BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14972, 20 May 1914, Page 3

BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS.

WOMEX WORKERS CONFER. PROGRESS OF *TBE MOVEMENT. (SrECI.VL TO "THE FKESS.") "WELLINGTON, May IJ>. Tho women workers of the Bible-tn-Schools' League in the Wellington district conferred yesterday, a' dozen interest jng speeches being given, showing the excellent progress which the movement is making, and the good reports coming from town and country. Miss Greenwood strikingly sketched the present day • limitations of the State school teacher, who attempted to give the best, moral teaching to an intelligent heathen child of ten years. Sho (the teacher) could give him no proof of the future life. As for the difference 'twist right and wrong, sho could not speak 01 the power of a holy spirit as an aid to right u::oorstanding. • . . ■

-Mrs Menzies quoted the protest of tho Hod. Dγ Mcnzies in the Legislntive Council against tho'Edm-nfion Act passing in its secular form". '• We lind." Jig said, "'that many petitions have been presented to the Legislature upon this subject. The oppressions they contain show 'that over a very larse extent of oo::niry and in many districts the mcv.t cherished feelings of the community have been outraged.by the banishment trom the schools of that Book which in the words or the petitioners they regard as the word of God. and the supremo rule of conduct. I protect against the Education Bill, on the ground that it was against tho wishes of tho people. (Sicned by John, afterwards Sir Johu Hal!. Premier, and Hon. Dr. Mcnzies.") Tho speaker said that live times hor husband endeavoured to introduce a Bill restoring the Bible to the schools. As an example of the great importance- attached to the teaching of the truths of the Bible at an early age, Adjutant Mackay. of tho Salvation Army, mentioned that at a-recent conference of throe hundred ottk-crs from all parts of Now Zealand, it was found that, two hundred were converted before tho age of eighteen, fifty even before the ago" ' of, -fourteen, j IHo recognises] the platform of the Bible in State schools League. ;.-s J the very best proposal possible. While desiring religious insimetiou, it should not bo forced on any child against the wishes or the parents, lie "fe.H it a matter of duty as regards their own , children lo .spar- no riitort io get the Bible teaching iv sohoois an a part, of the ordinary school curriculum!' 'It was a very ■ necessary purt of a . complete education which had three tides., men-

tal, moral, .-md spirituuJ. Soveral other'speakers roporfe'd that in isolated districts and busy dairying communities. ■ the parents p had no' leisure .in which to provide their •(-■hi;dron 'with religirms instruction, so that tlwy strongly fo!t the need of. some form of Bible teaching m schools. The country workers had-to. como to -the cities to take a hand in the industrial trouble beforo they could get' their produce away to the London market. The. sanio men believed thnt. if they put their hand to. the question of the religious instruction of their children, they could, with equal effectiveness, eecuro their desire.