BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1418, 19 April 1912, Page 4

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

» CONFERENCE AT CHRISTCHURCH, (By Tclogrtph—Frcu Anoolitlon.l Christchurch, April 18. A conference of Dominion Church R* presentatiyes was hold to-day, regarding the Bible-in-schools question. The following wero present .—Anglican: Tho Primate (Bishop Novill, in tho chair), Dean Fiteliott, Dean Harper, Archdeacon Harper, Canons Garringron and Sedgwick, Revs. Burton, Purclias, and Hemland. Presbyterian: Tho Revs. Dr. Gibl> (Wellington), Davis (Duncdin), Tait and Mackenzie (Christchurch). Methodist: 'I ho Revs. Laws, Rotliwcll, Buttlo, Lawry, and J. A. Flesher. Primitive Methodist: Tho Rev. S. Henderson. An apology was received from Brigadier Gist of tho Salvation Army. Tho conferen:o was convened as tho result of an informal conference held at Christchurch in June, 1911. It was reported to tho conference that tho Anglican Synod, the Presbyterian Assembly, and the Methodist Conference had formally accepted the main principles of th« New South Wales system, and had empowered their delegates to enter into negotiations for a conference and joint action with the representatives of other denominations.

• It was moved by Dean Fitehelt, seconded by Dr. '.libb, and carried, that tho general statement of policy affirmed by resolution at tho last eonierenco bo reatlirmed, and that tho conferenco eonstituto itself a league to carry the resolution into effect. Tho resolution referred to 18 as follows—

"That this conferenoo approves of tlio general principles of tho system of religious instruction which obtains in New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, and West Australia, and commends it us tho only practical solution of tho problem of religious instruction ill tho State schools of New Zealand."

On tiio motion of Dr. Gibb, seconded by Mr, Davis, it was resolved that tho lcaguo )jo known ns tlio Bible-in-Schools Leagno tf New Zealand, and that all Biblc-in-State-schools Organisations already in existenco bo invited to incorporate with tho new league. It was decided that tho headquarters of tho executivo bo for tlio present in Christchurch, and that an Executivo Committca of oGicors of the lcaguo and 20 others bo appointed. . It was agreed that tho policy of tho lcaguo be to appeal to tlio Legislature for a referendum, to lx> carried out on tlio lines of tlio 'Queensland-'referendum, in 1910. The question of appointing an_ organising agent was referred to tlio Executive Willi power to act. , , Tlio following officers were appointed: President, Bishop Nevill; vice-presidente. the Anglican Bishops, tho Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Cinu'ch, the presidents of tho Methodist and X'rimitivo Methodist Conferences, tho officer commanding tho Salvation Army of Now Zealand, tho chairman of tlio Concreeational Union (subject lo Ins consent), Dean Fitchett, Dean Harper, tlio Kevs. Dr. Gibb, It. E. Duius, and .T. .1 ollv, tho Methodist chairmen of districts, and tho chairmen of the local •branches of the lcagu*. § Tho Rev. •!. Mackenzie v«s appointed secrctnij l ' was appointed to approach various local clergymen and laymen with tho view of securing tlieir scrvices on tho executive. Tho general feeling of the couferenca was that tlio meeting represented on cpooh in tho history of ; tho movement, and that tho timo was ripo for nn appeal to public opinion on tlio whoio <iuestion«