BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1889, 25 October 1913, Page 14

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

NATIONAL BCHOOLS DEFENCE LEAGUE At a meeting of tho Executive of the National Schools Defenoe League, held yesterday, .Mr. A. R. Atkinson, who 'presided, said that they had very good reason to i'eol satisfied with tho progress of tho cause during tho last few weeks'. Thoir enemy had been their helper, and good work had also been done bv their friends. Tho addresses of the fiisliops of Christclmrch and Nelson to their respective Synods had been, of priceless in Auckland tho number of signatories to the petition in favour of tho present Act had increased to 8000, 4000 of whom had previously signed tho cards of tho Bible-in-Schools Leaguo under a misconception; the Baptist Conference had declared' by 69 votes to 1 in favour of an extensiou of tho Nelson system, and lie was informed that the one dissentient was even more strongly opposed to the Bible-in-Schools League programme than to the Nelson system. Tho resolution of the Baptists had touched what he had long felt to be the key of the position. Tho addresse.s of both Bishop Julius and Bishop Sadlier showed that they realised what an obstacle both the neglect and tho (success of the Nelson system presented to their agitation. In a strain of what had/ been well described as "rampant denominationalism," Bishop Julius had anathematised the Nelson, system on the ground that undenominational teaching was not Christian teaching. His Lordship did not attack the text-book teaching that tlio school teachers are to administer according to the platform of his own league, though it would be much further removed from his ideal of Christian teaching than tho undenominational lessons provided 1 by qualified religious teaohers under tho Nelson system. The Biblo as literature, the Biblo as history, the Biblo as ctliics—the Bishop of ChristchuToh poured scorn upon ail these contentions of his own league. Even tho Bible as religion did not interest him unless it was denominational religion. The Defence League should lose no chanco of advertising Bishop Julius's plain declaration that- the paramount and essential part ■ of the league's demand is the establishment of denominationalism in tho State schools. Tho Bishop of Nelson had not been so thorough-going in his attack upon tho Nelson system. Ho even "approved of the system as far as it Went, but he did not consider that it went very far. His hope that his clergy would take advantage of it whenever possible was' accordingly not inconsistent with a whole-souled depreciation of the system as "sectarian, illusive, and l inadequate." Two sentences of guarded approval and! four columns of hostile criticism represented the proportions of tho Bishop a praiso ahd blame for a system which for sixteen years had redeemed about 90 per cent, of the Nelson city children from "Godlessness." Could tho Australian system show a better record? When the Bishop complained that under the Nelson system "tho religious instruction is given not in tho schools but in tho Stato_ school buildings," he seemed to tho plain man to bo splitting hairs. What matter when or where the work was done as long as it was done, and tho reproach of irreligiou removed? Bishop Sadlier'a description of the system as "sectarian." wa3 also astonishing. It was really far less sectarian than that which ho was trying to establish. It was true that in tho actual teaching under the Nelson system tho Protestants only at present took part, but clearly tho door could not be closed against tho Roman Catholics if they came along at tho samp time. Tho essence of the system was not Protestantism, but the morning half-hour at a time when the children wero aeenstomed to attend on other days for secular instruction, and an open door to all religious teachers without sectarian distinction. j The Bishop's solicitude for tho B,oman Catholics was remarkable, in view of tho fact that the test-book proposed by his league was anathema to tho Catholics, who were, nevertheless, to bo asked to pay for its establishment in tho schools. Not tho exclusion of Catholics, but tho inclusion of othor Protestant denominations in a co-opora-tive scheme was, it was to be feared, at the root "of Bishop Sadlier's, as of Bishop Julius's, objection to the Nelson system as at present administered. Tho teaching of the common fundamentals of Christianity would riot satisfy them. Denominational distinctions must bo carried into the very Sta.to schools.

Professor Hunter suggested that the league should mako it clear to the Government and to the poople that it is not opposed to a purely voluntary system of Bible instruction in tho schools. Ho j?ave notice to move at the next meeting: "That, as tho scheme of the Bible-in-Schools League (i) places a religious test on teachers, (ii) compels a minority to contribute to the cost of tho religious education of a majority, (iii) decidos a religious question (a matter of conscience) by a plebiscite,' this league will most strongly oppose such an unfair solution of a national issue. But as tho continuance of tho struggle can do only harm to our national schools and oivio life, the branch league bo invited to urge on tKe Government the acceptance of the "Nelson system,' as a solution of this difficulty—a solution acceptable to the great majority of both sides, and violating the conscience of no ono —the Nelson system to provide (a) that school committees have power to reduce tho school hours from 25 to 24} per week; (b) that the half hour, either at the beginning or end of the day, be made available for Bible instruction by accredited teachers; (c) that neither teachers nor pupils be compelled by the Stato to attend such lessons."