BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1758, 24 May 1913, Page 3

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

AND THE W.C.T.U. CONFLICTING OPINIONS. MRS. HARRISON LEE COWIE HAS NO DOUBTS. We have received further correspondence on the attitude of a section of the leaders of the W.C.T.U. in declaring in favour of the Nelson, system of Bible lessons as against tho proposals of the Bible-in-Schools League, an action which has led to several branches of the union and many of its members expressing contrary views. Amongst the correspondonco is a copy of a letter from llrs. Harrison Lee Cowie, one of tho foremost, probably tho foremost, advocate of tho W.C.T.U. movement in this part of the world. The latest letters to hand are given below:—

A LOCAL PRESIDENT'S PROTEST. & Sir, —X sincerely hope that my friend, tho Kev. J. Ward, has been misreported in your paper this morning. In your report of tho meeting of the Wellington Southi branch of"' the Bible-in-Schools League I read"The Rev. ,T. Ward stated that tho meeting of the Women's Christian Temperance Union, which passed., a voto against the Bible-in-scliools movement, was not a representative one of the Wellington branch." The meeting referred to was the regular monthly meeting of the union, announced as usual by pulpit notice and post-card, and there was a good attendance. Sir. 'Ward's statement is thus absolutely incorrect. The meeting unanimously endorsed the convention resolutions approving tho Nelson system, and condemning tho platform of the Bible-in-Schools League. A further resolution protesting against "the attempt of Canon Garland's Bible-in-Schools League to foreo teachers- to give religious instruction without providing any conscience clause for teachers,'" was also carried unanimously. Trusting that you will soon find space for this correction,— I am, etc., L. M. ATKINSON, President W.C.T.U.. Wellington Central. Wadestown, May 23. THE OTHER SIDE OF THE QUESTION . Sir,—As a member of long standing in tho W.C.T.U., with an experience of its work in New' South Wales, Victoria, and New Zealand, I should be sorry to think that'the recommendation of tho Nelson Convention, to adopt the Nelson system, in preference to tho Bible-in-Schools League, would provo acceptable to tho rank and file of its members. In the first place, it would be a denial of long-estab-lished principles of the W.C.T.U. It was Prances Willard, who by her genius, established, tho National and World's , W.C.T.U. She was an educationist of front-rank ability, having held tho position of principal of the Women's College, and professor of aesthetics, in tho Great North-western University of .Chicago, before she flung herself into tho work of organising the W.C.T.U. In her great presidential address, at tie Now York Convention, of 1888 she set forth the programme of the W.C.T.U. in tlieso words: "Tho movement for the study of _ the Bible 1 as tho finest of English classics, by introducing it into colleges and schools is full of possibilities for Christian progress and development. But something else needs to be done on the same line, and must become universal, b:tforo we can call ourselves other than practically pagan. This is tho teaching of those principles of ethics that are found in the Scriptures, and questioned by no sano mind. No general movement towards making our great public school system an ethical system has vet been inaugurated, except by tho W.C.T.U. Tho efEort of good women everywhere should bo th? introduction of a text book, one that should teach the reasons for the social code of good manners, every particle of which is based upon the Golden Euk-. Tho time will come when, whatever we do not teach, we shall teach ethics as tho foundation of every form of culture, and the 'faith that makes faith-

ful' in every relationship of life will become a thing of knowledgo to the child of tho truly Christian republic. For wo can never teach these things and leave out Christ as the central figure, and His philosophy as the central fact. Th?ro will bo no trouble in those days about opening the school with extracts from the Bible, and the repetition of tho I/ord's Fravcr trill be a matter of course. It is for tho W.C.T.U. to work on quietly to this end, without haste and without rest." This declaration is not opposed to the visits of ministers and other religious teachers, but it is a demand foT a text book of selected Scripture readings, to bo used by the teachers, as part of the ordinary school curriculum. These principles have been followed by the W.C.T.U. in Australia, whose members have worked loyally in all the States with the Bible-in-Schools League, for tlue Australian system, which includes all that is asked for 'in the above. It does not appear that the evidence has been fairly considered by tho Nelson Convention. Tho churchcs, Anglican, Presbyterian, and Methodist, for instance, which have approved of the Australian system, have done so after careful independent inquiry, and after submitting the question to the minor church courts. The W.C.T.U. Convention condemned the Australian system, without collecting evidence from the Australian unions to guide them in their judgment, and local and district unions are already wisely dissenting from the hasty verdict of the convention. As the convention waited until tho churches from which the bulk of its members are drawn have decided for the platform of tlio Bible-in-Schools League, what hope have they of securing tho. Nelson system. Their policy is therefore a negative and useless one, enough to make Frances 'Willard turn in her grave. The Nelson system is a partial, not a general, method, and useless where most needed. There are very many schools iu New Zealand where there arc no resident ministers or Sunday schools, and where the Nelfou system could not be applied. Then the Nelson svstem is illegal, and is barred out by the largest Education Boards, Auckland, for instance. It is sectarian, shutting out all but Protestant ministers. Tho Australian system provides "equality of opportunity" for all. As the Nelson system depends on the permission of school committees, it makes the election of committees to hinge upon tho right of entry of certain local Protestant ministers, and so introduces sectarianism of a local and aggravated character. It is to b9 expected that fullor i consideration and wiser counsels will brins tho W.C.T.U. once more into line with the principles ; laid down by Frances Willard. —I am, ' etc., 1 DORA COOK. ■ Thorndon. /

first-hand knowledge, and lier opinion, therefore, apart from her known sympathies with tho W.C.T.U. movement, will naturally carry great weight with • its members.