BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1654, 22 January 1913, Page 8

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

DISCUSSED BY ANGLICAN SYNOD. STRONG APPROVAL. MOTION CARRIED WITH TWO DISSENTIENTS. " (By Telegraph.—Press A&sociatld'n.)

Nelson, January 21. At the Anglican General Synod, Sir. J. W. Henderson moved that the General Synod reaffirms its adherence to'th'o platform of tho Dible-in-State-Schools League, and expresses its gratification, at working fraternally with the Preslyterian Assembly, the Methodist Conference, and the Salvation Army authorities, in' matter, and that the General Synod expresses tho conviction that the only fair method by which a decision can lie arrived at is by a referendum submitted to, tho whole people of the Dominion.. The General Synod accordingly ■, respectfully requests tho Government of the day to provide the necessary -machinery, by which tho sovereign tribunal, the people of New Zealand, can,express their decision. Tho General Synod calls upon every individual member of the Church ■ to. support, by earnest and constant prayer, by'.wholehearted work, and liberal financial assistance, the objection of the, Bible-ih-Statc-Schools League. Mr. .Henderson', reiterated the arguments in favour of Bible instruction in schools. .Ho said that the enemy was strong and well organised, and they should give them credit-Jor knowing a little more than themselves, and meet them accordingly. Dean Fitchett, in seconding tlio motion, referred to the' movement, in Queensland. He said'that in that Stale the'secular press and'the Labour, party, were'at first opposed to it, whily the people wero apathetic. Parliament allowed a referendum to bo taken, and the answer was "Yes" by n larger vote than put Queensland into the .Federation. They should stir the people of New Zealand into activity, and no doubt tho goal at • which they were aiming would be reached. He 'expressed gratification that other Christian bodies \t-ere uniting with the Church of England to gain their cud. Those who opposed the movement were endeavouring to prevent religion from being brought to the children during the most plastic and receptive neriod of tlvr.r' lives. . The Bishop of Waiapu said they must show the Government that they aro in earnest in regard to the referendum. If they throw their zeal and energy into tho matter, they would carry it. -The scheme proposed Was absolutely just to all, and for that reason he.was glad to support it. Every branch of ( the Church should fako active steps to help forward the cause. It was not a political "movement, but something that was being done for the .welfare of their country arid their children. In.asking .for a referendum they were proceeding on the most'democratic lines of all. They should be true and loyal to the.pbject as a whole, and not split on,the little objections they nijy have, to the objective. The '"unity" of. other denominations in this matter was a great ftep towards • the closer .. union . of Christians. . .-'.""■■,' -.'.■'

Mr. .W.'i J. .Birch (AVcllinsrlon), in supporting the motion, said the movement should have the hearty support of layi'wn. He was gratified that, their fellow Christians of other denominations were working with them..' , , . ,

■ Archdeacon Nicld (DiinediiiV said he had'hwh told that if they,..left..out of their platform the right of entry, and stuck to Biblo lessons by teachers, they would gain same votes. ■ That might be so, but in his opinion they would also lose a, great, many. The real .;difficulty was ilra apathy of the people. - [ llv. C. Joachim also supported the motion.

The' Bishop of Nelson said that while in Victoria he had watched the work of Canon Garland in Queensland. >When he went thero first. the newspapers were of opinion that ho was bound to fail. Tho sectarian cry wns raised,' and came, •as it always did, from the other side. -.'As.''the campaign .went - on, the' tone of .the newspnners greatly improved,'but.tho union of tho denomi- ; nations was referred to by one'pater ts a serious menace to the State., "(Laughter.) In the Australian Stales/.where it was in force, the question of 'sectarianism' was not raised. In Queensland the people were contented with the : system, and teachers had become .enthusiastic in con'nection with the movement. They must rouse public opinion. Without the right of entry, he would hot touch the movement. It did not raise sectarian differ■endes. but, obliterated theni. The' parent had the right: to say what'doctrine his children should be taught. No doubt'they must have opposition, but they must arouse individual interest. .' ■ '

... •Mr.Vv. J. Speight (Auckland) said that' nothing cave him more pdii than' to find himself in opposition to gentlemen for whom he had the greatest respect and admiration. He had assisted,to bring the present system of .'education- in forcn, and he did not regret his action. It was a mis-statement to state that'the present system of education had banished the Bible from the schools. It was never in the schools. Tho State was not antagonistic to religion, but it restricted religious teaching in tho schools,-and confined itself to teaching subjects to fit children for the business of life. Owing to diverse elements in schools, it was impossible, to teach religion to the children unless the. State formed a religion for itself. The secular system of education was carried by a vote of more than two to one. A certain section of the cmmunifcy thought education could I.nlj be imparted through the instrumentality of the Church. Hu'claimed that the 'Church had neglected its duty to the'children. Inere was 'no question . about it. The chl '? rei i should be taught all the articles of-the Christian faith, but the svstem to be introduced was only a makeshift. As lie understood the system,. the j teachers were not to impart _ religious instruction. In Aew South Wales a return placed before the commission showed that the right of entry had not been taken advantage of. The Church of England averaged one visit a month, Methodist one in three months, Presbyterian one in' three and a half months, and other denominations one in five months. Tho establishment of a teaching' guild was the first thing to do underthe present system. They were to have tho right of entry, but' was teaching ,to be as miscellaneous in character according to tho idiosyncracies of individuals? He thought ifwould be a bad thing to return to the denominational system of education. If the present proposals were earned, they would immediately give to the opponents of Bible reading an argument which up to tho present had not been used. If they Protestanised the schools, they would find the Roman Catkoics claiming compensation. The State' should be neutral, and it would be best tor the State to remain the same and take up its proper, work. They should not ask any religious class'book from tho Mate,'but should ask that every day of th ° Seek, certain portions of tho day should be set apart for religious-instruc-tion, under the auspices of teachers of different denominations. ' Mr. Speight mentioned that he was president of the Defence League for the Auckland province, and that he intended to.oppose the motion.

Archdeacon Ituddick (Napier) eaid Mr Speight, who was held in the highest esteem by tho Synod, was so very near to them that he hoped he would see his way to come with them altogether. In the Act there was no provision for teaching religion in the schools. They were now trying to remedy that defect. Ho pointed out that Australia was a country with extraordinary wide parishes, with schools in the mam places which could only bo visited at infrequent intervals. This would account for infrequencv of visits. Canon- Cnrrington (Christchurch-) said when the Education Bill was before tho Houso the clauso providing that schools should be opened by prayer and reading of a passage of Scripture, was struck out so that it was right in a sense"to say' that the Bible had been banished from the school* Ho combated the statement that the Church was neglecting the children, and said the clergy in New: Zealand wero _ doing tho best with their opportunities. The statistics quoted by Mr. Speight appeared to be at variance with all others on the subject. He had seen a speaker read a table showing that over 42,000 visits for tho purposes of religions instruction hnd been no id to tho State schools in Sydney in 1000. In his.opininn the esoular cretem of education w dy<

ing rapidly, and they must soon get hack to ivligion. . The Bishop of Christchurch said he welcomed the straightforward opponent. Apathy was the danger lo be fearrd. He prayed to God that the people would realise their responsibility and stir up the nominal Christian masses of people to recognise their responsibility, and the absolute necessity of bringing the children back to the' Word of God. After further discussion, the motion was carried, with two dissentients. EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. Nelson, January 21. The Anglican General Synod resumed this afternoon. Mr. M. Jameson (Wellington) was appointed lay representative for Melanesia. The committee on educational institutions recommended that application bo made to the Supremo Court for power to seil the site of St. John's Grammar School. The committee also endorsed,- and strong-,, ly recommended, tho proposal to complete the buildings of St. John's College owing to the present inability to meet the demand for further accommodation for students. Tho committee further recommended that'various bodies rantrolling < the several schools which deal with the education of Natives should hold a conference for the purpose of bringing about a better co-ordination of the system at present existing in the schools. The committee noted with pleasure tho intention of the trustees of Te Auto College to further develop the agricultural side of training given nt tho college. ■ The committee urged the great need for Church of England boarding schools for boys and girls at moderate fees throughout the province. ,

On the motion of the Bishop of N'clsoii, a resolution was passed expressing sympathy with the Church in Wales. J'lii's was carried, and ordered to bo sent to the Archbishop of Canterbury.