The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1887. BIBLE READING IN SCHOOLS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1722, 29 November 1887, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1887. BIBLE READING IN SCHOOLS.

Much as we sympathise with the object which the friends of religious teaching have m view, we cannot give them any hope of achieving even the slightest modicum of success m the present Parliament. The division list shows this too plainly and this too after a debate extending over several hours. The first member who spoke m opposition to the Bill was Mr Reeves (Inaogahua) who failed to see the object of the Bill as School Committees had already got the power if they chose to avail themselves of it. This we fancy arose from Mr Fulton having omitted the words "m school hours " when explaining the object of the Bill. Next Mr Goldie opposed it as introducing denominationalism; he also argued that if the Bible were read as proposed — without comment— -it would lead to a large amount of irreverence. I We fail to see now the simple reading of the Bible, only those children attending whose parents desire it, could possibly introduce denominationalism. Catholic children as a rule do not attend the state schools so that there would be only those of the Jewish faith who could possibly object and the attendance of their children is not made compulsory, no child being compelled to attend without the consent of parents or guardiat.s As to causing irreverence we cannot see how such a charge can lie against the Bill. If it did, all we can say is that the fault may lie with the teacher, if indeed he were not the cause of such irreverence. If the latter we hold that he is not, however, talented, fit to be entrusted with the l education of children. Such aie the miserably poor arguments which form the slock m trade of the opponents ot Bible Reading m Schools. We do not say that they do not believe m them, for we admit that they may have worked themselves up to that pitch, but we do incline to the belief that they are merely advanced for decency's sake, as they feel impelled on that score to make some show of arguments. We despair of any, even the slighest, concession from them. They seem to have forgotten, if they ever knew, the teachings ot Holy Writ. By them apparently the lesson sought to be inculcated by the dealings of Jehovah — that "jealous God" of whom most of them m their youth must have read — with his own peculiar people, the Injunction of the Saviour of mankind — " Suffer little children to come unto Me and forbid them not," and the awful denunciations, he pronounced against those " who caused one of these little ones to offend," are scorned or ignored. How many "little ones" theie Godless system of education has caused, or will cause, to offend, we leave them to settle with their own conscience.