The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY, JULY 30, 1887. BIBLE READING IN SCHOOLS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1623, 30 July 1887, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY, JULY 30, 1887. BIBLE READING IN SCHOOLS.

Among the many questions that have for along time engaged public attention which the coming election has brought prominently to the front is that of Bible reading m schools. In looking mrough out exchanges we ara struck, not only with the number oi meetings which hare been held on this subject since the prorogation of Parliament, but also with the large audiences reported, m almost every case, to have attended such meetings. This shows very clearly that the people are m earnest on this question. We do not mean to insinuate that they have ever j shown any want of earnestness m the cause, for well we remember the storm of indignation that was aroused throughout the colony when it was first proposed to impose a godless system of education on an unwilling people. Opposition, however, was vain ior the flat had gone forth, and the secular, free and compulsory system was inaugurated by the law of the land, and by the law of the land the Bible was vigorously excluded. Various attempts were made to obtain a modification of the rules m the direction of religious instruction and failing that m the direction of Bible reading. AU thpse were sternly refused, Beaten but not discouraged, the friends of religion have quietly pursued their course, and we are glad to see that the varioue organisations formed to favor the objects they have m view, have been successful beyond anticipation, m taking advantage of the coming election to forward the cause so dear to a large majority of the people, and we have every hope that m the ensuing [session the newlyelected members will not forget the lesson that has been taught them during their electioneering campaien and will use their efforts to give effect to the earnest and ardent desires of so many of their constituents by procuring provision for Bible reading m public schools; with a time-table and conscience clause. Our sympathies are entirely with those are engaged m a noble and holy struggle against a Godless system of education; a system which gives us only stones where we ask bread; a system m which neither religion nor morality is recognised ; and a system which leaves its students, even after having passed its Sixth Standard, as destitute of any guiding principle for after uso as is the Hottentot or heathen Chinese. To call such a system a system of education is a mockery, a delusion and a snare; it is a miserable prostitution of the term. In reality 'it is merely a system of teaching which leaves its scholars, like a vessel without ballast or steering gear ; at the mercy of i the elements. I i