"THE NATIONAL SCHOOLS DEFENCE LEAGUE."

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1626, 18 December 1912, Page 8

"THE NATIONAL SCHOOLS DEFENCE LEAGUE."

AND ITS ALLEGED EXPERIENCE. Sir,—lt is interesting to observe how this curiously-named auti-Bible League sets up'speakers to denounce clergymen as hindrances'to "real education," "evils in schools," and "promoters of poverty; stupidity, and ignorance (why . not crime, too, as per unproduced statistics?), whilst the nest day it becomes enthusiastic over one who has not only written a book against these schools, but calls Roman Catholic children out of them. It is a queer National Defence League. That Roman Catholics refused to jojn the former league upon, principle seems to have been forgotten. Bishop Cleary proposes'a number of logical puzzles after the fashion of the "Achilles and-tortoise" problem, of which the difficulty, such'as there is, "solvitur ambulando." The question is a practical one, and Bishop Cleary suggested no other practical solution. Had he done so, his suggestion would have been considered. *, Secularism is not a satisfactory solution except for secularists who dictate the theory that the State must know no Christian doctrine or dogma. Tho State schoolmaster by this theory must, in answer to the question, "Is there a God?" reply, "I don't know, and as a child of tho State.you are not allowed to. know," and this is intolerable. Mr. Atkinson proclaims that "religion and; politics make a bad blend." So much the worse for politics and politicians. It is of the essenco of Christianity to permeate and not to allow., itself T to bo shut up in a compartment by itself. If the State cannot provide for instruction in religion, it writes itself an incompetent educator, for religion is an essential part of education. Let.the league ask Bishop Cleary if,this is not so. . A well-known secularist politician once refused to join in tho National Anthem on a State occasion. He was consistent, for. if tho secular theory is true, what has politics to do with "God save the King"? And if our system is not absolutely secular, it is not absolutely compulsory. Tho league affirms that it is, but would not daro to make the system so. Let tho league to be consistent, and then it will learn that the theory that forms the basis of their secularism is unsound.

I have before me a- copy of the old league's pamphlet, and what is there one of the present speakers repeats. The same old gags about "lip-service" and "heresy hunts" aro worked off again, and other dismal prophecies are renewed. It is much easier to prophesy than to speak from things' that have happened. One man was however put up to sneak from a long experience, but ho afforded no means of verifying his experiences. He was many years a teacher in tho Bishop's School in Nelson, but seems to have omitted definite reference to the school. If they were acquired there, thon his speech is an attack upon :Bishop Suter and tho clergy who worked with him, on the ground that they obstructed "real education," were no friends to the teacher, wanted to be "on top," and that their presence in the school was "an evil." As somo readers may think that the experience referred to in the speech was hero, a few words about'the clergy may disabuse their minds.

' Of Bishop Siller's interest in art and education thero is no need to speak. Ho was not tho man to promote sectarian trouble, and was so extremely tolerant that ho once selected an ardent Wesleyaufor headmaster of his own school for church children, because he had found a good secular teacher who had worked for and obtained his degree. The Rev. G. H. 'Johnstone was not the man to "sit upon" any teacher. He was a fine classical scholar, with a been interest in secular education, and c.ver ready to adviso and help willing students freely.- Tho

Rov. James Leighton did not allow or wish religious instruction to obscure tho secular. Ho served on local committees of tho secular Slate-schools, and his attitude may be further scon in tho training given to his son, who was not only religiously educated, but became qualified as a motlicpl practitioner, and is an acknowledged authority ilj, his own department of science. Archdeacon Mules (afterwards Bishop) was a brilliant mathematical scholar. So little.' did he press forward religious teaching to the prejudice of tho secular■• that when he found tho State school well equipped with scholarly masters-, ho gave up the unequal struggle, and allowed .tho Bishop's. School to cense. The Rev. Samuel Poole (once incumbent of St. Peter's hero)-was a prand man of unusual all-round scholarship, and was always glad to place his host services, without any reward, at the command of willing students. Ho took immense interest in secular education. On ono occasion when a falling picture narrowly missed his head, he rattled olf to the writer, who was present, half an .Odo of Horace, appropriately chosen, I>3foro one could-say a word. He would at ■times recite Homer and other classical authors without tho least effort, in a way that some lay advocates of "real education" might envy. Surely the Eev. Prank Simmons was not "an evil" in a. school? Mention his namo to any old college boy, and you will learn something of tho wonderful admiration in which he was .held, something too of his noble qualities, and his permanent influence over the boys for good. Ho could, in a few moments convert any bitterness amongst boys into lasting resppct. Only a few days ago an old boy'told me how he and a few other approved boys had started reviling and abusing Mr." Simmons. This occurred just under his window, and in this the bovs, as often happens, were thoughtless. To tlieir great consternation the window immediately opened, and Mr. Simmons addressed the boys, quietly urging them that if they were going to discuss him he would rather they discussed him at a distance, where, he could not. hear what f.h?y said. Not a word more was said, even in the school, but things went on just as if nothing had happened. The Viys were astounded, but a thousand punishments would not I was told have, quelled them so thoroughly, nor won the respect that he had secured for ever from the simple incident. Such men as these were clergymen in Nelson at tho time tho experience must have been gained by the speaker, if it was gainfd there at all. All of them, except Mr. Simmons, had to do with the Bishop's School, but his time w-.?s devoted entirely to secondary education with the one exception that he served on the Education' It is 'difficult to brieve that the alleged experience could hare been derived from contact with such men. Thev were just the sort of men, however, that should be "on top." Whence, then, did the experience come? Certainly it wa= not found in New Zea'and. Catechise the old boys of Christchurch and "Wansanui a- to* their clerical instructors, and yon will find a precisely similar result.. 'So wo must go ri?ht away to England, Scotland, and ■ other distant countries to trace the origin I and cause of the objections. One wonders 'what was meant by "real education" — presumably a system from which God is left out and duty to man left with no adequate basis. and a system in which culture'has no part.—l am, etc., GHANUM SALIS. December 16, 1912.