Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, MAY 24, 1881. THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS QUESTION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue 76, 24 May 1881, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, MAY 24, 1881. THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS QUESTION.

, A very determined agitation has peen for some time in existence in different parts of the colony, but especially in Otago and Auckland, in favour of the reading of the Bible in the State schools, and it is certain that a very strong effort will be made to induce Parliament to accede to the wisbeß of the large section of the .colonists who hold that the reading of the Bible, should form part of the daily school work. The Wanganui Chronicle, -which is somewhat of an authority on these matters, published an article on Friday on this question, which opened with the surprising assertion that "The only question which at the present time gives any indication of being a burning question at the next general elections is that of the Bible in schools." While we do not agree with our contemporary's statement, we nevertheless believe i tne*Bubjeot will receive considerable attention at next election, not so .much" because df its intrinsic importance as because pftjhe amount of feeling which is displayed by both part.flfQJ«#9iawtiOfi wUkitJ^giU Of the importance of the youth of the colony being educated in those

principles of justice, honesty, morality, and general rectitude which are embodied in the Bible, there can be no doubt ; but whether this would be accomplished by acceding to the wishes of the Bible-in-schools party may be gravely doubted. jVhat their precise wishes are, it. would puzzle a Philadelphian lawyer to ascertain. Some ask that that the Bible may be read and expounded by the teacher ; others that a chapter may simply be read verse by verse without comment by the children daily ; while a third party propose that clergy of the different -denominations should -b» allowed to attend the schools at different times and inculcate the tenets of their respective Churches in the minds of the children belonging to them. Referring to the Chronicle's article, we fail to find anything like a clear statement of what the Bible-in-schools party want Our contemporary winds up with these sentences: — " We have no desire to see a return to the denominational system — a system which failed.and necessarily and increasingly failed, in overtaking the education of the youth of the colony. Our wish is, not that the tenets of this or that particular body should be insisted on, nor even, as we have said, that each particular body should bo allowed to invade the schoolroom during ordinary school hours for the sake of obtaining youthful adherents ; but what we claim should be as the very corner-stone of our educational system ia, that that Book which is at the very foundation and base of our English civilisation should once again be enthroned as the Book of books in the seminaries of our land." From the above we gather that the Chronicle is opposed to the denominational system, and also to the clergy attending the schools and imparting religious instruction there. He is clear on what he does not want, but evidently has not yet made up his mind as to what would suit him. All he claims is, that the Bible " should be once again enthroned as the Book of ' books in the seminaries of our land." The sentence is nicely rounded, but what does it meau ? Does he wish the Bible to be " enthroned " in the sense of being made the chief study in the State schools, everything else being made subservient to the one aim of turning out a generation of young Puritans, who would have passages of Scripture interlarded throughout their conversation, but would be destitute of the education necessary to make them good business men ? If the meaning of the Chronicle's proposed " enthronement " is what the word legitimately implies, our State schools would be, if his " claim " were acceded to, turned into Bible seminaries, with a little general education added.

We give way to no one in our deBire to see the youth of the colony educated in religion, nevertheless we doubt whether the slightest good would be effected by the State taking the matter in hand in any shape or form. The line of demarcation between Protestant and Catholic teaching ia so clearly defined that it is useless to expect any compromise in that direction. Where Catholic teaching prevails, Protestant children will not be sent, and vio« versa. Then, again, there are so many divisions of opinion amongst Protestants themselves, that it would be almost impossible for a common basis to be agreed upon. Besides these, also, there are the Jews and Freethinkers, whose opinions are diverse from both of the two great bodies of Christians. Experience proves the impossibility of reconciling these religions differences, and in that fact lies the greatest barrier to the reading of the Kible in the State schools.

Of the three plans proposed by the Bible*in-schools party, the one to whi'jh we have the least objection is that which proposes to allow the different clergymen to attend the schools and impart religious instruction to the children of their own communions after school honrs. Uuder this method the sectarian difficulty would be avoided, each sect having its recognised day and teacher; nevertheless it is doubtful to our mind whether the clergy of all the denominations would accept the additional work it involved. Some, we believe, would say that the very excellent Sunday schools organised in connection with their respective Churches, in conjunction with other Church work, met the necessities of the children. The other proposals of the Bible-in-schools party ,to have the Bible read daily without or without comment by either the teacher or the scholars, may be dismissed with the remark that without comment the Bible would remain a sealed book to the children; while if teachers were allowed to comment upon it as they pleased.very strictexamination would need to be made into their theological views, leat Freethinking teachers should undermine the faith of the scholars in " the Christian verities." In such a case, the last state of the children would be worse than the first, whilst; the absurdity of inquiring into a teacher's religious views needs no comment.

A review of the whole question leads us to the opinions that State education must be secular ; that if th« clergy choose to instruct their children in religion after school hours witfyifttfee, school buildings there is no par fcicwift*. reason for objecting; that provision should te made by wbiok religious bodies desiring to

educate their own children should receive aid fiorn the State, based upon the number in attendance and the results ; and lastly, that the real religious education of the children is carried on in the home and the Sunday school, especially the latter. In fact, we believe, the Churches have not yet risen to a proper sense of the importance of the Sunday school, as a means of training children. We believe the time will come when, in stead of those institutions being left almost entirely in the hands of laymen, they will be presided over by trained clergymen, specially fitted •md sefraside forthatparticularbranch of Church work.

Queen's Birthday. — Sunday hours wi'l be observed at the Post and Telegraph offices today.

All Saints' Church.— The Rev. J. M 'Williams, of Otaki, conducted the services at All Saints' Church on Sunday evening last. The rev. gentleman was on his usual quarterly visit to the native congregation at M >utoa, but as a larger num. her of natives were at the Motuiti settlement, the services were held at that place. Correction. — In the paragraph in last issue in reference to the shoutiiig for Mi Kirk wood's prize, we inadvertently placed Mr Birchley as the second highest scorer. It should have been Mr Jonsou. The score* made on tie occasion were — Liddell, 42; Jonsun, 33 J Birchley, 26 ; Robinson 27. CoUnty Rolls. —The clerk to the Mana watu County Council announces in another column thatthe electoral rolls for the several ridings of the Manawatu County will be open for inspection at the places mentioned .in the advertisement between the 26th of May and 25th June next. Foxton Highways Board.— A sitting of this Boatd will be held at the Athenaeum tomorrow evening. Dr Skab. — The Government have determined to give Dr Skae six months' notice of the termination of his engagement, owing to tke recent disclosures in connection with toe Mount Vi«w Asylum. The action of the Government in connection with this matter will meet with general support throughout the colony. County Council. — A special meeting of fcho Council was to have been held at Foxton yesterday, to consider the replies to the circular. Messrs Macarthur and M'Beth were the only members who attended from the upper district, and the two Foxton councillors— Mes9rß Gray and Eockstrow — were the only representatives of the southern ridings who put in an appearance. As the presence of one more councillor was necessary to form a quorum, the meeting was not held, and the northern members returned by the morning train. Accepted Tender,— The tender of Mr T. Eaaton has been acoopted for the erection of Mr John Davies' house at Wirikino. The time given for the completion of the work is three months. When finished, the house will be one of the best in the district. Business Notice. — Mr S. Coleman, the well-known Commission Agent of Palmerston North,announcesinanothor column that in addition to the agency business transacted by him, he is now prepared to undertake auction aales in any part of the Wellington Provincial District. We have no doubt that with Mr Coleman's well-known business aptitude and genial disposition he will be as successful in his new line as he has been in the other branches of business hitherto conducted by him. " Another Nest !"— Some fun has lately been mide at the expense of a well-known Foxton man, who rather prides himself on his shooting. In a late match Mr Greencloth did tot make the highest score, and being rather annoyed at the defeat, challenged the top scorer to a match at 500 yards. Here a worse fate befel him, for suffering under the annoyance of the previous defeat, he failed to hit the target once. At the first match an outsider had competed and he had succeeded in making about 15 "misses" in the course of the match, and the unfortunate marksman had been bantered a great deal on his want of success The latter however retaliated, for approaching Oreencloth next day he told him he ''had found another neat!" •'What of?" enquired the person questioned. " Ducks' eggs, near the 500 yards range I " was the reply. The response made by Greencloth we do not care to chronicle, but suffice it to say very few remarks having- reference to "Bhooting" or "nests" have since baen made in his hearing. Poundiko.— We understand some slight trouble has arisen between the natives at Mou*oa and a new settler there, who. whilst the natives were away, drove off about nine of their horses to the pound. When the Maoris returned and heard of the pounding they immediately commenced to drive the settler's cattle to the pound ; but in the meantime the settler, who had got some distance to the pound with the horses, was advised to act in a spirit of forbearance and return the horses to the settlement. We are glad to hear that these better counsels prevailed, as, when the natives saw the horcea returned, they left their neighbor's cattle alont. Carriage of Parcels. — A great bojn to persons having small parcels to send to the Mother Country has now been arranged for by the Union Steam Shipping Company of New Zealand in conjunction with the Orient Steam Shipping Company. This consists of a parcel express bj whioh packages a foot measurement and upwards can be sent through to London at a minimum charge of five shillings per foot or one shilling per lb., measure or weight being charged at the option of the company. Lecture. — Mr Stout delivered his lecture on the Irish question at Wellington on Friday night, to a large and appreciative audience. During his lecture Mr Stout said he thought the Irish had been most patient under their surrounding grievances. He did not believe in wars or disturbances of any kind, but he considered those persons who shot the Boers at Transvaal were every bit as bad as the Irish tenants who shot the landlords. Mr Stout then said thit there were facts in connection with Irish history whioh should teach as ia this colony a lesson. He considered if the land here had been properly managed they could now have done without taxes. In conclusion, Mr Stout said for the prosperity of any place there must be diversified institutions, whioh alone led on to the maroh of science, and the culture of intellectual teachings. The leoturer was listened to most attentively, and on the motion of Dr. Grace a very hearty vote of thanks was allowed him. Ministerial.— We may state that until a new Minister takes office tbe portfolio of Public Works will be held by the Premier, Mr Hall, that is after Mr Olive** leaves on .Monday. During. Mr Hall's absence Mr Johnston, the Postmaster General, will attend to the dutiea |of the department— N. Z. Timw,

A Detective in Disguise.— Mr Bolas (says the Oamaru Mail) has devised a little apparatus which may well be termed a detective camera. To all appearances it looks like a shoe-black's block, a rough, square-shaped box, whioh may be slung over the shoulder with a strap, or rested upon the pavement if need be. In fact, when wanted for work it is put down on the ground. It carries gelatine plates already in position, with a lens that is always in focus for any distance from 20 to 30 feet The camera may be used without the least fear of discovery. It may b« dropped in the street in the middle of the pavement, before a shop, upon a bridge, any time the owner sees a group he wants a picture of. As the box touches the ground, a bulb is squeezed, and the exposure is made. We have seen an instantaneous sketch taken on t>dar3"li" steamer oftwo men by the paddlebox, one of them rubbing bis forehead in the most innocent and unconscious manner, while the other relates some story or incident. The Parihaka Meeting.— At the recent . meeting at Parihaka Te Whiti, addressing the returned prisoners said : — " The prison was good and not evil, and those who put you into prison will be put into prison themselves, and those who tuht on the land will perifih on the land. All may gnash their teeth, but it was of no use, the evil was of Satan."— Tohu said :— " What did they think the prisoners had been arrested for ? _ He did not know, nor could anyone tell him what had been their ciime. (He then quoted several texts from scripture.) They all bow to those who had come back from prison. There would be nothing left ifter that day to talk about. It was quite 'iue that both races thought each other false. The pakeha thought that the reason the natives permitted thi mselve3to be made prisoners was because they were afraid to tight— they only ploughed and fenced. They were imprisoned, perhaps, in order to frighten the natives. They might Bay Te Whiti waa afraid to keep the land. The work of taking the land was the work of Satan — it was a devil's work, and would not succeed. He was not able to say that there was any evil in them (the released natives), but he was glad that he had an opportunity of talking to them. He bowed down his heart and was glad, although he did not think it was right that they should have been made prisoners. He said, 'Never mind what had happened ; it was right.' That was the last day for their talking. There would be no more fighting or trouble. Aftsr that day all would be quietness." A High Spire. — The spire of the Canterbury Cathedral, which rises to a height of 202 feet, was completed on Friday last. The Cathedral will be ready for opening in a few months' time. A New Russian Ironclad.— Further particulars have been received from St. Petersburg of the protested Russian monster ironclad on the lines of the recentlylaunched turtle-phaped yacht the Livadia. The new vessel, to be called the Catherine 11., will be protected with twenty inches of armour, rising three feet above the waterline. It is undecided yet whether the vessel will carry her guns in three turrets, as represented in the model in the St. Petersburg Admiraty, or whether they will be fired en barbette behind an oval armoured breastwork. The latter plan is said to be the latest idea of Admiral Popoff. The ironclad will be constructed in segments at the Galerni Dockyard at St Petersburg, and after wards put together at Nioolaieff; the vessel being intended for service in the Black Sea. The engines will be made at the Baltic Iron Works on the Neva. The armour-plates will be rolled in England. The vessel will be armed with eighty-ton guns. A Madman's Dive. —The Waikato Times gives the following particulars of a dive taken by a son of Colonel Leckie, who recently went mad in that district : — The KM. of the Waikato district, Mr Northcroft, being at Waitoa with a carriage, and finding young Leckie in the hands of the police, who had a sack over him, to serve the purpose of a straight-waist-jicket, and kept him in a tent, brought him away with him to Hamilton. On reaching the bridge at Hamilton, whilst Mr Northcroft was engaged paying the toll, Leokie got out of the trap and threw himself over the rails of the bridge between the cemeat pier and the wooden pier, where the river is the deepest and there is a strong eddy. He turned over and over in his fall, a depth of 54 feet, and struck the water head first. On rising, the first part that was seen of him was a foot, but he speedily floated and swam to shore like a duck, though heavily weighted with clothes. A constable who happened to be near the spot at once 8e cured him. Invisible Ink por Postcards.— The following is a new . recipe for magic ink, which is made visible by warming, either by holding against the fire or over a burning match. It consists of a solution of nitrate or chloride of cobolt, or chloride of copper, which may be procured from any chemist's shop, whie'i is mixed with a little gum or sugar, to the required consistency for writing with a goose quill.