BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1576, 21 October 1912, Page 10

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

THREE EPISCOPAL UTTERANCES. BISHOP SADLIER'S VIEWS. In his address at the opening of tho Anglican Synod of tho Diocese of Nelson on Thursday last, bishop Sadlier said: Tho Uiblo in State Schools' League' desires to nroservo . tho present system and to inako it national, in fuel: us well as in mime. Tho Irajuo's objective isto ensure tho reslonitiou ill the public schools of Iho Dominion that .system which has existed in New South Wales sincD 18li(i, in Tasmania, since 18IJ8, in Western Australia since 381)3, and in Queensland since 1910. If wo nro to gather wisdom from other religious and political communities, muy we not certainly conclude that inasmuch as this proposed system has bceu tried and found effective in four States, it might bo well to try it in .tho Dominion? Tho proposed system throws the responsibility of religious instruction in State Schools upon tho individual parent. Neither, the Stato nor tho Church will have- the power to compel, any child to receive religious instruction contrary to tho will of the parent. Tho system . consists of 6implo Scripture lessons read during, school hours by tho children from a book provided by the Department of Public Instruction, exclusively for this purpose. Tho work of the Stato school-teacher is restricted to seeing that tho child understands the lesson as intelligently as any other lesson. The teacher does not give oitiier sectarian or dogmatic teaching. The Churches have the opportunity afforded them of sending their ministers of religion or other accredited teachers into the schools during ochool hours to teach the children tho faith of their fathers in their respective denominations. Will this system work? The answer is that it is working in other Stales without friction. Where it hns been introduced it has never been disturbed, a fact which clenrly indicates that it meets with, tho approval of the majority of tho people. The fact cannot l>o questioned that for nearly half a century in two States—Now South Wales and Tasmania—these lessons have been given regularly and satisfactorily, and no teacher has ever refused on the ground of conscience or for any other cause to (each the- lessons prescribed. The same may be said of Western Australia and Queensland, since their acceptance of tho plan. Again, it seems to mo a most extraordinary thing that facts such as theso seem to have no weight in the controversy, whereas they aro vital to the whole discussion. 1

BISHOF AVERILL. Tho Anglican Bisliop of Waiapu (Dr. Avcrill) made the following reference to the Bible-in-schools question in his .iddress to the Synod of tho Dioceso of Waiapn on Friday: — We desire the education, not. merely tho instruction of our children. Wo desire to put a solid foundation underneath tho ethical teaching which is doubtless given in our schools by tho teachers, liecausc we believe that morality without the sanction and motive power of religion is unstable'and certainly beyond the power of a child to grasp or appreciate. We desire that our children should grow up as useful citizens, and as citizens, who see something deeper in Empire.than self-in-terest, and we cannot look hopefully to the'future unlosstho civic ideal is considerably higher than at present, and is it likely to rise higher unless allied with solf-sacrifico and devotion to duty, ill: spired not by a (lead cods of morality, but by devotion to a living Person and Master? If education is supposed to be'a training and preparation foj; life, can any system of education bo equal .to such a task which fails to train and develop the conscience and will and which seeks to divorco the sccular from the religious? Wo shall in due course ask- tho Government to permit the people of this Dominion to decide whether tho? wish the education of their children to bo secular or whether thoy desiro to bavo ft recognition of God in the schools and tho highest of n.U sciences, viz.the scienc-e of God, taught. Judging bv the latest religious census return, nearly three-quarters of the peopleof tho Dominion are nominally at any rate, and as far as their representative assemblies can pledge them, in favour of an amendment of the provision in . the Education Act of 1877 which requires that during school hours "the teaching shall b'o entirely of a secular character." Havo wo not n Vigilt. therefore, to a?l( for a referendum on the subject? _ Our first duty is to support and promote the 1 league ill every part of the diocese, and to work in close union with our fellow Christians of all denominations. Wo must loyally accept and support the whole scheme, and if necessary sink our own.likes and dislikes with regard to details. Wo must remember that success can only be attained by real effort, real self-sacrifice, real' devotion to principle, and unfailing optimism.

BISHOP CKOSSIiET. . The Angliqan Bishop of Auckland (Dr. Crossloy), also referred to tho question in his' addro« to the Auckland Synod on Friday. Ho raid:The matter is now being placed before •tho public. AVo have the advantage of a skilled organiser in Canon Garland. In obedience to out General' Synod, to the voice of this Synod, I call upon every man to be uri and doing. Now is tho moment to speak, to work, and to pray for the New Zealand that is coming. A meeting of the Women's Branch , of "Bible-iri-Schools League" will be held in St. John's Schoolroom at 3 p.m. on October 21. .