BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18480, 7 September 1925, Page 4

BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS.

AND APATHETIC CHUKCHMEN. Editorially this month's issue of "Church News" asks eoine pertinent questions of churchmen as to the support they accorded Mr Iwtt's Bill for Bible reading in schools, which was defeated reoently in the Lower House. "There has been no grea-t demonstration of public feeling either for or against tno Bill," the article states, 4 'and the organisations of the 'Church of .England,' preoccupied with their immediate concerns, have been as apathetic as thej usually are on politicomoral questions submitted to them for action. We should like to know how many vestries passed resolutions or clergy sent telegrams to the local members either endorsing or condemning the Bill. "It is well kndwn that there is a cleavage of opinion amongst us regarding the purpose of the Bill, but we should be unduly flattering if we were to say that the Dioceso or the Church is divided into two camps on the question. Between "tho two effective 'parties' if they can bo so called, lies an inert mass of church-goiiig people mixed with a vast host of nominal Christians who have this in common, that religious instruction of tho children in State schools does not interest thorn at present. This apathetic attitude illustrates the futility of General Synod resolutions. The Bill was 'earnestly commended to the people and Parliament of New Zealand,' by General Synod on behalf of the Church. The Church remained lukewarm, if not >cold, corporately and on tho average individually."