THE QUESTION OF COST.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1678, 19 February 1913, Page 5

THE QUESTION OF COST.

Sir,—ln further reference to Mr. Milligan's letter, and his contention that the change advocated by the Biblo-in-Schools League would not cost the Stato any more than the present system, allow me a few words. The matter was introduced in a

letter from Mr. G'-. H. Nicholls, /which appeared in your columns a few .weeks ago,, and as I understood that gcntleirfnn, ho was not so much speaHing'of increased cost, but waS urging that if. the teachers paid ns they are by Hie whole community, are required to devote 'some of their time to a form'of teaching'which is acceptable to a. section of the people, this, would bo snbsidisinnr. at thi? expense of all, tho 'reliKion of some.":' With, that contention I cordially ngreo.- However, since „ Mr. Millig'aii .urges that' tho league's- proposals would not cost the State n penny more than the present system, I must'remind him that tho drawing up and printing of a Scripture text-book would,, cost a considerable 's'unj, amounting, probably, to hundreds of pounds. This, , again, would ba to favour a section at the expense of tho whole community. Mr. Milligan, like . another correspondent, objects to my using the term "the-' ology" to'dejioto what ,tho league wishes to -have . taught' in schools.' :As_ ho says the leaguo wishes the teachers to seo that the children understand the Bible lesson they read. -.Does Mr. Milligan mean to say that the Bible dons not tench theology? That would ba rather severe on the theologian!!. To take the definition in Webster's Dictionary-: "Theology—The. science which treats of the existence, character, and attributes of God. .'. . (as moro commonly understood),- the knowledgo derivable from tho Scriptures . . . the sconce of Christian faith and life." Tho parts I have omitted are additional, and do not in-'nny, way modify tho above. . Is not this, then, the science, i.e.; the knowledge, tho league wishes to be imparted by their text-book?' Houover, I am not much concerned with the particular word, and if I say, instead, a form of religious teaching acceptable to certain protestants, and.to no others, I-think it may describe tho proposed religions teaching in a way that will not bo objected to. To call this simple Bible-teaching does not roake it aiiy morn a just thing to do. Mr. Nioholls justly stigmatised this proposal, that tho Rtato should teach n particular form of religion, "as opposed not .merely to the whole essence of Christianity, but to the most elementary principles \of natural justice."—l am, etc.. ■ r CHAS. .T. COOKE. Kelburne, February 15, 1913. PROFESSOR MACKENZIE AND YOUR HUMBLE. Sir,—By yours this morning I 6eo.that "tho Professor" has descended from the "sublime'-to the ridiculous." Ho has dragged in the'jpersonal. I suppose he has run short or arguments. However,■ I think I will give him d few facts which will servo him for some timo to think 1 over. I am not going to stoop to personalities as ho has done. I suppose he thought ho was making a great hit when ho referred to my employment. The Professor does not seem to know much about it, ns I -shall show presently.' Now for his latest. lam pleased that I succeeded in._ drawing tho Professor out into tho

light.\ I thought .Mr. MacKenzio would take the bait I laid for him, and I confess I read his latest this morning with avidity. Well, I may not know as much about the Bible as Mr. Maclvenzje, but, I, said, "Mr. MacKenzio did not road a passage except Ms text which he put at tho end of.his discourse." I do-not know whether Mr. MacKcnzie distinguishes between reading and praying, and pronouncing the Benediction, but I do! and I believe a lot of people will ngreo with me. Does Mr. Mackenzie sco the point? Mr. MacKenzio seems to have borrowed sometiling from tlio Prayer- Book, as, for instance, "Amen," which is sung at the ond of tho hymns, Now, strictly speaking, this word should only bo used at the end of tho Doxology, though I know most churches huvo adopted this use. Now wo como to tho personal matter in Mr. MacKonmo'a letter, and he tries to show how, if these Biblo lessons are given by tho Stato school teachers, they would not re- . ceivo any remuneration for tho tvoi*. I stated before, and 'I do so now, that it would not cost the Stato one penny to rcstoro these lessons. No doubt some of tho present subjects might have to- be curtailed, though it does not seom clear that that would oven have to bo done. Then Mr. MacKenzio asks: If my emplovers asked mo-to conduct a short Unitarian scrvico with my fellow employees every morning, would I bo prepared to do it?" Well, it just happens that when on tho morning shift I am usually thirty minutes on duty before anv one else. T believe I couldl manage "Her tho fashion* of Mr. MacKenzie's address, only if I had to do this T would not b- doinir Fomething el?o. A.!jain. does Mr. Mackenzie sco the "point."—l am, etc., THOS. M. MILLIGAX. February 17, 1313.- ,