BETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1861, 22 September 1913, Page 5

BETTERS TO THE EDITOR

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS. ME. MILLIGAN AND PROFESSOR MACKENZIE. • Sir, —Mr. Milligan's herring beoomes redder and "highor" in odour every time it is once more lugged acroiis tho traill It would, probably,.entail a surgical operation to mako it possible to convince him that the very passages he cites, from Sir Michael Sadler, make it clear that Sir Michael's views on the question of religious instruction, in State and other schools, differ widely from those entertained by Messrs. Garland, Milligan, and Co. Mr. John Cleary, Mr. A. R. Atkinson, myself, and probably an overwhelming majority, of tho members of our' National Schools' Dofenco Leagiios, are in favour, of Bible-in-schools, but it would bo grossly misleading and dishonest for . any supporter of the Bible-in-Schools' League to suggest that wo aro in favour of such a tyrannous, and unjust Bible-in-schools'. scheme as Canon Garland is championing. Until Mr. Milligan can furnish evidence to the effect that Sir Michael Sadler is in favour of: (1) Imposing the task of conducting Bible lessons on Stato school teachers on pain of dismissal; (2) making all tlie ratepayers of the Dominion (irrespective of religious creed) pay for .such Bible instruction; (3). refusing to subsidiso denominational schools (for their secular services). Until Mr. Milligan and Co. can, furnish evidence —I repeat—to that offcct, it would be not merely grossly, misleading, but positively dishonest, to suggest that ho (Sir Michael) is jn favour of the scheme, with which the name of Canon Garland is identified. The Hon, Georgo Fowlds lias publicly ' undertaken to pay £5 toward tho funds of the Biblo-iu-Schools' League, provided Canon Garland can make good his charge that "dogmatic secularism is taught in our State schools; and I, here and now, undertake to pay £5 toward the same funds, if it can be shown, from his .published works, that Sir Michael Sadler would support tho three proposals enumerated above —all three being of the essence of Canon Garland s scheme. ~I am ' ° tC '' HUGH MACKENZIE. .