THE W.C.T.U. AND BIBLE-INSCHOOLS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1837, 25 August 1913, Page 4

THE W.C.T.U. AND BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS.

• Sir^in;a-'footnote to,,a letter: bj Mrs.' : Atkinsoh you state that you are informed 17. branches of iho W.C.T.U. .have-,' passed i resolutions disagreeing 'Mt]i .. the : 'attitude of Convention" on Bible-in-Schools- question. May I ask who'igave-you the information? I seardelyiihiiik any responsible officer of the WiC.T.tf. is your informant. Auckland, Blenheim, Wanganui, Palmerston North, Eangiora, Warkworth, Gisborne, and Otautau have passed resolutions dissenting from the Convention's resolution. .These unions represent 312 out of'our 3144 members. Eangiora has_47 members, ten voted for the resolution and six against; Gisborne has 61 members, eleven'voted for the resolution and five against it.i In both unions many were neutral, and some were absent. There is no Eoslyn union on our official list. Kaiapoi and Picton report discusting the question, but no resolution passed; Hamilton wrote to mo and asked for an explanation of the Convention resolution, and then reported that "a letter, read at the meeting, had put quite a different complexion on tho I'ible-in-Schools question. Tho papershad reported that tho Convention voted against Bible-in-Schools, but now they found it was only the New South Wales system . the;-' Convention . had voted against;" They, too, reported no resolution passed; Timarn passed the following resolution: "This union desires it to he known that the first resolution passed at the Convention regarding Bible-in-Schools stated clearly that the Convention believes fully in the children of New Zealand receiving religious instruction. The union stands_ whero it has always stood—for Bible instruction in State schools." This resolution does not disagree with the Convention's resolution. Morrinsville, Papakura, and Westport may have passed resolutions, but they have not reported them to the "White Ifibbon," our official organ. Many unions have passed resolutions in favour of Bible reading in schools; "Bible reading, but not Bible -teaching; rßiblo - readings and un'seciar* J

ian teaching." All these aro in accord with the Convention's attitude, so that your statement that only ihreo unions havo endorsed tlio Convention's attitude is not strictly true. Wo do not claim to be unanimous on tho question, but there is as little dissent among us as among the churches. It is not a little illogical to claim that 7o per cent of the peoplo favour the League, because church conferences representing that number havo voted in. its favour, and then say that tho W.C.T.TJ. Convention does not represent tlio members of tho union. In what way is a church conferenco more representative of church members than a W.C.T.U. Convention is of union members? Why not candidly admit that as to tho method of_ Bible teaching there, is difference of opinion in the ranks of the churches and of tho W.C.T.U.? Thanking you in anticipa-tion,—lam,-etc., NELLIE PERYMAN, 1 Editor, "Whito Ribbon.'" [Our correspondent, as editor of tho official organ of tho W.C.T.U., might reasonably be oxpected to know more of what has been happening amongst the various branches of tlio union than appears to bo tho case. Her efforts to discount tho votes of various branches are not very flattering to those branches nor yet to tho interest which members of tho W.C.T.U. tako in the affairs of tlici union. She states that there is no Roslyn branch on the official list. That may ho so, but if sho turns to the' "Otago Daily Times" of April 26 sho will see in it a report of a meeting of tho Roslyn branch, at which Mrs. Penfold presided. Also, that a resolution was passed strongly disapproving' the action of tho Convention and supporting tho Bible-in-Schools League's proposals. Sho states that tho K'aiapoi branch passed no resolution. Yet, if she troubles to make inquiry sho will wo •imagine find that.in. June last a resolution supporting tho' Bible-in-Schools League, was carried with only two dissentients. Sho makes reference to the attitude of the Hamilton .branch which would. lead to the conclusion that sho believed that branch was satisfied with the action of the Convention. Yot hero is a copy of the recent letter from the president of the Hamilton branch to the Prime Minister: "Having read in tho 'Auckland Herald' tho account of tho deputation of tho opposition Leaguo to tho Bible-in-State-Schools, wo regret to see that Mrs. Atkinson spoko of the action of tho W.C.T.U. Convention, held at Nelson', and conveyed the impression that it represented the members of tho New Zealand unions. AVe desire to state that the Hamilton District Union strongly approves of the Bible-in-State-Schoois Leaguo platform and are very desirous-that a referendum should be taken." Apparently she throws doubts on the statement that Morrinsvillo, Papakura, and Wcstport branches have passed resolutions disagreeing with tho action of tho Convention. At Papakura every member present voted in favour of a motion supporting the Bible-in-Schools Leaguo proposals and regretting the action of tho Convention; at Westport a resolution was passed in favour of tho League's proposals. As to Morrinsvillo, here is a copy of 1 a telegram bearing on tho subject: "Our union supports League. Indignant name Dominion Union used by deputation to Prime Minister — Butlor, secretary." It may he news to our_ correspondent that New Brighton, Waipawa, and G-reymouth must bo added to tho long list of branches which havo disagreed with tho Convention's action; tlio two first-named were, we understand, unanimous in their support of the resolution in favour of tho Bible-in-Schools Leaguo proposals.]