BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 41, 12 November 1926, Page 4

BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS

PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY DISCUSSION The Presbyterian .Assembly yesterday discussed the report on ihe Bible-in-S'chools question, on the following remit: —“Tlie elections proved satisfactory to the Bible-in-Schools League, as a majority of the present House of Representatives are pledged supporters of our platform. The Bill was introduced last session by the lion. L. M. Isitt into the Legislative Council and passed to the third reading, when it was defeated by two votes—a most profound and unexpected disappointment. We hope to see it introduced again next session, and can only trust that it will then be passed. The fetish of “secular’’ education has so many worshippers even among religious people that it is no easy task to get the Bihle into our schools, but ’t is distinctly encouraging to see. the advance that has been made. If we do not succeed with this Parliament the League and the churches comprising it will have to consider whether we must not come Tight out and fight a political battle.” Tlie Hon. L. M. Tsitt. M.L.C., addressed the assembly, and narrated the fate attending the Bill last session. Christ hftd for years been knocking nt the barrel doors of the schools, kept closed by a host of indifferentists a handful of agnostics, and the block vote of the Roman Catholic Church. ihe present State system of education was, he said, a direct menace to the welfare of the Dominion. The Bible-m-Schools League was how in full activity, and its effect, he felt convinced would be seen before next session. If the Bill were again defeated, and the Churches woke up, the measure was bound to go through before the Parliament came to a close. The necessity of setting up denominational schools would then be ended for ever. Ute League, he said, was endeavouring to take a plebiscite of parent,' on the question before next session of Parliament, The Rev. D. Milne (Thames) deplored the antagonism of the Labour party, and the Roman Catholic Church, to Mr. Isitt’s Bill, an;] asked "bow ’on*, in this war-stricken world, is the present strife to continue between the great Roman Catholic Church and t'm Protestant Churches?” (Hear, hear.) He annealed to the Labour party and the Roman Catholic Church, to let the Bill go through A resolution declaring the Church, s continual adherence to the League s platform was carried.