BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 519, 20 November 1912, Page 5

BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS.

A COMMITTEE FORMED. The meeting to form a local committee of the Bible in State Schools League, was held in the Anglican Church Hall, Te Kuiti, on Monday night. The meeting was opened by the reading of a passage of Scripture and prayer. A letter was read from the Rev. S. Griffiths, regretting that he was unabie to attend. The object of the League is the restoration of religious teaching in the public schools of the Dominion by the of religious instruction which has existed in New South Wales since 186(5, and since has been adopted by Tasmania, Western Australia, Norlolk Island, and lastly, by Queensland, about two years ago. Under this system a Scripture lesson book would be drawn up by the department of public instruction. These lessons would be read by the children, the teachers simply seeing that they were understood an intelligently as any other lessons. All churches alike, without any exception, would have opportunity afforded them of sending their ministers, or accredited teachers during school hours to instruct children of their respective denominations at a time to be fixed by mutual arrangement. There would be a "conscience" clause by which no child would read the Scripture lessons, or receive a visit from a minister contrarv to the wishes of his parpnts. The Revs. A. Armstrong, R. B. Gosnell, and E. S. Wayne addressed the meeting in support of the movement. At the close of the meeting it was announced that the ministers present, with two laymen from each church, would form a committee to carry on and control the local work of the League, and the meeting was closed with the Benediction.