BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1062, 27 February 1911, Page 2

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

';•-.- -.. ---■, ~;,- .. t . . v;.:. ••.. •The Wellington Brotherhood met_ieß». terday af terhoon~aT~fhetT)ruid's j HalK' Archdeacon. Harper,; of St. -Peter's Church,'.gave an 'address on' the Bible-in-, Schools Question. He stated that practic-.' ally all. ( were together in wishing: their children' to have a knowledge; of the teaching of Christ. The 'present 'system/ allows, ministers and others to visit 4ha school out of : school hours, but the chil-: dren Jeel.it. a r punishment to be compelled to attend longer than is necessary, i There was.trouble in .England where denominational teaching ;was in force. There,was trouble in New"Zealand'wnere: there was no denominational "subsidised'-' There-was, however," peace in-New/Souths Wales and.Queensland where they had a' complete system. ;of ' -Bible-teaching f: in; schools and- were over';Sl,ooQ"Roman. Catholic _ children "in". schools. A provision : was made."in'"New South Wales that .any parent may withdraw his children from the v school while religious instruction was being given, but for'-statistical purposes , the. number 'of. notifications'th'at : 'children drawn was so ■ small ; as" to' be said not to exist.'' The-teachers were obliged, to. give, simple ißible' '.lessons.' The speaker; believed that" there'Tvas. less - likely .-,to be. religious bias in teaching from the. parable of the •: Good Samaritan than 'from thedife'andtimes of-King Henry VIH orany other: period of English'history, >fot he was convinced that history;, could not be taught without reference to the part the Church of the time played. In answer to questions' Archdeacon Harper said the New South Wales text book was .rather too antiquated- to be introduced here., Hearty thanks were given, to Harper l for' his address. . ~*.- -- ■ ■•:•'. - < Next Sunday Mr. E. Arnold, J .P., will give en 'address. "■';'■_ ;►.";•■ i;> , V-