PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY AND BIBLE IN STATE SCHOOLS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 173, 18 April 1921, Page 7

PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY AND BIBLE IN STATE SCHOOLS

Sir—The Rev. J. H. MacKenzie, clerk of the Preebytarian General Assembly, informed me some, time ago that the resolution passed by the assembly in favour of the platform of the Biblo-in-State Schools League had never Hen rescinded; and the clerk of tho Westland Presbytery informed mo two weeks ago that he considered that last assembly had resolved that the agitation in favour of the league platform should be resumed! The assembly resolutions in favour of the league platform, which th<> Rev. J. IT. MacKenzie says have never been rescinded, are known only to a few of your renders, and I crave the hospitality of your columns to reproduce them. Tn 1912 the assembly met in Wellington, and on November 12 the Biblc-in-sehools report in favour of the Australian system was presented, and the following resolutions were adopted without even one recorded diesent: — "That the assembly adopt the report, continue the committee, request Ministers and eeerions to assist in fhe organisation of local committees, also to use their influence in furthering tho cause of the Bible-in-State-Schools League, request Presbyteries and ■sessions to make from time to trime progress reports fo the convene’’ of tho committee.” "That, the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church request the executive of the Bible-in-State-Schools League to approach the Government with a request for a referendum submitting tho Australian system of relisrious instruction to tho people of New These resolutions were passed without evoking any amendments, and without even one recorded dissent. Ono or two ministerial members of assembly who took a part in passing these resolutions have since then made a little notoriety for themselves by sniping at the platform of the Bible-in-Stato-Schools League. This lino of action has culled forth the caustic criticism that in the Presbyterian Church they have popular control at the expense of honour. But these snipers are really firing as much nt the Presbyterian. Church as at tho Bible-in-State-Schools League. A guiding principle in the procedure of fhe Presbyterian Church is that if a member of assembly does not dissent from a resolution "he is held as submitting to and acquiescing in the decision as regards both the merits of the cause and the regularity of the procedure."—l am, etc.,

ROBERT WOOD, Acti ng-Seeretary, Bibl e-in-State-Schools League. Wellington, .April 13, 1921.