Bible in State Scools League

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume V, Issue 7, 1 January 1915, Page 76

Bible m State Scools League

The Executive of the League expresses thankfulness at the progress made and which has resulted m thirty-six members being returned to Parliament ready to support the Referendum asked for by the Churches constituting the League. ' The Executive draws attention to the fact that all along: it has urged that the subject of Religious Instruction m State Schools should be kept out of the political arena. Had the Referendum been taken at the recent General Election it would have been settled independently of the political questions which were before the country. ... Those members of the late Parliament who accepted the doctrine that the Referendum principle was not applicable to this question, because, according to its opponents, it dealt with a religious subject, must . therefore carry the full responsibility for any political situation .arising" therefrom. The League takes this opportunity to reiterate its conviction that adenquate provision for the religious and moral training of the young is the only sound foundation for the continued good government and prosperity of any country. The I/eaefue believes that the surest way of makin? the. National system of education permanent, is by affording to all parents an ejqual opportunity for. their children to have Bible reading and religious instruction as an integral part of their education. The League believing that the children's welfare is of permanent importance, will continue its work, until the people, as the sovereign tribunal, are allowed an opportunity by their direct vote of accepting or rejecting the proposals made by. the Churches m the League. ' The Executive hereby reaffirms its continued confidence m Canon Garland, whose leadership it

trusts will continue until our end is achieved; and desires to express its appreciation of the great services he has rendered to the Movement, especially. by the ability and courage with which he has dealt with the many difficulties and determined opposition with which we have had to contend. The Executive places on record the fact that m the thirty-seven, years since its inception the Movement never before has acquired so large a measure of. success or attained to such a prominence as it at present holds. . .' , i The Primate m the course of a sermon preached n Dunedin on Sunday, December 20th, on the Gospel for the day, made the following reference 'to the recent pastoral letter of the Bishops :— " The Baptist's voice is heard m the appeal of the Churches to the rulers of the land to prepare the way for the fuller teaching, of the Word of God, that future generations may see more clearly than the present generation does that the sordid pursuit of material interests alone tends to degradation and not to enlightenment, and) that it^ is the best policy as well as the highest privilege of the Government of any Christian country to prepare the way of the Lord. The pastoral letter of the Bishops to their own flock was also an echo of the Baptist's voice. I hear, without surprise, that many persons are disturbed by the apparent consequences of the issue of that pastoral. Whatever influence it miay have had upon the election of members of Parliament, it does not prove that the Bishops were wrong m their doings any more than John the Baptist was wrong, although his utterances were not well received, and the Pharisees were indignant and made bitter accusations; I know that many excellent persons and friends of my own are greatly grieved at the outcome of so large an obedience to the Church's voice. I know that there are many attached members of the Church who are bringing the charge of unwisdom against the action of their leaders. I will not make my answer here to-day, but I have one word to say to those sincere ones who are' perplexed and ready, perhaps, to think they made a mistake m following the suggestion of their leaders. I say, doubt not, God's day is not as our, day ;

immediate results are not always the final 6nes. "Elijah was "distressed ; John was done to death ; their adversaries seemed to triumph, but John had raised his voice m the wilderness and the God-man came forth, and coming forth the blind and deaf policy of the Jewish nation was m due time overthrown. The God-man is m the world to-day. The faithful Church may suffer, but she mnist discharge her mission, must raise her voice ; even m the wilderness ) must cry " Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make His paths straight ! "