boat came on board, and, having spent some time there, returned to the town. The pilot and Customs' officer nevertheless, the latter of whom had barely come over the ship's side, were condemned to endure the quarantine imposed upon the passengers. We may add that neither of the Government officials had been on the ship when the butcher's boat met her. But so much for the strict observance of quarantine. Another Freethinker has lately sent for the prießt. M. Emile de Girardin was reconciled to the Church before his death. Nevertheless, M. Gambetta attended his funeral, and orations were made over his grave. The Freeman gives the following instance of brutality — the brutality that has within the last ten years depopulated Ireland by another quarter of a million people. Verily the strength of British Government is fierce, although the «• full strength " Mr. Matthew Arnold speaks of be reserved for a while :—": — " One of the cruellest incidents yet revealed in connection with an eviction is that resulting in a coroner's inquest in Monaghan, on Saturday last. A northern jury found themselves compelled to attribute the premature confinement of the wife of an evicted tenant on Lord Rossmore's estate, and the death of the infant, to the terrible mental excitement produced in this poor woman by the presence of the bailiffs at her bedside. We abstain from comment — for we could not trust ourselves even at this distance to comment, perhaps, with due judicial calmness— upon the conduct sworn to at the inquest. The evidence of Dr. Woods is most conclusive. The bailiffs themselves refused to act ; and the man who could be exacting at such a moment must, indeed, be callous."