BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1669, 8 February 1913, Page 6

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

Sir,—l was surprised and even startled when 1 rend the announcement in tho newspapers several weeks ago that tho lioman Catholic Bishop of Auckland was going to give an address in the Town Hall in favour of tho ideal of Charles Bradlaugh and Colonel laigersolh Secular education in tho schools, in which nearly all children in New Zealand nro educated. As a Christian race and nation, we have a perfect right to insist on a national recognition, of, and instruction in, the principles of our national Christianity in our national schools. Wo -are not asking for the teaching of 6ectional Christianity sectarianism, or denominationalism. Christianity is tho birthright of every child born of our race in any part of the world, and whatover fads or . fancies wo may adopt for the time being, wo have no moral right to deprivo them on any pretence whatover of the priceless inheritance that has been handed down to them from generation to generation for the last 2000 years. I have known out and out atheists acknowledge this fact by sending their own children regularly to tho Christian Sunday school. In the early 'seventies of tho Inst century, when the present secular Education Act was passed, there wero no national schools, and verv few others, as many of my generation know-to our cosW and tho mandate from the people then was for tho teaching of the three R's—reading, writing, and arithmeticonly. Now all that has been changed, and future generations have to depend on the national schools for the whole of their education, from tho A B C to the University. Therefore, we as a Christian raco and nation must insist on tho national Christianity in these our national schools,Tour readers having read a good deal of what the Roman Catholic Bishop of Auckland and his secular friends have had to say on this question, it is only fair that they should know what the Eoman Catholic Archbishop (Dr. Kelly), of Sydney, thinks and says, of these secular friends of Dr. Cleary as reported in , the Sydney "Daily Telegraph" of January 13. 'i enclose the clipping for the edification of your many readers, and ask you to be so kind as to publish it in the form in which it appeared in the Sydney paper. The re-, port hns not been oontradiofed, but confirmed in later issues .of the paper.—l am, etc., J. H. COLLIER. Northland, February 1. . [The clipping sent by our correspondent is as follows:— In tho course of an address at North Sydney yesterday afternoon, Archbishop Kelly said there were many, of their fe£ low citizens in Australia who represented the French Revolution, and who said that education is to bo secular, compulsory, and free. In itself, this was an anticlerical programme, and its spirit was derived from tho principles which led'to'the French Revolution, Hippies of that spirit went through the world, and the people became restless. Taking Australians to bo a sensible people, they would realise that secular education was incomplete- • and faulty in its incompleteness, having regard to a man's full educational requirements. Without a knowledge of God, and. without absolute fear of God, there was no wisdom in man. Ho was befooled by his own imagination, and led astray bv his own desires. Therefore, there was' absolute need' for a 6ound and complete education, and secular education was neither one nor the other. Dealing with the compulsory aspect of education, the Archbishop said, "Make your schools oomplete, and you will not have to compel any child that is not a criminal—(hear, hcar)-to go to school." And then as to free education, ho proceeded to say, "Free! Why, they would put their hands in other people's pockets to the extent of- millions of pounds. This may bo considered an extravagant 6taternont, «but it is tTue. I look upon the founders of our sectarian education ag tho greatest monsters in society, and they are tho greatest enemies to the welfare of our race and nation."]

Kir.—Tour correspondent "KJranum balls," jn - Thursday's issue, taunts those who oppose tho reading of tho Biblo in the schools with, having no 1 facts uponwhich to baso their objections. Now,' Sir, the position is this: The arguments, assertions, and rhetorics of thoso'in favour of tho innovation are given 6pace in tho newspapers; but there is a close, season to tho great army of students of theology who oppose any interference with ■our present educational system. The various newspapers have raised a steep and inaccessible . protecting-wall around, join opinions with. "Granum Salic," and that wall is none other than tho blue pencil. Thoso who find space in the, columns of Thb Dominion can assert anything in favour of supernaturalism, inspiration, or anything they like,, but if a letter is forwarded to tho press, challenging such assertions, the writer is politely told that theological discussions are not admitted. Therefore, such persons as Canon Garland and "Granum Salis" occupy a coward's castle. • They can fire their artillery: but will not allow their firo to be met for fear the finer-feel-ings of the nowspaper readers might be offended. Not only do tho newspapers closes down on tho other side of the question, but they even allow taunts to bo hurled at us for not bfing allowed to defend out position. "Granum Salis" boasts that there is no "one to reply. Well, Sir, X am enough to presume that I am an authority upon' theology, and if your correspondent Granum Salis," or Canon Garland, or any other educated person will undertake to meet me through the columns of the Dominion, and will consent to tho dissecting-knife of truth, being plunged into their assertions; 1 will stand the risk of a thrashing. ' If either will meet me, I will promise that my assertions will be free from any taint .of blasphemy, coarse language, or abuse. I will not belittle the Bible, neither will I quote Voltaire, Ingersoll, Tom Paine, Bradlaugh, or any other infidel. I make that a voluntary stipulation. My chief authorities will bo the "Encyclopaedia Biblica," "Godj of the Egyptians,' by Dr. Wall is Budge, keeper of'the-Egypt-ian and Assyrian Antiquities in the British Museum. The work was published with a dedication to Earl Cromer, and with the cognisance of the British Museum authorities. I might also draw upon Professor Petrie and the Hibbert Lectures, but I will only quote—when I use quotations—recognised authorities. •The Dominion has allowed "Granum Salis" to throw out a challenge. If The Dominion is sincere, I will take the challenge up, and will give your readers Bome or the Truth—that tho' theologians make such a mouthful of—in language that will not be in the least offensive. Mind, if I am allowed to defendthe position, I intend to apply the dissectingknife to open up the whole question; but I will raise no objection to tho blue pencil being applied if my language is in any way abusive or Offensive.—l am, etc., ■ THOMAS C. COX (B.Sc.), Feilding. P.S.—The other side must confine them, selves to one correspondent, and I will ' have no collaborator. The number of letters should also bo limited.

fOur corresnondent knows perfectly well, or should know, that our column's have always been open to both sides in any controversy. 'But both sides must bo reasonable in their demands for space.]