BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2186, 26 June 1914, Page 4

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

PALMERSTON SCHOOLS DEFENCE ! LEAGUE. (Bj Tolegraph.—Special OorresponaonU ' Palmerston North, June 25. Tho annual meeting of tho National Schools Defence League' was held on Wednesday evening, the Rev. Fordo Carlislo presiding. Officers were elected as follow:—President, Rev. Fordo Car-lislo;'vice-presidents, Rev.' Macdonald Aspland, Pastors Johnston and Piper, Messrs. 1). Buick, M.P., P. S. Robinson, A. D. Buckler, Dr. M'Nab; secretary, Mr. A. E. Whitehead; treasurer, Mr. Rcdward. Tho executivo will consist of all tho officers and four district superintendents. DEFENCE LEAGUE DEMONSTRATION Under the auspices of the New Zealand National Schools' Defenco League, a demonstration against tho proposals of the Bible in Schools' League will be held in the Basin Reserve in the afternoon and in the New Opera House on the evening of Sunday next. The following resolutions will be movod at both meetings:—(l) This meeting believes that our Sta'.e constitution should guarantee the free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship without discrimination, and, therefore, most emphatically protests against the pro-' posal to introduce a particular form of religious intruction into our Slate schools by plebiscite or referendum. (2) As the proposals of the Bible-in-Schoois' League involve (1) compulsion en minorities to contribute to the cost, of the religion-) instruction of the children of majorities; ';!) the right of entry for tlie clergy during tho hours of compulsory attendance, and consequent introduction of sectarian dilVeronces and strife into our Stnto schools, and (3) the. assumption of n right to comnel attendance at religious !c=sons (by demanding from parents a written r» r quest for exemption of their children). I his meeting strongly protests against such uniusl proposals. (3) As the teachers in 'our nrimary schools have entered the service of (he Slate, subject to no religious t,esl. this mooting considers it a "ro*s iniustiee and deliberate breach of faith to comnel them to conduct religious lessons unacceptable to the people as a whole—denying to them as teachers what is conceded' to' them as parents.