PROTESTANT CONDEMNATION OF SECULAR SCHOOLS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 32, 8 December 1893, Page 31

PROTESTANT CONDEM NATION OF SECULAR SCHOOLS.

(Sydney Freeman's Journal, November 25.)

Thk Melbourne Argut of Monday gives prominence to " the case againit the secular system " as put forth by the Bey Canon Potter on the previous day at AH Saints' Church, East St Kilda.

The Canon contends that there are 70,000 children who are not receiving religions instruction in the day and Sanday schools. He says :-

Well, then, what becomea of. the 70,000 ? No doubt the grtat bulk of them are growing up without any religious teaching at all. They are learning to believe in Jesus Christ just as much and just as little aa they are learning to believe in Mahommed or in Buddha. Now here is a very serious fact. I want you to think well aud to ask yourselves what it means to you.

You will say, perhapß, cannot they be got into the Sundayschools? Or, cannot they be brought together for religious instruction elsewhere, or some other day ? The answer is, We can only reach the children through their parents, and although the parents would nearly always prefer that Borne religious instruction should be given, they will not insist upon their children going elst where to receive it.

"Ob, but," some people say, "you ought to be able to induce the children themselves to come and learn." "Ob, but," I answer "if you want your son taught arithmetic, do you say to the schoolmaster, • Try and persuade him to coma and learn. I can't get him to go to school, but I shall be glad if you can.' " And that is just what is the matter with the 70,000. Their parents, on the whole, would rather they should receive some religious teaching— they would rather, but they don't really very much care. And so they let them do as they like.

I am well aware that tha present sLate of this question, with religion excluded from the State schools, makes it more nrgently needful that we should extend our Sunday schools and other means of religious teaching as far as ever we cao. But I know also that we never will be able to get the children of indifferent or careless parents to come regularly to each teaching. As sure as you keep religion out of tbe Biaie school curriculum, so surely you doom a full third of the children of the colony to grow up in absolu.e ignorance of tbe Gospel of Jesus Christ,

Will yon consent to 7 Will you approve of ? Will you sit still under? Above all, will you profit by sach a condition as this 1 Will you say this public system is a great boon, and saving, and convenience to me, and I know that my children are taught religion at home and in Sunday school, and— and— l can't help the other people's children? God forbid that you should say that. For that is just Cain's word, '• Am I my brother's keeper ? '

If we let this thing go or, quietly saving money by it, and never lifting up our voice against it or trying to do anything to stop it, then, as sure as there ia a God in Heaven He will reckon with us for the consequences. You believe that in Jesus Christ is the only way to righteousness and life. Will youcmsent to have a third part of the children that are growing up around you hopelessly shut oat from the same belief ? I beg of you to think of this matter as members of Cbnsf, and as free and responsible citizens of the kingdom of God. If you think of it so your thoughts will bear fruit in action, and y. ur action wi.l help to turn the ti<ie which now threatens to overwhelm so large a part of the rising generation in the w^rst kind of ignorance and unbelief.