BIBLE-IN-STATESCHOOLS.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14986, 5 June 1914, Page 3

BIBLE-IN-STATE-SCHOOLS.

PUBLIC MEETING AT PAPANUI

J In support of tho Bible-in-State-j Schools League a well-attended meeting j was held at Papanui last night. Mr C. JE. Salter presided. j Tho chairman said he understood that one side of tho Bible-in-&chools question had some time ago been explained in So. Paul's schoolroom. It was desirablo, he thought, that '"the other sido" should also be heard. In the course of a lengthy address, the Rev. P. X. Knight, late of Victoria, the new minister of the Durham street Methodist Church, said there were some questions which should be taken out of the hands of the party I politician, and one of them was that of tho Bible-in-schools. He would admit j that the fiscal question, tho military j controversy, or matters of railway policy were subjects best left to experts, but he could see no reason why tho public should not decide tho Bible-in-schools question for themselves. Ho thought the time had come when that question should bo settled by other than politicians. "I don't \aluo the opinions of a politician." ho exclaimed. "They are not honest. So many subjects are questions of party policy, and there is such interlocking, that there is no politician in the country absolutely honest as to his convictions. \ou don't know what they think; you only know how they vote." Tho speaker went on to advocate the various planks in the League's platform. In conclusion, he claimed that all Christian people should be united on tho Biblo-in-schools question, since it was religious indifference which was their common enemy. An address was also given by the Rev. H. Williams, of Opawa. On the motion of Mr J. C. Adams (chairman of the Canterbury College Board of Governors), seconded by Mr A. Corby, the following motion was carried unanimously:—''That this public meeting, held on Thursday. June 4th, in St. Paul's schoolroom. "Papauui, in the electorate of Ricearton. which has a written League membership of 3327, nlprjjres itself to heartily support the Bible-in-Schools League "platform, and requests that a referendum be taken thereon. This meeting re-ords its protest at the inaction of the Government in this matter, and urges upon it tho necessity of granting without further delay the people's request for tho referendum, fearing the effect of such delay would bo to cause the question of , religious instruction to bocomo prodominant at the next general election, to tbo overshadowing of narty and other questions, a course which the League has sought to avoH, desiring to keep this matter free from all party issues."