THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1932, 15 December 1913, Page 7

THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

UNITED SERVICES. IN DOMINION'S CHURCHES; CANCfI GARLAND'S PLEA. AT ST. JOHN'S, WELLINGTON. An eloquent plea was made by Canon Garland when preaching last night in St. John's Church on the Bible-in-State schools' question. Illustrating his remarks with many events in past, and current history, Canon Garland endeavoured to show tho justness of the endeavour which was being made by the league to have tho Bible recognised by tho Stato in tho primary schools. Taking as a text words from St. Paul's second epistle to tho Thessalonians; "Brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with us," he said that tho message was applicable to-day. Throughout' the whole of tho Dominion that day a great body were praying that the word of the' Lord might have freo course, and that ths restriction preventing the story of Jesus Christ being taught- in' the schools might bo removed. Ho thought that they should ho thankful to God for tho spirit of unity which was being shown on tho subject in this Dominion by the different churches. Touching on tho restriction, ho emphasised the fact that tho words of the Education Act, which, said that education should bo entirely secular, was tho teaching of dogmatic secularism. Sir Oliver Lodge, in his epoch-making address to the British Association this- year, had said that those who made denials were just as likely to bo wrong as those who made assertions; in fact, denials were assertions thrown into negative form, and tho denial of tho Bible to the children m tho schools was an assertion that the State said, with all its weight behind it,.that the Bible had no place in their lives. Dr. Fitchctt, of Melbourne, one of the most successful educationalists in the Southern Seas, represented that secularism was as much a creed as was the Westminster Convention or the Thirty-Nino Articles. Speaking on this question, too, Matthew Arnold had said. "It's (tho Bible's) introduction to tho schools is' tho onlv chance for saving the ono uplifting and inspiring element in the scanty instruction of our primary schools from being sacrificed to a politico-religious difficulty.'' .

Canon Garland dealt at some length with the contention that tho Stato had nothing to do with religion, and quoted examples from ancient history, English history, and modern practice to show tliat the Stato was concerned with religion, and that the Bible had a recognised place in our national life, except in tho primary State schools. The teachings of the Bible were included in the English Constitution by tlie King and not by the Church. It was the' State who saw that tho Bible was placed in the hands of Lord Liverpool as a means by which ho assumed his ■position-as representative of the King; the State, whose highest judicial functionary called in his official robes, was responsible for this recognition of the Bible, an incident which became significant when it was remembered that the Chief Justice was at one time president of the Rationalist Association, and as Minister of Education had said in Parliament that tho references to God that remained in tho children's school books were a "blot" on tho national system of education. Tho State also introduced the Bible into Parliament, into-tho hands of the Judges, into the gaols, etc. It was only in their primary schools that it was excluded.,lt, was even found in all the.-Maori State schools. The preacher concluded with an earnest appeal to his hearers .to .pray that tho Word of tho Lord micdvfc "have freecourse in the hands, of "their children in their school-books, that it might be glorified by the fruit of their lives in righteousness and iruo holiness.

Canon Garland yesterday preached also in St. Paul's Cathedral, and in ■the afternoon addressed tin* children assembled for their annual festival in the Salvation Army Citadel. TJio Rev. J. Ward. The Rev. J. Ward, yesterday morning preached on the same subject in the Donald Mac Lean Street Methodist Church. Ho referred to the fact that in the days of the old Provincial Governments the Bible was taught in the schools, and had been cut out by tho Centra] Government without consultation with tho people. Education covered moral, as well as literary, training, and to £ivo literary without moral was to give only half an education and to leave out tho nioro important half. It was asserted by opponents of the league that this work should be done in the Sunday-schools, but numbers of children never attended Sunday-schools, and many of those most needing Bible instruction were never touched. Some parents, it was said, obiected to their children receiving Bible instruction, but by means of a eonscionco clause, they could prevent this instruction boint; imparted. In sonio districts in Australia where a similar system was adopted, the number of parents .who objected did not exceed one per cent., and in no district did it exceed live per cent. Tho preacher concluded by urging his hearers to do all they could to secure a referendum. Salvation Army. Brigadier lloare, National Young People's Secretary for the Salvation Army in tlio Dominion, who was in charge of the services at the Vivian Street Temple yesterday morning, delivered an ablo'aiul interesting address on Dent. 11, 18-20. Tho speaker, having emphasised the valuo of religion in the heart, and its effect upon the daily life, made 'an'eloquent plea for the raising of the family altar in the homo life of the community. Speaking of the liible-in-school question, ho said "There can bo no question in our mind as to the desirability of the children receiving Scripture instruction in the schools of our land, and the Salvation Army was in full accord with the proposals jnit forth by the league," and speaking from personal experience he could say that many of the fears entertained by thoso in opposition to the proposals would, bo found in actual fact to bo groundless. "For a number of years I was the Army's Young People's Secretary for tho State of New South Wales, and mv duties as such took me frequently to" schools in all parts of that State, and I found that, generally speaking, the system was held in high esteem by parents, teachers, and religious bodies. I have no hesitation in saying that such will bo tho experience of' New Zealand in days to come. The Salvation Army stood' for the Bible teaching in tho home, thn school, and the whole life of tho people. Nothing could take its place, and we must seo to it that our children are taught i.ts. precepts from their infancy, and not debarred by any foolish fancies'from profiting by* its grand truths and instruction in righteousness."

IN OTHER TOWNS.' CO-OPERATION OF CHURCHES. At Invercargill, League Sunday was observed in twelve of the town churches which included ono of the Church of Christ. 'In Southland district, outside Invercargill, some GO churches, including also another of the Church of Christ, the observance was made. In Christchurfh and tho surrounding country a number approaching two hundred churches intimated beforehand their intention of joining in tho observance.