RELIGIOUS EDUCATION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 458, 22 May 1909, Page 4

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION.

For three months now the Religious Instruction Class has been held in All Saints’ Church at 8.45 a.m. The roll is 41, with an .average attendance of 25, The Vicar has taught the simple gospel life of Christ to the children, and also traced the beginning of the chosen people and their rulers. The result of this teaching is shown in the fact that one little fellow who is just over five years old, can explain why Christ came into the world, why He died, and why He rose from the dead, and ascended into Heaven ; not only that, but he can tell you “off pat” the names ot the twelve apostles, twelve tribes of Israel, and several historical facts. The children like the class and are interested in the lesson, although the sound of the football is ringing in their ears, and they know that their companions are on the playground kicking the leather oval with great glee, but these are the children who deny themselves a little pleasure in order that they may be fitted for important work in the world. We hear a great deal of grumbling now-a-days about the lack of religious teaching in. New Zealand, but the people ot New Zealand have only themselves to blame. The people are content to have it so. Here is a class held twice a week in our town, and an invitation is given to all creeds, nations, and languages to attend, but the parents are too indifferent to see that their children are taught the greatest thing in the world —the Bible. There are at least 500 children in this town, and many of them never hear the name of Christ except on a Sunday. It is wrong to blame the State—the State consists of the people, and therefore if the people want the Bible, it is the people, and the people only, that can give the Bible to the children. The Vicar of All Saints tells us that if he could get the support of the people and if 200 children attended his Religious Instruction Class, he would apply to the Diocese for a qualified lay assistant to help him in giving religious lessons every morning. Thus it is seen that religious teaching is given in Foxton and we, as a town, should take advantage of the present system until a better is provided.