“ THE GLOVES OFF."

Hokitika Guardian, 24 November 1927, Page 1

“ THE GLOVES OFF."

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS CAMPAIGN. A FIGHTING SPEECH. CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 23. “ The time Ims arrived to take the gloves off,” remarked the Rev. John Paterson, of Wanganui, in a lighting speech at last night’s session of the Presbyterian General Assembly, on the Bible in Schools question. Air Paterson, who presented the report of the Assembly’s Bible in Schools Committee, said that for many years past those who had conducted the campaign in New Zealand had refrained to the utmost from stirring up strife in the community. But to-day- the situation had changed. Their opponents, led by Bishop Cleary, had used every means of defeating them and had villified them on every occasion. The time had now arrived to take the gloves off and at the beginning of December a stirring campaign from end to end of the Dominion would be launched. He had no hesitation in saying that the onus for that strife would not be on the Bible in Schools Council. Year after year it had put the question before the community without stirring up strife at general elections, but its activities had been 'smothered by most virulent abuse from their opponents. Because their opponents were loudmouthed and full of abuse, said Air Paterson, they had been given consideration by Parliament out of all proportion to their numbers. The Bible in Schools Council had taken a referendum of parents from end to end of New Zealand and by overwhelming majorities the parents had declared that they wanted this thing. He had now to ask whether the fathers and mothers of the children of New Zealand were to be granted their wishes or whether those wishes were ~to be flung on one side. Were they going to be dictated to by the ecclesiastics of the Roman Catholic Church and a handful of strong secularists centred in Wellington ? He was speaking strongly because it was the time for speaking strongly. He wanted Presbyterians to back to the utmost of their ability the campaign that was to be launched next month. Although they had made their position clear they had been continually misrepresented by their opponents. They were simply asking that the boys and girls of New Zealand should bo taught the contents of the English Bible. That was all. They were simply saying that an education system that left out Biblteaching was ridiculous. He would say that it was absolutely ridiculous that the boys and girls living in New Zealand should be denied the right of being taught the contents of the English Bible. Clauses had been inserted in what had come to be known as the Isitt Bill to meet every possible objection.

It was the business of the ministers said Air Paterson, to teach religion. They were not asking the State to teach religion; they were not asking the teachers to teach religion. The Bill laid that down. They were simply asking that part of the education which the children received should be a knowledge of the contents of the English Bible. That was why he hoped they would never be side-tracked into giving religious instruction out of the school hours. They held that every boy and girl in New Zealand should know the contents of the Book, which was the basis not only of their religion, but of their literature, their laws, their art, and was the whole fabric of the civilisation of which they were and which their fathers had built up. While the Nelson system had much

to commend it, anything that was done out of selibol hours did not touch the system. For. eighteen years the Wanganui district had this system, .and it worked well as far as it went, hut without a word of explanation th“ ministers were brutally ordered out of the schools. That happened on the casting vote of the chairman. The present Nelson system, lie maintained, would not work satisfactorily in many districts. It was too comprehensive to he put into general operation. They were told that they ought to he satisfied with the legalising of this system. but no system of voluntary teaching could possibly meet the need. There was a large number of small schools in isolated country districts where it was sheer impossibility for the ministers to go round and do that teaching. Nothing that made the teaching of the Bible a matter of sufferance could make it a success. He held that it was an insult to the Bible. The teaching of the Bible must he made a part of the school system. Air Paterson then moved as follows:— ; “ That the Assembly, while affirming that nd solution of the problem of

Bible teaching to the children of New; Zealand can l>e finally satisfactory which does not make that teaching an integral part of the curriculum, and, in part at least, under the control of the teachers, in response to the finding of the Parliamentary Education Committee, is willing to explore the suggestion of an extension and legalising of the Nelson system provided that the permission to work this system is not dependent on education boards and schools committees, that it is allowed within the time of ordinary school hours and that teachers trilling to do so he allowed to assist in the Bible teaching.” The motion was seconded by the Rev. R. D. Al’Ewan .(Alataura) and carried unanimously without discussion. On the recommendation of the committee. it was also decided that the Assembly re-nffirm its adhesion to the present Bible in Schools Bill, and express its appreciation of those who are working in Parliament- in support of it. and that it express' gratification at the result of the Bible in Schools referendum and thank all who assisted in carrying it out>.