BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1994, 27 February 1914, Page 4

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

' CONFERENCE REVIEWED. . ; LEAGUE MEANS BUSINESS, The, Bible-m-Stato-Sehools Conference which lias been sitting lor tho last three 'days hi tho Presbyterian Church c-fhw,. 'Wellington, closed yesterday afternoonThe eont'oßuiee was constituted of secretaries of central and other committees,, covering the. whole Dominion. Interviewed last evening, Oa.Bon Garland stated that tbo cWil'cMUeo had not met for the purpose <tf passing resolutions or determining anything. Tho only resolution passed was the following, intended for the information of the Government:—

"At a cunferottra hold from February 24. to ■23 in the Presbyterian Church eific-fci, Wellington, of .delegates of tho League, representing central and either /.•orawittces covering the whole Dominion, it was ressh-ed,. on tho motion of. Mr. J. C. 'Adams, chairaan at the Canterbury Go-h----lego Board of 'Governors, and seconded by Mr. Gilbert Carson, of Wa-flganni: That tho Government he respectfully tat firmly urged to introduce this session tho Bill containing tho rofereiiduia on tho question for which, up to December 31, 133.0(50 indivi-dvial electors of New Zealand havo signed, a written request. This conference is of opinion that tbo iwitjcst for the referendum would have been espresso*! in many instances in much stronger ways but for loyalty to the .policy of tiro executive during the past year; and this conference is further of opinion, tliat .the. deiiiMK) for -tho referendum is so intense that the disappointment at any failure to carry the Rriereuduni • Bill 'tin's coining session will be acutely feltin every electorate, espce.ially by women voters/''

Under the organisation, of tbe .league, ■Canon Garland continued, no Conference or any other cQiu-inittoe had any deeis'ivo powcf-.-tha.t rested solely with the exeoutiyo. .Tho eonforeuco had made certain .recommendations. One was that there should ha ho relaxing- in effort, but a pressing forward with thomovenicli.t to obtain, during tho eoming session of Parliameirtj the Referendum ..Bill .asked for by the League Tho confcrerico had made an impression on.him that t>o membars of the leaguo iiieant business, but left an idea that tlioy bad yet to impress upon Parjja'mest how much they meant business. "As an indication of this, 1 " said Canon Garland, "tho -executive- was reeommendod, iii tho event of any tardiness ii> respoiiding to the request made to the tiovernniont by tiiu-Cliu-rebes. constituting tho League, and Buplsortej by so latg-o a body of teachers, to form a league of earnestness within tho'league,- to-be constituted of those who ai* already known to be willing to .place the Bible-iu-schoois .movoment before any political party issue. A further reconiracudation was that a sum- of bo raised' for the final eaii'ipaign fond, "lu. the course. <<f tho coiifcroneo," said. Canon' Gjtriand, "several interesting statements, were. made. Oiio was that long before, the Prohibition movement; h«d atijijiic-d tho;, strength. -of tlm : •k-agsfei : i-bo' of the' day' iiitrodue'ed; tho Bill'asked for by tho Pro-liihitionbt-s. .. It. was stated that this 'Was done before .'tlift Prohibition; Organisation 'wnmbwed 160,000' voters,' while the league, on U-eeattbor 31 test, had an organisation of 130,000 voters. The. suggestion put forward by opponents that tho Kelson system should bo adopted was regarded as coining touch too late in, tho day. as oven an alternative to the. league's proposal, not merely because'-of the. Uiflie-al-ties niadoih the.past by education boards and committees, but on ftecouiit of tho fsct that it has proved, utterly iNadequate, and "is also iio solution of the problem Iroiu the natiotul point pf view. Sow.6 meni- ' bers'of the' eonfereiieo a*e' ac-tually teaehiug under the Nelson -system,, and they wove loudest- in condemning it as wholly inadequate, however 'suitable as a* stop'gap in. a few favoured localities. It Was also disclosed thsfc tiler* we-.ro pertain primary schools in Which State school teachers opened with prayer and Bible-reading, and others in which Bible lessons wore being given during the ordinary school hours-, .sometimes in tho middle. o.f tho day. It Was recognised by tire, conference that this was nn ii'i-frijige-mc-nt of the Act, but it was _re.gardod as an evidence of the growing dissatisfaction with the existing condition of things, whan teachers and par-oi-sts took the risk of defying the 'Act in order to give their children something better t-lian ''-entirely secular" education.-"-

■isatibn 'numbeicd 100,000' voters,' while the -league., oli -Deceasbor 31 test, had an organisation of 130,000 voters. The suggestion put forward by opponents that the Kelson system should bo adopted was regarded as coining much too late in, tho day. sis oven an alternative to the. leajguff's proposal, not merely because'-of the. Uime-aJ-ties made'in' the.past by education boards and committees, but on ftecouiit of tho fsct that it has proved, utterly inadequate, and "is also u.o solution of the problem from the nafie-tial point pf view. Sow.6 members'of the' eonfc-reiieo are' ac-tually teaehiug under the Nelson system, and they were loudest- in condeinning it as wholly inadequate, however 'suitable as a* stop-gap in. a few favoured localities. It Was also disclosed thst there ware certain. primary schools in Which State school teachers opened with prayer and Bible-reading, aiid others in which Bible lessons wore being given during the ordinary school hours-, sometimes in tho middle, of the day. It Was recognised by tire conference that this was nn infringement of the Act, but it was regarded a.s an evidence of the growing dissatisfaction with tho existing condition of things, whan teachers and paroifts took the risk of defying the Act in order to give their -children something better than, "entirely secular" education:"In conclusion, Canon Garland remarked that the conference - Was a ' very happy experience..- .There was not. a sign of the slightest provincial jealousy which sometimes was manifested, iii other piibiie affairs, and .the harmony between the members of tho different churches was very marked. Ho irieiuded in this the fact that individual members of tiro Church of -Christ and the Baptist Church were amongst'thoso taking part."