BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19165, 23 November 1927, Page 2

BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS.

1 DISCUSSION IN ASSEMBLY. Some time of the session of the Presbyterian Assembly last night was devoted to the question of the Bible in Schools, the opening remarks being made by the Rev. J. Pater son, of Wanganui. Mr Paterson, in introducing the report of the Bible in Schools Committee, said that those connected with the campaign in New Zealand had refrained from arousing strife in the community. However, the position at the present time had changed. The opponents of the proposal, led by Bishop Cleary, had tried all possible means to defeat those behind the scheme. The time had come when the gloves should be taken off, and in December a Dominion-wide campaign would be launched. The speaker did not hesitate to say that the onus for that strife would not bo on the Bible-in-Schools Council. Because the opponents were loud-spoken and full 'of abuse, they had been given more support in Parliament than was war-, ranted by members. The Bible-in-Schools Council had taken a referendum among parents, and the parents had declared by great majorities that they wanted what was proposed by the Council. He (the speaker) . wanted members of the Presbyterian Church to support the campaign 1 to be launched soon. The position had been made clear, but had been misrepresented by those opposed to the principle. The idea was that the boys and girls of the Dominion should be taught the contents of the Bible. They were merely saying that an education system which left out Bible teaching was inadequate and ridiculous. Clauses had been inserted in what was now known as Mr Isitt's Bill to meet all possible objections. It was the business of ministers of the Church to teach religion. They did not ask the State to teach religion, and they were not asking teachers to teach it. That was laid down in the Bill. What was asked simply was that part of the education which children received should be a knowledge of the English Bible. ' The speaker hoped tbat his Church would not be sidetracked into giving religious instruction out of school hours. After some discussion the Assembly agreed that while in favour of Bible teaching in schools, it was prepared to consider from every aspect the Nelson scheme.