The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1927. A CHURCH AVAR.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 November 1927, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1927. A CHURCH AVAR.

Jt would appear that a, church war is to ho provoked over the Bihlc in Schools question.. A clergyman in the North Island talks of taking oft' the gloves, which suggests bare knuckles for the fray, so it will be some fight. When we recall that this fighting speech was delivered in the same atmosphere as previously decided against military training for the youth of tho country, we wonder how such a warlike spirit could be evoked among those so disposed to peace. However, "c may take it the war is on—but whore is it to lead? It would appear that with the licensing question, and the IJihlo-i ll-Schools issue, general politics will he submerged next election, and there will he a sectarian issue which will have disastrous results affecting the real peace and progress of the Dominion. Tf the Bible-in-Sehools question is to be discussed on its merits it will mean much general discussion which will lie harmful to issues really affecting the public weal. The Bible-in-Sehools question will not lie ended by the preliminary Church War. for if adopted by Parliament eventually there will ho general disunity continued. Once the reading is decided upon it will tie carried out under teachers of all denominations, and as scholars advance from class to class they will have a different- teacher probably of a differing denomination year after year. Such instruction as may ho attempted will grow bewildering, while as we know tho teachers are generally opposes! to the projjosal. there may he a concerted movement to bring the whole practice into contempt. There are also to he considered those scholars whose parents are aliens, who might not he professing a Christian religion, to be considered. But in that relation, if an alien of some religion other than Christian, discovers the mixed attitude of those professing the Christian religion on the subject of Bible reading in what spirit will the Pf )S ' t '°n be viewed among many growing minds. There will be the disposition to regard the situation witli a degree of contempt that will not lie edifying, and will tend to bring the whole practice into disrepute. Chief of all there will be nothing short of an upheaval in tho harmonious relations of the community generally. The purpose of the education system as regards its secular standing will be destroyed, and a ser-

ions blow will be struck at the national value of education. Classes are made up of children of all Christian creeds, and once the secular system is departed from, trouble must urVc within the school which will have a serious effect on the general educational value of the work of the school. There are sure to be sharp divisions of opinion among Committees as well as teaching staffs, while chiel el all the views of the parents must be considered. The Church war it is proposed to start, with such virulence, will l:e of a very upsetting character, and will create in the Dominion an atmosphere altogether harmful to the rising generation. There is obviously a brick wall in the way of the Bible-in-Schools question in this country, and to attempt to butt into it irrespective of public consequences is to bead blindfold into disaster. This the more so because there is some other way. There is the opening always for denominational instruction outside of school hours; there are the Sunday schools, am! greatest ol all there is the home training. On top of these chief lines of action there is the promise of the political palliative—the Nelson system.