BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2015, 24 March 1914, Page 9

BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS.

CONFERENCE OF WORKERS! THE REFERENDUM DEMAND. A conference of workers foi - the Bible lii-Statfi >dio9ls League's Pio■.iirei tif "STolJingtw. Mas hol'l m St John , !, \\allis Street, Inst ii {?ht the Rei Dr Gibh prestding Time tteie Lonsidtiabh o;ei 100 pit bent, mchliliu<<; <,omn fiom Md&torton, and Hutt Moie than hilr thes" picieiit; signed the cards ot eaintstncss, pledging thcm&ck<>s to put Bible m schools betcio anj politital issu<* in the event ot tbr tailnre or PailumcHt to grant thf rfleicnduui tins session. The following resolution was passed on the inotiou ol Mrs Leightoi), of Hutt, and Mrs, Barton, or ]'cath.eretei<.-

* Tils conference of workers, repteI seutiug d league membership ot 12,373 in the olectoiates of Hutt, Masterton, 'Wellington North, VT«lhngtoji Central, Wellington East, 'Wellington Sul)uri)s,, and Wellington South, retards its opinion, based "upon close contact with the electors an -cam assing, that the demand for the referendum asked for by the Bible-m-Statc-Schools League, has grown in such intensity, and so widely, that it is no longer possible that it sliould be delayed without causing serious complications in political quarters This conference expresses its firm co&rictiQu that the only way in which to avoid having the question involved tsiik other political issues is to pass the Referendum Bill thunigh Parliament tiis session, and have the refeiondum taken nt the ne\t general election. It commends to the Government the facts that the churches com* piising the league have lemamed unflmchinglv true to the platform of the league spt up by those chuiehes, and tint the and Methodist Chinches ha\e, at th« fiist opixsrtuintv m tjic picseni. joar, leathrmed their adliorenee "

It was proposed by Mr. Win. Allan. ■ Seconded by 31r. Wra. Hopfcirjf, ajid oai'« : r-ied u-nantaiously. that "This eonfereaee, in eoitsirloring t-Ke situtttkai, desires to express its profound gratitude at iho pregress wade by Ilie movement, as evidenced in the huge-signed nYciHbers.hip of the leagues tie gfeat number of ceni* ■nvittses-, the en.tltttsias.tje. detcrM-ihat-imt to secure a refera'ndum of the question .to the people, ■ and £hc readiness of. n ja.rfie number ef members gf the- league . to sacrifice all p-u-Vsly political considerations, if necessary, ;to achieve the object ■in vie*. The conference weuH further express, its wann of tlio sorrices of tlie secretary, Canon Garland , ., to Wh&se skill in lead' ership, untiring devotion, and nbsolijw integrity of piirDoSe aijd β-ctieij the movemeilt is indebted fn an incalculable degree," . At the last meeting • of tho Karori hrunc'h of the Ohui'ish of England lilen's" Sfle-icty a TE-s-al-utiml was miaivtinoußly . cafpiod M favttU-r, of tire referendum asked for by ftc Leagije, "ana iresolving to support the kaguo itt any steps tvhich may bo tateii tet ftiisu-m the subn?."i,ij-Sion of ihe qu-es' tidii to the people ftt tlic, fi.BKfc gijncfal «ije«stion. At a mcetiMg of the We-dss-tofri) branch of the- G.EUI.S. Mie. following rtsol#ion. t?ns carried;—" That tin's ~ :jheetn(p;, re.preSeiitiiiK the Waclestowu ! '. hranpli' of the- C.E.M-S., cspre-Sses tho : cmiyictio.lv tha,t a sufficient itiijiiber af : the people of tUcy .ZealjVitd.' m z . tlefteed tJlftir sles'ife for tlipji'sf.MJfWtlfinJ • raquested bjr the Bible4ii-Stti.te-Sc : hook ! . Loiigaie tp joetify iho β-otfismiijent .in -intrpdliCHig tJie.-licesssarj'.nieeetire., aii-d. ' : rosolVea to slippott th.o Jeagtie eseovitivo . hi an,V steys which way be, tafon to in- : shjp suh'isissioa of the a'uestioji to the whols of t'ho , peopte at the next general elcetimj. Wis exjjrdss the opujibn. that ■ the time is now ripe fop. -.a.ijL im-mediate and final settlement of the. hng'thn- ■ tin-nod dtsfsatisfactistvi wit-h tho. ftjtejiiw sioti. -of relfeloiis msfcruetfoji freni tile national system of education; 1.