Religious Instruction in Schools

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7876, 19 July 1905, Page 2

Religious Instruction in Schools

The dcbatc&ble question of Biblereading in Schools came before Centra) School Committee meeting on Monday evening. The Sahal'ion Army, through Adjutant Dixon, made application in re- I gard to permit ting Hie Army to hold < divine services, subject to the ai- > < rangcmcnls of the head master or mistress, one day a week for those 'childrt.li who may wish to attend. I The Ministers' Association also asked that arrangements for divine instruction be made. The views of the Ministers were put forward by the Rev. S. S. Osborne. They did not, he said, want any dogmatic teaching, but proposed that a chapter of t're Bible should be read, with a short prayer, and the Lord's Prayer. It was practically holding iamily worship before commencing the tlayvs duties, and he did not think anv reasonable person : hould raise objections. He instanced ..■■hat was don* elsewhere, in regard to schools. The Rev. W. R. Woolley agreed-sen-I orally with live views expressed by the Rev. Osborne. So long as they kept to simple prayers and reading he was willing to co-operate, but inadvised watchfulness to exclude <lisL Unctive teaching. Mr P. White, in moving that consideration 'be deferred till text mcetL ing, said he was not desirous of " causing obstruction, but understood the Association did not comprise J the whole of the denominations in New Plymouth. He felt it was ne- ' cessary to put the position very ' clearly before the householders and to obviate the risk of the withdrawal from the school of Catholic children. e Mr Catran- seconded the motion. ' The Chairman suggested that an addition be made to the motion, so _ as to ask the Ministers' Association r to frame their request in writing. The Rev. S. S. Osborne explained " that they were all in favour of the . reading and prayer. ]. The Rev. W'. R. Woolley corrotoratetl, adding further that he approv- (] ed of the '-'family worship" at the . opening of the day's duties.

The Rev. S. S. Osborne thought in the circumstances a conference between a committee from the Association, the School Committee and the headmaster would be necessary. He did not apprehend that the Catholic children would be withdrawn. At Invercargill the Catholics attended the service, and as for prayer, any Christian man could officiate. The Rev. Woolley thought it-advis-able to restrict prayers to the Lord's Prayer. After further discussion the matter was adjourned to the next meeting of the School Committee.