THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS. Let There Be a Referendum.

Free Lance, Volume IV, Issue 193, 12 March 1904, Page 6

THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS. Let There Be a Referendum.

THE exclusion of the Bible from the public schools is the favourite theme of synods, presbyteries, and church conventicles of one sort and another. Therefore, there cannot be the least surprise that it receives the usual airing from the General Conference of the Wes-leya-n Church, now sitting m Auckland. But the point still remains unsettled whether the people really want the Bible an the Stats schools Even the clergy themselves seem to be at sixes and sevens on the subject. In proof of that there is no need to go further than the Wesleyan Conference itself * * * The President is strong on Biblereadmg in schools In his inaugural address the other day, he blames the Legislative Council for not suffering the question to be remitted to the people by the referendum. And he virtually taxes the Government with insincerity. He claims that the Christian Churches are the persecuted party, and he declares that "the Bible is shut out from our schools solely because it is the book of the religion which the people believe " Well, really, this last statement almost takes one's breath away. * * * Is this a democratic colony, or is i r ruled by a tyrant in flat defiance of the popular will If the government is in the hands of the people, then it was by the will of the people that the system of State education, free, secular, and compulsory, was set up nearly thirty years ago, and has been maintained ever since. Every three years the people elect a fresh Parliament, and never yet have they given a mandate to their representatives to make the Bible a compulsory text-book in the public schools * * * But, the Bible is not excluded from the schools. The clergy are, and always have been, expressly set free to use the State schools for impaitmg Biblical instruction, either before or after school hours. How many avail themselves of the privilege ? Not one in a hundred. Then, for goodness' sake don't talk twaddle about the Christian Churches being persecuted. It is the school-teachers who are to> be persecuted by being compelled to take up duties for which they feel themselves quite unfitted. If the people are not agreed about the wisdom of making Bible-reading compulsory in the State schools, are the clergy themselves agreed?

On that point, let the Wesleyan Conference speak. The Rev. W. Ready said his convictions concerning the question had been greatly shaken during the past few months., and he now felt more inclined to work and vote against the scheme of introducing Bible-reading m schools, because he feared it would culminate in a second edition of the prevailing conditions at Home. He asserted that strong efforts were being made to introduce denominational teaching, and named some of the leaders in the Anglican Church in that connection. The Rev. J. J Lewis also said they must guard Government day schools against sectarian teaching and sacerdotal assumptions So much for unanimity amongst the clergy. * * * However, the cardinal point is this If the people really want the Bible m the schools, nothing can keen it out. It is a question they must themselves settle By all means let there be a referendum on it The Legislative Council have no right to stand m the wav as they did last year. If, by a narrow majority, or even a considerable one, the Bible is forced into the schools, then the fun will start in. earnest. As a colony, we have been happily free from sectarian strife. Once make the BiVe the apple of discord, and force unwilling and hard-worked school-teachers to expound Scriptural lessons, and the odium theologicum will start up and have a lively innings. If the Bible is only to be read and not expounded, then that part of the school routine must be mere mummery. At any rate, let the people decide.