THE BIBLE IN OUR SCHOOLS.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 14 April 1910, Page 2

THE BIBLE IN OUR SCHOOLS.

To the Editor. Sir,--As the " Bible in Schools i'arty" is now actively, yet silently, preparing to put men on tho different school committees utter their own heart; ignoring every Mnest ion but the one of having the Rible read in our public schools; casting aside every caindidate for a place on a. committee, however honoiirblo he or she may be, for the same reason ; many of us think it is time to withstand such an attempt to sow discord where, hitherto, harmony has prevailed. As a householder, an admirer of the present. system of education, and a lover of children. 1 must protest against the action of my church friends in this matter. 1 shall probably say hard things, but T wish it to be understood that I do not do so out of any animus or ill-feeling to anyone, but at a time like this, when an important issue is at stake, we'must have "sound speech, seasmi'-d with salt."

B •vend exhorting their h?arers from tlit' pulpit, the leaders of the church party have made no public declaral ion of their intentions ; they are. shall 1 say it, sowing the microbes of discord while tho general public as usual- sleeps profoundly. It is to arouse it from Ibis sleep flia.t T am about to use my p"ii. and in doing this 1 shall, no doubt, be looked upon with much disfavour by the Bible in Schools Party. This matters not to me.

1 li' the church people mean honourable fight, will tliev .tell us plainly whether they have any fault to find with the present secular system of education? As a "secular" system can they suggest any improveme.et ? f shall probably be iold that it is incomplete without Bible lessons; but this introduces I lie rclhrious element, which in the pel. in all parts of the world, has caused-endless wrangling. Are our vouiig men and women who have passed through cur schools without Bible lessens any the worse for the oinisMon? Compared with other places, are they worse? fs it not a fact that when this question 'of romp iris-en with Sydney was brought mi yen's arto it was declared by theri; ni:■ 1 Sc.-rehrv that in that (■ify. where the Bible has been read in Ihe ]. lblie s-h'.ols, statistics •-.h' ".ved ;• <!:>' of Ibices for which v • Z-e'eie; h: s " e-fpiivalent. I,eel- bn'-k et the Boer AYar. AYe •ill 1 ;:■ iv, Hi ' Oie flower of Australia end New Zealnd took part m H : a it! what <i' cc young men. ctiepu'.'d with j'".-- fv m Aus<'ra--1 i;i ? For -nb.e'ienee t;> military ■M- in-i.-o honesty, and dn-st; to the and. children who v/j re iVjj-n -.1 from their T'oin" 1 -. "our toys" von golden cm- ■ : > while ihe ;.n !ho of h<Mside were often in trouble bora iisr f fh"'r --n-ible exploits. Our ! a: ver e-d f'e. Bible- put her re t 1 • ei in their •• 'viols, during set■!,! 1 !■< irs. -1 any rate; the ethers c'H'iiidv did -vet appear to have |n" r iI■ ■ 1 bv if-, le-vhings. Tee X'-w Zcdair- '■'•stem of tvln'••llion allows any clergymn-n to go info a public sehrel ar-d give religious instruction. Have even ten •p -r '1s;. i,i' Il:i-» clergvn en taken adMag ■ (•!' 11 is p.v.i: go? And where Bible teaching has been in!:o :;; 1 tho teachers report that 1 ' children who are. compelled to li- loi look up -a ;■ 'i • :;s as a punishment, and the moral effect is , -l, vd-d" -h' who -re exempt ■-paid ;!'e time outside in play. Ts '1,-,|-> :i sin-de eb'remvin who will stami forth ami .say that a, child \V'\" has "ive I Pdblical instructii u is better ii:au the one who has It is useless i'; r ! !i ' elargy to say fliat. r■' 1 it '*iisll and morality go ha,n-r! in I,"lid: li'.t.ry proves this to be far from the truth, and. besides, our gaols are filled with religious criminals! The New Zealand "aol sfa-'i-ti'-s I'm- 1! ; '7 ei'. - the felt wi"-■-!-'!!iu'.i particulars concerning tieridigiou of the p'-iso-.iers at -t 11■ r ■i;:"- in durance vile: CTiurcli (f Knidand, 2,'t1l : Roman Calh'i]i<--, 1S11: Pre-I.vferiaas. ROl : We.sh "• *'"s. 172: B: |eiv's, 10: cther Pi - it stauis, 12; i; toial. .Viol. Oth r 1 1 j-si "■■>': ir; • 1 s ••' . !■• ft;,- orf.ho-de V •hare!i, Ji'.vs. P; 'l' l IVl'So rilni" iiig no religion. ..!! tol '' What a _ Tf t had add--' io ihe above criminal list, the de'i I: i's end persons o- unsound miii ! ! hen in our gaols, !'"> <"-"iir| (■■) lof -I would he 1,,il- 1 ! i!i would !> • ad""d fo the IT -. It is ni;t the dnfy of the State ! lea'-b niio'i'in. We want men a' a f:• ' ' t ' icral knowlede 'h-if Mi" J :i 1 ,> may I; '-ame se". *'Pl» : r: i'"-- ",-iigieiis '!i " me • '<• i ,i ; U.i- el.arch t;. : - 1 ite. I hope house--:!-] 'crs will ma!" 'y 1 "i 'ed with this sinjeet, :>,!! 1 be present at the meeti ; •> lor Ihe "1 'c 1 "in (if '"-hool coiinni' le ' in dili' iiv f; par' ; / r !iis di---tri -i. ■< Ie 1a r i ■ • ! th" ant bent ieit v of the Scriptures, i r of th" differniil: d-oetriiK's of the r-Liri"-b, !.'• any man believes. The main question is this .".hall v.- • tamper with our preset secular system of educaiion. which has proved it self' far superior to tha Australian

system, just- to iritrnduce ,n, very O'lcvl ion.'ible -• rics of Bible lessons L the Protestant community to be allowed to ride over tho opinions of all tiM'se wh* differ with them? If the ehureh people want to put-, in Mi'ii'iiiH!•<•« who will favour the Bible being rend in our s-diools. arc t.hev i> I !fti;i<j; for.vard men who make it Hi" pr;'e,fi"e of reading Ihe S-rin-l'!i-"s in their own homes to their children? W"i\ want living examples on anv committee tliat. it ■a scored dutv to have tho Bible read in the pnldi". schools. Men who fail in their dutv to their families a< home, who want to foist that dutv upon tovhers. and who seek a place on a school committee to get tile, power to do so, are plavii"r a hvp">"rit.ical part, and thev will have the searchlight-, (i f public 'opinion turned upon them when thnir nimw n'» read out. T hope thi-'i letter will open nn discussion, and vitb vour Permission. Mr Editor, T will ric"'l w!,Hi tim .usnoefs of this Bible in Schools question later on.—Yours, etc.. W. C. XATTON. Levin. Anril 12