THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 77, 22 July 1914, Page 4

THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

[Peb Press Association.! i a Wellington, July 21. A Catholic demonstration was held in the Town Hall this evening, under the auspices of the New,. Zealand Catholic Federation, to protest against the Referendum Bill on the Bible-in-schools question. Archbishop O’Shea, Bishop Cleary and others addressed a large gathering, and the following resolutions were adopted:—“That this mass meeting of Catholics, made up of representatives and delegates from all parts of the Dominion, respectfully asks Parliament to reject the Religious Instruction in Schools Referendum Bill now before the House, ben cause if carried it will affirm the principle that the vote of a majority may be used to coerce the consciences of a minority, and because it will lead to the taxation of all the"people for the V teaching of religion acceptable to only some of the people; that we pledge ourselves as Catholics to still further organise and strengthen the Catholic Federation that we may be able to , carry on more effectively the fight against this unjust agitation until it is defeated.” The Education Committee of the House of Representatives has decided that the hearing of evidence taken in connection with the Bible-in-Schools movement will be open to the Press. On Friday next the evidence of Bishop * Cleary, representing the Roman Catholics, will be taken, after which the committee will hear representatives of the National Schools Defence League and the Bible-in-Schools League. If necessary, the hearing of evidence will be continued on the following Friday. Wellington, July 22. A largely-attended meeting of the Bible-in-Schools League resolved not to cease work until the Bible was restored to the schools. It was further resolved to support the candidates for Parliament who pledge themselves to favor the movement.