The Bible in Schools Question.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7918, 6 September 1905, Page 3

The Bible in Schools Question.

Esaedin Committee Refuses a Request (Per Press Association.) DUNE DIN, Sept. 5. At a tnoeling of the George Street School Committee to-night, a letter was received from the Rev. T. K. Mclntyre, conveying 'a resolution passed at a recent public meeting called by him, in approval of giving religious instruction in school on one half hour in the week. He added that a canvass of parents had so far shown that over 90 per cent, were in favour of the request being granted.

The Chairman said he had had a conversation with the writer, who indicated that if the committee did not grant the request the ministers would get another committee which would do so. After discussion it was resolved "That the committee cannot see its way to alter its previous decision declining the request." j

CLERGYMAN CRITICISES THE TEXT BOOK.

WAS JONAH SWALLOWED BY A WHALE ?

The New Zealand Herald correspondent. telegraphed from Dunedin on Saturday The Bible in schools organiser, Mr R. A. Wright, had a lively meeting at Lovell's Flat the otter evening, and the local residents stayed up till midnight to enjoy the sparring between the organiser and the Rev. P. B. Fraser, who leads the agitation in the South against the now famous text book -which the Bible in Schools party desire to force uuon the rising generation.

Mr Fraser Issikt 'that fflhe oni|y place for the text book was the fire. He would sooner see the Roman Catholic Bible, notes and all, go into the schools. He also wanted to know what the compilers of the text book had done to Jonah, and asked Mr Wright that question. Mr Wright: "You are a Christian minister, you ought to know." Mr Fraser : "W?ll t the usual impression about Jonah was that he was swallowed by a whale, but this precious book actually throws him overboard and drowns him. (Laughter.) Here is the end of one lesson: —'So they took up Jonah and cast him forth into the sea, and the sea ceased from her raging.' That, finished Jonah, didn't it—(laughter)— but he comes to life again." A voice: "He must have l*cn a good swimmer." (Laughter.) Mr Fraser, quoting : "Here he is again : 'And the word of the Lord came unto Jonah a second time,' saying not one word about ibeing swallowed by a big fish, yet this is the book which this Wellington conference wants you to swallow." Mr Wright here appealed to Mr Fraser not to make slanderous statements about the gentlemen who had approved of the book, Mr Fraser: "I say that it has (own stated thati the Bible narratives have not been tampered with, and yet this book can drown Jonah, and still you say it's the Bible. 'The days of Noah' have been struck out of the New Testament. Why '! Because the compilers want the authority ot Christ to be given to the Old Testament. You know that hymn, 'Dare to be a Daniel.' Well, you'll have to go to gaol to get a Bible to find out about Daniel. (Laughter.) t He's not in this 'book, and Jonah's drowned." (Laughter.) Mr Wright, in bis reply, referred to Mr Frascr's attitude on the prohibition question as inconsistent) [with lvis attitude now on this question. He went on to say that the ibare majority must rule. "Has the majority no conscience ?" Mr Fraser was evidently not in favour of the Bible being read in the schoofs, Mr Fraser : "I am in favour of the Bible in schools if you gi|ve the Roman Catholics a; grant for the r schools."- ' ■

Mr Wright then Went on to say that the clergymen who drew up the text book for the league were just as capable of forming a theological opinion as Mr Fraser. Instead of i e ■mg false ana traitorous, as Mr Frasei inferred, they had given every consideration of every point, and their opin ' on -F as o f just as much value as Mr Fraser's.