ABSENCE OF BIBLE A MORAL DEFECT

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 97, 15 July 1927, Page 16

ABSENCE OF BIBLE A MORAL DEFECT

THE BILL SUPPORTED Speaking at the Baptist Tabernacle tast evening, Canon Percival James that the league wanted the Bible * n schools, not because of Us uterary value, but because it is the Word of God. Canon James said the present year ijjjjh. as the jubilee of the first introduction gjß Bimilar Bill into Parliament in d * t *r m ‘ ned opposition of the .Roman Catholic Church had been the

foremost factor in keeping the Bible out of the schools, said Canon James, and it sometimes made him wonder if the Protestants were losing their backbone, as only sj?er cent, of the children attending the State schools were Roman Catholics. The bill contained a clause exempting teachers or pupils from participating in religious exercises. That being so, he could not understand the attitude of the Roman Catholic Church. The Jewish community was quite agreeable to the bill, as their children would be exempt. Religious exercises as set out in the bill, he said, would not cost the taxpayer a single penny. A hearty vote of thanks to Canon James, proposed by the Rev. J. W. Kemp, was heartily carried.