The Daily Telegraph. THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 1883.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3652, 29 March 1883, Page 2

The Daily Telegraph. THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 1883.

At the last meeting of the North Canterbury Education Board the question of Bible reading in district schools formed the chief subject of discussion. From the Geraldine Chronicle aa'C learn that the principal feature of the discussion Avas the reading of a letter from tho Rev. Croasdaile Bowen, the Incumbent of Riccarton, in Avhich he described his method of imparting religious instruction to the pupils atteudnig the public school in his district. Bible reading in schools has been tho subject of public discussion in all parts of the colony, and in Napier it has received a Aery large amount of attention. We believe that the ministers of the Church of England liaA'e taken a deep interest hi the question, and wo know that the Incumbent of St. John's applied a long time ago for the use of the school in order to impart religious instruction after school hours. His application aa-as readily granted, but avc have not heard whether he ever availed himself of it. HoAVCA'er that may be, it may be of use in districts Avhere the time of clergymen is less fully occupied than in Napier, to publish the Rev. Mr BoAven's letter, AA'hich is addressed to Mr AY. Montgomery. It is as folloAvs— My Dear Sir, —I willingly comply with your request for information Avith respect to the religious instruction given to the children attending Riccarton school, and you are quite at liberty to make any use of it you may think fit. AVhcn tho present Education Act came into force in the beginning of 1878, being unwilling that the religious instruction gi\ r en to the children of Riccarton school for the twenty years previous should be discontinued, I applied to the local Committee elected under the Act i'or the vino of the school building for half an hour before the commencement of the regular school AA'ork. This aa .is granted, and tho hour for opening the school for secular instruction Avas fixed at 9.30 a.m. During the past five years religious instruction has been regularly given in the school daily, from nine to half-past, by myself, with, the assistance of the school teachers, Avho, I am thankful to say, recognise the importance of a religious training for the children entrusted to their care, and (voluntarily of course) help me in this good work. AYe commence AA'ith tho singing of a hymn, in AA'hich all the children join, folloAved by prayer, including the Lord's Prayer, one or tAvo" short Collects, and a special prayer for God's blessing on the school and those engaged in its daily Avork—both teachers and learners. The school is then divided into classes (corresponding as far as possible with the divisions in the school Standards, of Avhich tAA-o are sometimes grouped together) for the reading aud study of the Bible. I usually take the first class myself, occasionally examining the less advanced pupils in the portion of Scripture in Avhich they aro being instructed. I have every reason to believe, both from their oavu statements aud from the regularity A\*ith Avhich their children attend at the appointed hour, that the parents A-alue this opportunity of religious instruction in the school, and Avould not Avillingly forego it. All the children at xiresent on the school roll (unless on days Avhen they aro absent altogether from school) attend regularly at nine o'clock for this purpose, with the exception of two or three children of Roman Catholic parents. The rest include members of the Church of England, Presbyterians, AVesleyans, etc. At halfpast nine the bell is rung a second time to announce the commencement of tho regular school course, and to summon any Avhose parents do not Avish them to attend the classes for religious histruction. All tins is done strictly in the spirit and in accordance Avith tho provisions of the Education Act, -which, as you, Sir, are avcll aAvare, provides (clause 84, sub-section 2) " That the school shall be kept open for fiA-c days in each Aveek for at least four hours, tAvo of which in the forenoon and two in tho afternoon shall be consecutive" ; and (subsection 3) "That the school building may be used at hours other than those used for public school purposes upon such terms as the Committee shall from time to time subscribe." It will doubtless be AA'ithin your recollection that in the original Bill brought before the General Assembly by my brother, Mr Charles Boavcii, provision Avas made for the reading of the Holy Scriptures in public schools. This provision Avas omitted in the Act, not, as I believe, because the Legislature Avas aA'crse from the rising generation of Ncav Zealanders being educated iv religious motives of conduct, and in accordance with the principles of Christianity, but because, "OAving to the differences of Christians amongst themselves, it was thought best that the State (Avhich in Ncav Zealand is a purely secular body) should confine its efforts exclusively to the regulation of secular teaching, leaA'ing to the parents and the clergy of the different religious denominations the entire responsibility of the religious teaching of the children. Iv this I believe and those of the clergy who take the same A'ieAv as myself aro endeavoring loyally to carry out to the best of our poAver a duty imposed upon us not only be A'irtuc of our Di\'ino commission but by the State itself.