RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 985, 29 April 1911, Page 2

RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION.

EOCAIv ANGLICAN VICAR’S VIEWS. In his annual report to the parishioners of All Saints’ Church, last Thursday, the vicar, referring to religious instruction, said : “ The Bible in school scheme seems to have died, and at present the education of our children at the State schools is entirely secular. Now, let me ask you a question; Are you content that the children of this land should be brought up without any knowledge of God ? The very fact of the Bible and its teaching being eliminated from the school’s syllabus may leave this impression on the cuild: —what is not taught, is not needed. The greatest thing in the world is religion ; the greatest book ever put together is the Bible ; and yet today, in this twentieth century, we omit these in the teaching and training of our children. All schemes have failed, and the outlook at present is a determination by the State to forbid religious knowledge being taught in our schools. Who is to fight this battle for the children ? My answer is, “ the Church of England.” If only the Church could rise to the seriousness of her responsibility and grieve over the years she has wasted in promulgating schemes that will never succeed, she could immediately solve the riddle. Her course would be definite —to build her own schools. The Roman Church, by self-sacrifice, has adopted this course, and, believe me, the day is not far distant when the Church of England will break away from all alliances and stand alone. If she provided schools for her children, where the faith of Jesus Christ was taught, what a blow it would strike to secular education ! lam convinced that other religiousjbodies could follow her example, especially the Presbyterians, who are keen religious educationalists. When we look round at the awful and deplorable ignorance of the colonial children on religious subjects, it almost becomes the duty of each Christian to pray that the Church may be led to take this decided stand, and completely undermine the present system of secular education. I admit it means self-sacrifice, but the need is so urgent that true Christians would willingly make the sacrifice tor so great a cause.”