CHURCH OF ENGLAND SCHOOLS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1743, 20 October 1917, Page 4

CHURCH OF ENGLAND SCHOOLS.

A pastoral letter from the Bishop of Wellington in relation to the above subject was react .Jn all the Anglican churches throughout the diocese last Sunday. The letter redds: —“This work of church education I desire most earnestly to urge upon the consciences of our people. The time is opportune. Everywhere throughout the Empire the war has turned men’s minds to defects in our systems of education; and in England at least, farreaching proposals are already being considered. Doubtless it is chiefly, but by no means exclusively, in the secular side of education that radical changes are being urged. But the war has also taught the Church grave lessons in thi# matter of education. The experience of chaplains shows that there is imperative need of simple but most definite instruction in the truths and principles of our Christ-, ian faith. Notwithstanding their invaluable and most unselfish work, recent experience shows that our Sunday schools, by themselves, have not succeeded in giving this instruction at ah adequately, and the consequences are most saddening. What is needed is that such instruction shall form a regular and integral part of the general education of our boys and girls. Many of us had hoped that this would havebeen secured, at least to some extent, by the Bible-in-State Schools movement. But that movement has been postponed indefinitely, and whether or not it will be possible or indeed expedient to revive it after the war, no one can at present say. In the meantime the Church has her own inalienable responsibility to train her own children in the faith and fear of God. It may not, indeed, be possible at present —though it largely depends upon ourselves —to place a church school in every parish. But in not a few parishes efficient schools could, with a little energy and faith, be established in the near future. In several of our parishes a promising beginning has already been made. I would emphasise the word ‘efficient.’ As chairman of the Board, I wish to make it perfectly clear that no assistance from our funds will be given to any school that is not thoroughly efficient in all departments of its, work. I desire, then, earnestly to commend the work of the Diocesan Schools Board to your support as loyal and convinced members of the Church. The Avar returns show that a very large proportion of the people of New Zealand regard themselves as members of the Church of England.. This fact lays upon us a responsibility greater than that of any other Christian communion in the country. Shall we not strive to be equal to-this responsibility? Shall we not in this birth-hour of a new age and a new world determine to forget the things which are behind • —the old apathy, the old indifference to our principles, the old laxity of thought—and by God’s great grace reach forth to those things that are before a revived and regenerated Church, all whose children shall be early taught to know the Lord and to serve Him? It is, lam convinced, what our country, whether it be conscious of it or not, most needs from us at this hour. ‘The day is short, and the task is great, and the workmen are sluggish, and the award is much, andthe Master of the house is urgent.’ ”