The Bible in the Central School.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7905, 22 August 1905, Page 2

The Bible in the Central School.

Ministers' Association's Request Thrown Ont by the Committee. ) At Monday, evening's meeting ol the Central School Committee a long discussion took place on the question of ! introducing Bible-reading into the school, which was brought up by a communication from the Rev. F. G. Evans, enclosing a resolution passed by the local Ministers' Association, asking "That suitable arrangements should be made to secure the reading oi the Bible and prayer in our pu'lvlic school during school hours." in reply to Mr Freethy, the Chairman (Mr W. A. Collis) said the ques-i tion was, Had the committee the power to grant the request ? and al-

ter deciding this they could enter into details.

Rev. S. S. Osborne, in moving that the request of the Association be acceded to, said that he wished to make two points clear.. The first was that he desired no denominationalism in any shape or form, and as regards a State Church, he thought such would be a misfortune to both Church and State. If he thought Bible-reading would lead to discord, he would not take his present) step. Another personal matter was that though he would freely exercise his right of debate and reply, he would abstain from voting-; he would leave the decision entirely with the lay members of the committee. To lay blame on Ministers for their action was unjust, because they were always willing and anxious to do anything in the interests of the children. As regards the hours, he for one would not like to punish scholars by making them go early or be detained after the present hours, for nothing would givo them more distaste of the subject than making it into a task, which it need not be. What he fav-

oured was the reading of, say, ten or twelve verses of Holy Scripture and the Lord's Prayer. Surely the tiifferent sects could agree on some book of the Bible, and it could be so arranged that all the ministers could tako their share, even Dean McKenna. In South Africa priests took their part with the others. He did not want dogmatic teaching. Rev. Woolley : No teaching of any kind.

Continuing, Mr Osborne maintained that the Committee had power to grant the request, under section 135, clauses a and b of the Act, this being upheld, he said, by the best legal opinion in the colony. He quoted die clauses, which lead, in effect, that the school week shall consist of five days of four hours each, during which all teaching shall lbs secular, after which the Committee can grant the use of the school for any purpose not connected with ordinary school work.

Mr Okeyfseconded the motion. Rev. Woolley agreed in the main with Mr Osiborne, and like him would not vote. He was opposed to denominationalism. The only respect in which he differed from Mr Osborne was that lie did not think it in conformity with the spirit of the Act to grant Bible-reading during school hours.

Mr Spencer pointed out, in reference to Mr Osborne's contention, that the hours were fixed by the Education Board.

Rev. Osborne contended that the dau.sen in question gave the right to hold a brief religious service in a public school at such time as may 'be appointed by a committee,

Mr Freethy did not place great reliance on the legal opinion, as it de-i pended greatly on how the case was put. The Board had power to draw up the syllabus, and to give full justice to these would take more than four hours, and unless religious teaching could be done without disturbing the work of the school, he could not support the motion. He would like 'to see the reading before school hours.

Mr Freethy wished to move as an amendment to the motion to the effect that permission would lie granted More school hours, but the Chairman ruled it out of order, as they bad merely to signify "Yes" or "No" to the request, before the Committee. Mr Oatran asked whether it would not be 'better to adjourn the question until the Bill at present before Parliament was dealt with.

The Chairmau pointed out that that would not serve any good purpose. Mr Maunder was in sympathy with Mr Freethy. He contended that the four hours mentioned in the Act was simply the minimum allowed. He was sorry religious instruction had been shut out when it was, but at the time the system was introduced it was a wise action to do so, but now lie thought it could be done. He' thought the churches would work in harmony. He, for one, did not sec any difference between teaching and reading. He would much like to see this reading either before or after school. The teaching could be done by Roman Catholics as well as by any oUicrs. He would be sorry to do anything tnat could bo construed as a hindrance to religious teaching, but) he could not allow the present system to be interfered with. Chairman agreed in the main with Mr Maunder. He thought the Act meant power to grant use of i/he room only after school hours set aside by the Board. The Committee had 110 power in any way to alter the allocation of the various subjects. Ho would like to* sec the recognition of the Supreme Being in our public schools, and some form of prayer agreed upon. But even then there would be difficulties. After careful consideration he had come to the conclusion (hat they had no power to allow religious instruction in school hours. There had been instruction in Nelson, as there had been no urates t raised, 1

Ml' Woolley : The agitation shows it. is illegal.

The Chairman continued that if the Referendum Bill the House is passed, the whole colony would have the power to say whether or no the reading should be introduced within school hours and as part of school duties.

Mr White said his recollection of school readers was that they were full of moral teaching and recognition of the Divine Being. He thought the present-day books contained the same teaching. Members would see that we still have this recognition from passages he would read. (One was from "The .Joys and Sanctity of Home Life," extracts being read from Robert Burns and Mrs Hemans.) The books teemed with passages o! this sort. He would like to see a textbook introduced acceptable to all sects, but oven the Bible was interpreted differently. It would be a mistake) to introduce the subject novy. Mr Woolley : There would be a conscience clause.

After Mr Osborne had replied briefly, the motion was put and lost on tbi voices.

Adjutant Dickens, of the Salvation Army, 'wrote asking !or permission to conduct Divine scnic at the schools after school hours one day per week, for those who wishi-d to attend, suth ject to the headmaster's or mistress's arrangements. Tbi> Army had, lie stated, the same privilege 111 other towns.

On the motion of Mr Frccthy, seconded by Mr Catran, permission was granted, the motion meeting with no opposition,