Religious Instruction in Schools

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 96, 20 October 1893, Page 2

Religious Instruction in Schools

In the Wellington Diocesan Synod on Wednesday last, the Rev. R. Goffey moved, That, as the present Education Act of New Zealand makes no provision for imparting religious instruction during school hours, this Synod hereby pronounces the said Education Act to be defective in a vital point ; and this Synod earnestly recommends the Church members of the Wellington diocese to vote (when possible) for Parliamentary candidates favorable to a modification of the New * Zealand Education Act. The secular system was good, no doubt, but he was sure that if it was continued for another twenty years its evil results would be very manifest. Mr Coffey said the Roman Catholics sympathised with them in their endeavors ; let them therefore join with the Catholics, and nothing could prevent their ultimate success. Captain Hewitt seconded the motion and remarked that they were perfectly right in protesting against this system of education, because it was only by importing religion into their everyday life and studies that they could elevate their children. He would join with the Roman Catholics in this matter as a last resort, because he should be very sorry to see a majority try and force a system which a minority did not agree with. Mr F. Arkwright said it was perfectly useless to pass such a resolution as the last clause, because candidates knew they were not in earnest) and they merely snapped their fingers at them. But they did not snap their fingers at the Roman Catholics, because they had spent a great deal of money on their schools, and if the Church was in earnest they must do likewise — build their own schools, and then ask Parliament for a grant in aid. He would support the motion. . > The Yen Archdeacon Towgood said if the question was so important as it was said to be, they should try and prevail upon the people in their several parishes to take it up and use their influence for it. They were not likely to get assistance from the Wesleyans and Presbyterians, and they should, therefore, go to their Roman Catholic brethren for assistance. He would support the motion.