BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8354, 14 February 1913, Page 4

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

METHODIST APPROVAL SUPPORT FOR THE PROPOSED REFERENDUM. Practically the whole of last night’s session of the Methodist Conference was devoted to a discussion upon the Bible-in-Schools question. The debate ■ was opened by the Rev. Canon Garland, organising secretary of the Bible-in-S tate-Schools League, who was present by invitation. Canon Garland denied that the introduction of the Bible into the schools would be the thin edge of the wedge oi denominationalism, and asserted that, on the contrary, it would establish the State schools more firmly than ever. The system he advocated gave rest on a burning question. There was no danger of proselytisffl under the system ; there could be none, for the parents wore the controlling authority. ESSENTIAL TO GOOD CITIZENSHIP. The Rev. J. J. Lewis advocated the entry of the Bible to the State schools ns being essential w> good citizenship, apart from other reasons. It was said that truth and honesty could be taught without the Bible, but this teaching was that it paid to be honest and truthful. The man, however, who was truthful and honest only when it paid him was little better than a scoundrel. At the present time the league was only advocating what had been conceded on the liquor question, the right to take a vote of tho people. He moved— On tho evidence of high authorities in the States where it has .been adopted as to the satisfactory and beneficial working of the Australian system of Bible teaching in State schools, this conference expresses its approval of the same and resolves to co-operate with other' religious bodies in securing these benefits to the children of the Dominion; but holding that the people of New Zealand should first say whether they desire this or not, will support the appeal to Parliament for a referendum to enable the mto give this decision. ( The motion was seconded by the Rev. G. H. Mann, who said that he could not have done so a year ago, but since his visit to England and Australia he had swung round. THE BIBLE IN, BUT THE PARSONS OUT. As an amendment the Rev. A. J. Seamer moved— That in the opinion .of this Conference the question of Bible in schools should be distinctly separated from that of sectarian instruction in schools in the referendum advocated by the Bible-in-Schools League, in order that electors who favour on© only of these proposals may ■ not bo disfranchised. He said that the position taken up by a great many laymen was that they would do anything to get the Bible .into the schools, but would do anything to keep the parsons out. There was a vital difference between the Bible in schools and sectarian instruction in the schools. The entry of ministers to schools meant dogmatic instruction and the teaching of different dogmas to children at the same school. He had such faith in the Bible that he wished to see it read everywhere. The amendment was seconded by the Rev. J. H. Haslam. The Rev. A. IV. Hay said that his experience in working the system was that all the objections urged against it vanished the moment it was put into operation. AGAINST SECTARIANISM. The Rev. J. "VV. Burton declared his belief that if they separated the issues they would earn the respect of the entire community. In New South Wales the system was not a success There was no friction, but there had been a deadly apathy. Ho wanted to see the Bible in the schools, but he did not desire to have sectarianism and denominational teaching. It was stated by Mr E. Dixon that for ten years ho had been a member of the Wanganui Education Board and that every year his conviction had been strengthened that to interfere with the present national system would be a grave mistake. He had fears that it would be really dangerous to interfere with the system. What was wanted was a more progressive policy in tho Sunday schools. It was there the work was wanted. THE RIGHT OF ENTRY. The vice-president, the Hon. C. M. Luke, said that though for a long time he had desired to see the Bible used in the schools, when he looked the question fairly in the face he felt that ho could not accept the whole of the league’s platform. Jdo particularly questioned tho wisdom of the claim for the right of entry. The great diversity of opinion on the whole question and the attitude of tho conference were proof to his mind that tho time for settlement of the problem Had not yet arrived. The Rev. C. H. Laws (conference secretary) said that the whole system was an optional one save in the case of the teachers, and the only compulsion on them was to supervise what was little more than a reading lesson. This was perfectly fair. (Hear, hear.) The debate was carried on by a number of other members, aud was closed by a speech by Dr Youngman, president or the General Conference of the Australasian Methodist Church. He declared that in the four States which had adopted the system the educational question was settled, while the two States which had not taken it up were in a perpetual ferment. The important thing was not the right of entry,, but tho reading of the Bible in the schools. Tho amendment was defeated by 115 votes to 26, and the motion was carried on tho voices.