THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 54, 20 October 1914, Page 6

THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

SUPPORTER OF THE N.S.W. SYSTEM GIVES EVIDENCE. IPn Pbkm Association.] Wellingon, Ocober 20. The Education Committee continued taking evidence on the Bible in Schools question, and the cross examination of Rev. A. W. Keay, was continued by Rev. D. C. Bates, Professor Hunter, and Canon Garland.

Rev. John Paterson, Presbyterian Minister of St. Paul's, Christehurch, said he was educated in New South Wales, in Broken Hill, and was vicepresident of the Parents' Association, and in Sydney was secretary of the Board of Public Examination, and was well in touch with the New South Wales system. He had never met or heard of a. single teacher who considered that the system was an injury to his conscience, nor had he known a toucher refuse to give Bible lessons. Ho never knew a boy's parents refusing to allow him to attend religious classes except Jews, and he never heard any sectarian strife. He had al-, ways been most cordially welcomed by | masters and children. The matter v.-hn quite settled in New South Wales and was never mentioned at elections. All agree that it is the best solution of religious instruction. Under existing conditions, the system might not be ideal, but it was a working compromise capable of meeting the needs and objections of the mass of those concerned. He was not aware that the touchers of New South Wales cannot express religious opinions. All they were forbidden to do was not to offend others in their religious convictions. The Rev. G. S. Cook was then crossexamined.

The following team has been picked to represent the Stratford Defence Rifle Club in its match against Inglewood on Thursday on the local range, ranges 300, 500, and GOO yards, 7 shots:—C. Jackson, N. Thorpe, E. Brocklebank, J. McMjahon, W. Brocklebank, H. Gollop, A. Speck, J. Voyle, A. Mackay, P. Hobson, E. Townley, R. Anderson; emergency, It. Pepperill. The Ingle wood team is as follows:—M. Marsh, T. King, G. Taylor, 0. Spurdle, H. Hall, W. Haslett, A. Marsh, A. Hopson, W. Martin, H v Luke, and W. Robinson.