Bible in Schools.

Manawatu Herald, 26 May 1904, Page 3

Bible in Schools.

CONFERENCE EXECUTEV E’S REPLY. The executive of the Bible-in-Schools Conference lies framed a reply to the recent manifesto of the Roman Catholic Bishops regarding the Bible-reading in schools. The executive believes that an overwhelming majority of the people of Nc- are dissatisfied at the present system of secular, education, and only await an opportunity to say so. It remains for those opposing the movement to show a reason why the people shall not have an opportunity of expressing their will on the question. The executive deplores the defects in the present system and maintains that the grievance of the Catholics is really inseparable from their sectarian position and attitude, and that the State had not asked them to expend sixty thousand annually in providing for separate education for their children. Moreover, a grant to Catholics for schools would be a denominational grant for strictly sectarian purposes, n«d would undoubtedly issue in the overthrow of the State system. The Churches represented at the Bible-in-Schools Conference do not wish to destroy or impair the State system, and they are convinced the danger can be avoided only by giving effect to their reasonable demand for the introduction of Scriptural instruction into the school curriculum. The Catholics do not object to the text book but will not have the Bible in the State schools on any terms, and on that point agreement between the Catholics and the other Churches is impossible. As to the Bishops’ fear of proselytism, the executive say it is hypothetical, and as to the teachers’ difficulty, the churches have done their best to safeguard them in any way. A conscience clause means that the churches are opposed to anything in the nature of religious tests being applied to teachers. The executive admits the inadequacy of the form of the ballot paper in last year’s Bill, as it would not secure that the lessons contained in the Scripture text books should be taught by teachers within school hours, and it is intended therefore to urge on the Government a form of ballot paper UMilstakably placing before the that clear-cut and definite issUei