BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1736, 29 April 1913, Page 5

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

DEBATE AT VICTORIA COLLEGE,

Tho Victoria College Heretics' Club held its first fortnightly meeting of the year at the college on Friday night. Tlic meeting took the form of a regular debate, the subject under discussion being the Biblc-in-Schools proposals, as enunciated by the Bible-in-Schools League. The Rev. Compton, M.A., supported by tlie Rev. Stevenson, M.Sc., spoke to the motion, and were opposed by Mr. F. G. Hall-Jones, 8.A., and Miss 51. Nicholls.'

The movers claimed that the leaching of Christian ideals in the schools of a Christian country was necessary for the welfare of the children, that the majority in a democratic country must rule, and that once the principle of tho thing- was admitted the details of the scheme were a matter of , adjustment afterwards. To this their opponents made answer Instating that the system of free, secular, and compulsory education, as existing in New Zealand since the seventies, had fully justified itself, and compared favourably iii its results with'the educational system existing in Australia; that the majority must of necessity rule in all matters except in the matter of religious conscience, which is a matter solely for tho individual and not for the State.

A number of people in the largo audience spoke against the Bible-iu-Schools League's proposals, amongst them lwing the leaders of the Christian Union Movement. in the college and several school teachers. One speaker stated that, as a teacher, he objected most strongly to his means of livelihood being endangered by the introduction of the religious doctrines of a part of tho community into tho school curriculum. Miss M. E. M'Lean, nf tho Wellington Girls' College, was the only speaker beyond the mover and seconder Who supported the motion.

No vote on the question was taken, tho executive of the club considering that no good purpose could be served by taking one.