BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1671, 11 February 1913, Page 11

BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS.

PROFESSOR MACKENZIE'S ADDRESS,

Professor Mackenzie concluded his ad!i IOSS ti O ?i Bible-in-Schoois question at as folLoivs'' aa lulc ' l 011 Sunday night, To sum up, let me say that I am ogaiibt introducing the Biblo into our ~ sohools for the following uniontr other rtnsons:— v!!'"® 't involves the principle of a ovate Church. Our schools nro neutral to all forms of religion and should bo kept so. (-)—Bepauso the children in our State schools pro, nt present, under strict discipline during school hours. u'i CC ? USI! IB State should observe an attitude of strict neutrality to tho religion of its subjcctsr-protecting all, favounng none. il: is not the d"ty of the otato to supply a "complete" education to any child. (s)—-Because the State at present takes only one-fourth of the, child's waking hours during (lie year, and parents and tho churches hovo amplo tinio to furnish religious instruction and other educational luxuries during tho remaining three-fourths of its waking time, if they , a . r< ?, > tl down-right earnest about the ic\uu s highest and best interests, (bj—Dccatiso tho only just alternative to tho present free secular and compulsory system, would be a purely deiioniiuii- ; Ij 1 "" 11 ' systein subsidised by tho State. I. hore is no half-way house between : Stato neutrality and n purely denominational system. '((—Because it would tend to oause secretariaii friction and division where it . ehould bo tho special aim of the State to guard against such. (B)—because it would inevitably impose a religious test on teachers. (9)— Because the themselves ar« against it; and it would bo iniquitous to coerce them. ' (10)— Because valuable as the Biblo is, it is absolutely untrue, that it is the "basis" .of'ethics .or of' English or any other literature. (11)— Because if religious instruction is to be given in our State sohools the cost of it should lo defrayed from voluntary sources, and tho instruction ehould bo ' imparted not bv State servants but by teachers accredited by the churches themselves. (12)—Bepause the teacher is in the position of administrative responsibility, . and it is necessary, in order to avnjcl even the suspicion of unfairness, that his neutrality in Tegard to . denominational differences should bo secured. (131—Because any teaching into which the teacher cannot onter, whole-heart-edly, and with entire conviction, cannot exercise a Teal moral influence (M the childron under him, and tends to "demoraliK" himself. > (14)—" Because" (as the English Educational .Settlement Committeo put it in thc-ir report sonio three years ago) "English national sentiment .has, for centuries shown a strong preference for lowing great freedom m tho utterance of personal conviction, both in the civic , business of life and the conduct of education which prepares for it." (15)— Because the very peoplo who arc most likely to vote in favour of imposing, the task on unwilling tenohers ore tho people, who do not put themselves to tho {rouble of reading tho Biblo in tho home. - (1(J) — Because where there is Bible teaching in', denominationally-mixed schools there has been, invariably, sectarian" influences at work in connection with the' appointment of teachers—and as a rulis sectarian friction among tho children and parents, (17)— Because, as Dr. Parker orice put it, "The clergy, ministers, and Sunday school teachers simply condemn themselves in tho degree in which they look to the day 6chool to eke out their labours." • , • (18)—Becaitfo more money is expended on religion in New Zealand (as in Britain) than on education, and'in tho circumstances it would be monstrous to shift tho'responsibility'in .connection' with the school. (19)— Because, seeing that-.the educational profession has declared eo emphaticolljagainst the objeotive' of the Bible-iit* • Schools League, tho clergy, if tjiey had any sense of justice or •-of propriety, would at once cease from agitating in the matter. .. v . (20)— Because the State does all that can reasonably be required of it, when it allows the Churches or their representatives to conduct Bible lessons, or impart religious instruction, before or • after the hours allocated to secular work. • ■ '

Again,' I am against the objective of the Bible-in-Schools League— ; ; '(I)— Because it would commit us to a problematic text book not yet-compiled —a pig in a. poke I. • , (2)— Because it involves right of entry • to the representatives of a clerical combine, and many denominations would not be. in a position to take advantage of such a right, even if accorded them. (3)— Because it involves payment of rates for religious teaching, to which a very ■ considerable; miuority conscientiously object..; . ■ , ' <', " (4)— Because it wvalicrly ignores the fact that teachers arc possessed of consciences. ,Y '' (5)— Because it would tend to accentuate the evils incident to the patronising and top-dog attitude which the clergy have always assumed toward tho teach■'ers. . ,

I am opposed to a referehdum or general plebiscite on tho question of Biblo in schools. (I)— Because religious issues arc involTcd., (2)— Because,, while in connection with . purely political and social issues thero is nothing unreasonable 1 in, mojority rule, such rule in connection with roligious convictions, and tho authority of tho Biblo or of' Churches, has invariably proved disastrous—leaving a broad crimson trail over the pages of history. ' (3)— Because the classic example of a referendum on a religious issue is that known as "Give us Barabbas." (4)—Bccause I can recogniso iio.majority's right to dictate to me in the matter of religious beliefs, or as to the claims or authority of tho Bible. . (s)—Because it would be monßtrous to determine by means of a referendum 6uch an ! issue as that involved in th« Blble-in-schools question,, before the principle or principles underlying the referendum itself are fully, freely, and exhaustively discussed. (6)— Because I appeal to the text, "All ' things- whatsoever ye would that' incn should do to you, do yo even eo to thorn" '