THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 18 April 1910, Page 2

THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

To the Editor. Sir,—lt is right that parents of children attending out State .schools should know what lessons the Rible in Schools party want taught, but as this party is lying low, I would like to make a few quotations from " The Rible in Schools Text Rook," fls approved by the Wellington conference a lew years ago. This book gives "specimen lessons," aiiul though it'would take too much space in our local paper to give- many of these "specimens," I ( will be content to quote from the "junior lessons," which commence with the first chapter of Genesis. Tho way in which the Scriptures have been, chopped up, and their meaning perverted, is far from creditable to tho compilers, the clergy, who undertook tho work. The story of the creation of the world in six days, the formation, of a woman out of the rib of a mnn, the serpent's talk with Eve, the walking of the Lord God in the Garden of Eden, and the curses delivered there, are part of the lessons to be given to the little children. Every Christian man of any intelligence does not believe the story of creation as recorded in Genesis. Xo one believes that tho world was made in six days, and the historical and scientific accuracy of the first chapters of tin* Rook of Genesis is questioned by tho most eminent leaders of the Church. Then why is it that the clergy in NW Zealand want to perpetuate these errors? In this text book the third chapter of Genesis is given in full, with the, exception of three verses: verse 20. in which we are told that Adam called his wife's name Eve, because, she was the mother of all living; verse 21, which states that the Lord God made coats of skins and clothed Adam and Eve; and verse 22, which gives the reason for Adam's expulsion fronijthe Garden. Now, why is this important incident omitted? The Church has always taught that man fell through disobedience, and was banished because of it. "Tho fall of man," as taught by the Church, is at the root of all present day theology ;< and yet it has no foundation, in Scripture. The compilers of this text book have deliberately left out the verse which, gives the true reason for man's expulsion, because it is to the teaching of the Church,. This is a hard thing to say, but is it a fact. Let me quote the missing verse, and I ask every man and woimin, who profess to be Christians, whether they are_ prepared, to allow a garbled version of the original text to be taught in our public schools. Adam was not sent from the garden for taking of the fruit of the tree of knowledge—it was not for disobedience. Let the Scriptures .attest: "And the Lord God said, Rehold, the mini, is become as one of us, to know good and evil; and now (mark the words) lest he put forth his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat and , live for -ever -therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the Garden of Eden to till the ground whence he was taken" (verse 22—the missing verse). The word "therefore" leaves no room for doubf as to the reason for Adam's expulsion. This is only one of the glaring instances where Bible teaching lias betMi perverted, and I can assure parents that they-would be surpris•d at the "ways that are dark" which this text-book reveals. If the Rible in Schools Party would lie content with the simple teachings of Jesus thev would not find the majority of the people wjthstanding the attempt to give Rible " lessons in .schools. Rut so long -'is this party picks aind chooses to its o;wn satisfaction, without consideration for those who differ from them, so long will the fight continue. 1 have to thank the Rev. S. G. Coinpton for answering my first letter. As yet I see no reasoiii for changing my opinion on the matters T touched upon.—l am, etc., W. C. XATIOX.