BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1844, 2 September 1913, Page 4

BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS.

Sir, —In _ irinir. columns this morning, the organising secretary of tho Bible-iri-Sohools League is s represented to have stated at Trinity Methodist Church yesterday that Sir Michael Sadlor, Sir Arthur Quillea-Couoh, and a few others "licld that religious teaching ai3 part of tho school curriculum was practicable and should l be .included'." I cam find absolutely nothing in the voluminous report on "Moral Instruction and Training in Schools" (edited by Sir Miohael), nor can I find anything in Professor Quiller-Conch's recent address oil tho Biblo as literature that could; by any possibility, justify Canon Garland citing them m favour of including "xeligiouß" or Biblical instruction in tho curriculum of "State" schools, and' I. hereby challenge Canon Garland to refer your readers to any passage in tho published works of either that justifies such a conclusion. It .is quite possible to regard tho Bible—sipoaking generally—as of tho very highest value as literature and as an "aid" in connection with moral instruction ill schools and elsewhero, without committing oncsolf to its inclusion in a State system of education. _ I am quite satisfied that neither Sir Michael, Sir Arthur, nor tho lato Professor Huxley would commit themselves to a "national" policy entailing the imposition oil Stato teaohors of tho duty of imparting religious instruction without a eonsciencc clause (for teachers), much less to a policy entailing tho payment of' rates by "minorities'" for providing religious instruction to the children of "majorities." To suggest that, beoamso men of letters or scientists entertain the highest respect for tho Bible, _as literature, or as an aid in connection wiitli moral instruction,.they would support such a tyrannous national system of religious instruction as Canon _ Garland is championing, is in' tho highest degree anislcading.—l am, etc., HUGH MACKENZIE. September 1, 1913.