THE BIBLE AND THE SCHOOLS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2166, 3 June 1914, Page 9

THE BIBLE AND THE SCHOOLS.

(To the Editor.) . ' Sir,—As a native of this City who has spent many years of my life iu New boutli Wales, and therefore intimately acquainted with its education system, its oUicers, teachers, schools, and' people, it makes my blood boil over with indignation when I read tho misleading letters constantly appearing in tho Press written by people who have never spent nioro than ;i week or two at ono or other of tho hotels in Sydney and therefore they know absolutely nothing of the character of the peoplo'or of tho working of its educational institutions or of tho character of teachers or scholars. In their mad fury and opposition towards those who aro working, hard to rectify a big blunder in the past' by introducing tho Bible, the teaching of Christianity, and tho recognition of the Creator of the Universe into tho protestant schools of New Zealand, they' ve-lmsh over and over again all the idlo tittle-tattle and slander that has been collected and circulated by the supporters of the rival schools of tho Church of Rome. A few weeks ago tho teachers of the New South "Wales Schools held a meeting, and, strongly protested against the senseless slanders that were being put into circulation by the supporters of tho opposition schools and their friends. A teacher in charge of a largo school in tho North Island, when dismissing tho children for tho last Easter holidays, asked tho scholars, "Why is Good Friday set apart as a holiday?" Not one of them coulcl answer. Ho then asked: "What is meant by tho Crucifixion?" Not one of theih could toll him. A Methodist clergyman that I know was in charge- of a largo circuit in this Island, and held services regularly in twelve preaching places, but there wore onlj twe Sinula) Schools, and he> found that ho could not get teachers for more than theso two. Is it any wonder, when tho peoplo are; being brought up in such dense ignorance and the Biblo tho teaching of Christianity and all knowledge of the Crea'tor is banished by law from the protestant schools of this country?

Thirty years ago or more, when tho Act- of Parliament was passed banishiujr.the Bible from the schools, colleges, mid'university, both hero and in Victoria, splendid Sunday Schools flourished all over tho land, and tho children everywhere, almost without exception-, were, well grounded in the big, broad principles of Christianity. But now, "what a change has come- over tho scene." In very many places Sunday Schools do not exist, and in places v/liero they arc established the attendnnco is very small, and the- interest of the people generally in them is at a very low ebb, and to a great extent tho crowded churches of other days superseded by the crowded theatres and other places of amusement (I was going to say of vice) of to-day. A great compliment was paid to tho education system of Now South Wales by tho Director of Education in the rival adjoining Stato of Victoria (Jfr. F T-ite), in speaking to a "Daily Telegraph" reporter a few weeks r.go. Ho said: "Wo are following as closely in trie footsteps of Now South Wales, and copying as much as possible of her manv admirable methods in connection with her great and growing work. In spmo instances we trv, of course, to improve' on your methods," etc. In conclusion, I would like to urtro my countrymen and women, as strongly and earnestly as I possibly can, to follow in ,, tho 'footsteps of' Now South Wales, i)nd copy licr example by restoring the Bible onco more and forever to om- schools.-! oniric., North land-. May 25, 191-I.'