A RETURN TO OLD PATHS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2283, 17 October 1914, Page 4

A RETURN TO OLD PATHS

STATEMENT BY BISHOP AVERILL. (From a Correspondent.) Auckland, October 16. In his chargo to the Auckland Anglican Diocesan Synod yesterday afternoon, Bishop Averill made the following statement on the Bible-in-State schools movement:—'"Although the war has necessitated a temporary easing off in tho Bible-in-Stato schools movement, yet it can only serve to emphasise tho importance of the league's objective, and the need of strengthening tho forces in the community making for •national righteousness. The electors of the Dominion will appreciate the prompt ro- ' quest on behalf of the league's' .executive for the temporary wilidrawal of the Referendum Bill, and will endeavour to return to Parliament at the coming election men who are alivo to the importance of national character -, and who will endeavour to strengthen our national system of primary education by associating with it the public recognition of Almighty God, and the teaching of His holy word as a moans, towards that dosired end. The object of the league is not to destroy, but to fulfil j not to maim, but to improve, tho present system, and to -make it worth defending, and acceptable to the consciences of the majority of the people of the Dominion. If it is inexpedient or inadvisable to reintroduce tho Roforomlum Bill before the dissolution of tho present Parliament, it is most adWsabl" that it should be introduced and passe' as soon as possible by the new Parliament even if the referendum is not taken until the following election. Our thanksgivings to Almighty God for His help in tho work and for the restoration of peace should surely be expressed in deeds as well a> words,, and jp, what better wax caa we espie.jß that

gratitude than by removing from our educational system the blot lyhich it must contain as long as parents are denied the right of conscience in tho State education of their children; nml may we not hope to start, a new century of religious life with a rotiirn to tho old paths our fathers trod, and revive _ Scripturc-roadiiig and relii»ovis leaching in our day schools for tfioso who frelieve that the training and de-. velopinent of character, which is an essential part of school life, is more likely to bo obtained by teaching the truth's of divine revelation than by the inculcation of a vague morality. The oftrepeated and plausible battle- cries of the opponents of the Bible in schools, viz., sectarianism, religious strife, injustice to tho teachers, violation of conscience, etc., can hardly be justified by tho testimony and experience of those best able to judge in tho . Australian States where tho system advocated by the league has been, tried and retained."