BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 3, Issue 206, 23 June 1914, Page 3

BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS.

J The Kev. H. H. Robjohns, B.Sc, general secretary of the Bible-in-State-Schocls League for the Auckland Province, was in Pukckohe and Waiuku last week end. On Saturday evening he adressed a meeting of supporters of the League in the Parish hall, Waiuku. On Sunday morning he preached in the Anglican Church, Waiuku, and in the evening in the Anglican vlhurch, Pukekohe, after which a united meeting wa3 held in support of the Leßgue. On Monday evening a general meeting cf the League was held in the Salvation Army Hall, Pukekohe, when much business was discussed and details of organisation arranged. Speaking at Waiuku, Mr Rohjohns explained that the Bible-in-Schools League sought to have introduced into New Zealand tha same system of Bible reading and religious instruction into the State schools which has been in operation in New South Wales fur 47 years and in Queensland for 2 years, as well as in Tasmania tor 45 years and Western Australia for 10 years. Mr W. A. Holman, Premier ot New South Wales, stated * recently that if there is one thing the people in New South Walei tske for granted it is Bihle-in-Schonls. The Hon. Digby Denham, Premier of Queensland, has said that he voted agaimst Bible-in-3chools when the matter was under discussion io Queensland, but so convinced is he now that the system works fairly and smoothly that if he had the opportunity again he would vote for Bible-in-Schools Under the system practised in the Australian States, the parent has complete control of the child's education, the ban on the Bible is removed and ministers of all churches are allowed into the schools to give religious instruction to the chil 'ren of their own people. As the law stands in New Zealand, apparently the children may be taught about every religion save one—the Christian—the life of every founder of a religion except that of Jesus of Nazareth, and may read extads from every sscred book except one, the Bible. In the May "School Journal," the children read the story of Jizo, the God of Japanese children; last year they read in the "School Journal" about Mahomet and bis teaching* and some of the sayings of Confucius. There naa never been in tha "School Journal" a life of Jesus of Nazareth or a selectibn of his savings, or a statement of the principles of the Christian religion. All this would be contrary to the law. In common fairness, this ought to be remedied. The League seeks to havs the matter settled by a referendum of the people. This is what was done in Western Australia and in Queenslaud. Though the Hon. Digby Denham was personally opposed to Bible-in-Schools, yet as Premier, when he was satisfied that there was a real demand for a referendum, he brought in the Bill; and when the vote of the people was for Bible-in-Schccls, he carried the necessary amendment to the Education Act. By introducing the Referendum Bill asked for by the League, the Government does not decide on the merits of the League's proposal, but simply allows the people to decide that for themselves. Over 140,000 electors have signed the request for the referendum, and the League meant to persevere until the matter was referred to the people for their decision.

Un Sunday evening, Mr Roojohns ppoke in Pukekohe on "Ihe Right of Entry." This State is organised as a Christian State, the King takes a Christian oath at his Coronation, the Governor and Judges are sworn in on the Bible, so are witnesses in the Law Courts. The Auckland Stipendiary Magistrate was placed in a dilemma the other day because a witness said he did not believe in the Bible or God, and the Magistrate did not know how to swear him. If this State is organised on a Christian basis, then the Christian faith should be taught in the schools. The Magistrates in Auckland agree that perjury in their courts i 9 on the increase. The only remedy for this is religious teaching. Every prisoner in gaol cnsts the country many pounds a year. In the gaol he can have the chaplain to visit him and in his cell the one book provid3d him is the Bible. The State would save money if the Bible and minister wera admitted to the schools. From 1897 to 1911, the number of New Zealand born prisoners in gaol went up by 250 per cent, while the population went up bv 30 per cent. During the same period the population of New South Wales went up by the same percentage while the pri°oners in gaol went down by 44 per cent. For these and many other reasons, it is desirable from the point of, view of the State that the children should be taught religion. If so, it must be in the schools in school hours, but not by the teacher, for that wculd mean a religious test. Every man to his own trade, and the minister's trade is to teach religion. So the minister is the person to give religious teaching in the day schools. But ministers must be admitted on terms that are fair to all. It was not fair to say that only undenominational teaching in to be given. That shuts out the Seventh Day Adventist and the Romanist and they would have then an undoubted claim to State aid to their own schools, But if the ministers were allowed to give definite religious irstructiun to the children of their own church, it would be found that in most cases the Protestant ministers would unite in givinn instruction. This is more and more the case in New South Wales.