Bible in State Schools.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume III, Issue 10, 1 April 1913, Page 141

Bible m State Schools.

At a meeting oi women workers m connection with the Napier branch of the above, helpful addresses were delivered by the Rev. A. Hodge and the Rev. J. H. Rogers. Reports were received, and signed cards handed m, together with subscriptions towards the working expenses of the League. The ladies hope soon to complete the canvass of the whole of Napier. So far the result of this work has been most encouraging.

Extract from " The Lighter Side of My Official Life," by Sir Robert Anderson, who from 1888 was High Commissiober of Scotland Yard :— " What explanation can be given of the fact that such friendly relations bind together all classes of the- community, from Princes of the Blood to the poorest of the poor ? It is a national tradition, we shall be told. No doubt ; hut how is such a tradition to be accounted for ? It must be due to some cause which, if not peculiar to Great Britain, has operated here with peculiar force. Only one such cause can be suggested. A process of negative induction will point us to the influence of the Bible m moulding! our national life and character. For m a wholly peculiar sense and degree we have been

for centuries " The people of the Book," and this conclusion receives striking confirmation from the fact that present-day tendencies to class hatred and class war Jiave developed side by side with a movement to disparage the Bible, and to dethrone it lroin the place it has held for so many generations m the estimation of the British people." The number of visits paid m State schools m New South Wales by clergymen or other religious teachers, as furnished by the Education Department of New South Wales, are as follows : — 1905. — Church of England, 23,769 ; Roman Catholic, 797 ; Presbyterian, 7150 ; Methodist, 7873 ; other denominations, 7387 ; total, 42,476. 1906. — Church of England, 24,090 ; Roman Catholic, 1127 ; Presbyterian, 6837 ; Methodist, 7279 ; other denominations, 4371 ; total, 43,704. 1907. — Church of England, 25,661 ; Roman Catholic, 1100 ; Presbyterian, 7292 ; Methodist, 7654 ; other denominations, 4766 ; total, 46,478. 1908. — Church of England, 24,701 ; Roman Catholic, 1032 ; Presbyterian, 7143 ; Methodist, 7604 ; other denominations, 4441 ; total, 44,921. 1909. — Church of England, 24,977 ; Roman Catholic, 936 ; Presbyterian, 6920 ; Methodist, 8301 ; other denominations, 4542 ; total, 45,676. 1910. — Church of England, 25,209 ; Roman Catholic, 840 ; Presbyterian, 7132 ; Methodist, 8430 ; other denominations, 5094 ; total, 46,705. 1911. — Church of England, 26,101 ; Roman Catholic, 711 ; Presbyterian, 7452 ; Methodist, 8800 ; other denominations, 5536 ; total, 48,600. The number of children enrolled who attended these classes were :-r-----1905. — Church of England, 107,165 ; Roman Catholic, 29,662 ; Presbyterian, 23,811 ; Methodist, 28,295 ; other denominations, 14,857 ; total, 203,790. 1906. — Church of England, 108,866 ; Roman Catholic, 30,419 ; Presbyterian, 24,279 ; Methodist, 28,9,51 ; other denominations, 15,226; total, 207,741. 1907. — Church of England, 113,226 ; Roman Catholic, 32,673 ; Presbyterian, 25,221 ; Methodist, 29,970 ; other denominations, 15,479 ; total, 216,670.

1908. — Church of .. England, 113,728' ; Roman Catholic, 32,544: ; Presoyterian, 25,119 ; Methodist, 2y,85u ; other denominations, 15,47>9 ; total, 216,720. lyoy. — Church of England, 113,733 ; Roman Catholic, 31,378 ; Presbyterian, 26,124; Methodist, 29,742 ; other denominations, 15,29(5 ; total, 215,273. 1910. — church of England, 116,0y0 ; Roman Catholic, 31,755 ; Presbyterian, 25,478 ; Methodist, 30,03* ; other denominations, 15,180 ; total, 218,537. 1911. — Churcii of England, 119,371 ; Roman Catholic, 31,940 ; Presbyterian, 26,324 ; Methodist, 30,7(>y ; other denominations, 15,199 ; total, 223,603.

Opponents of the Bible m State schools attempt to make capital out ot the regulations m New South Wales prohibiting teachers from taking a prominent part m sectarian or political affairs, and, argue that this regulation exists because of the religious instruction m State schools. Such opponents, ignore the iact that an exactly similar regulation exists m Queensland, and has been m force there for 30 years, when there was no religious instruction. In Western Australia, we believe, there is no such regulation, although religious instruction has been m existence Ithere for the last 20 years. It is perfectly plain, therefore, that the existence of religious instruction m the State schools has nothing whatever to do with the regulation. Moreover, those who argue that such a regulation is a result of religious instruction unnecessarily alarm themselves m saying that liberty is curtaited m the directions which they specify. Where this regulation is m force, teachers are members of Anglican Synods, Presbyterian Assemblies,. Methodist Conferences, and other governing courts of Churches, where they publicly speak, and no instance has ever been known of the Department saying that such teachers or inspectors had transgressed the regulation. Teachers likewise are members of permanent standing committees, Diocesan Councils, Elders' Courts, Connexiotial Committees, as well as of Parish and Circuit Committees. In active Church work, teachers are organists, Sunday school teachers and superintendents, members of the C.E.M.S., and kindred organisations m other Churches, and m the case of the

Church of England teachers serve at, the, altar, and m all Churches are members of choirs. These facts have been . amply demonstrated by public statements of the teachers themselves, some of which have appeared m the New Zealand newspapers. It will be seen, thereiore, that the regulation, where it does exist (and we emphasise that it has nothing to do with religious instruction m State schools), is only applicable m such cases as would make the teacher's action offensive to the parents of his scholars or bring him into the sphere of a recognised minister of religion. It is regarded by most teachers as a protection, not as a restriction.