BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 248, 19 April 1912, Page 8

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

A REPRESENTATIVE CONFERENCE. By Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch, Last Night. ' A conference of Dominion church representatives was held to-day, re the ; Bible in schools question. There were '■present:—Anglican Church—The Pri'mate, Bishop Neville (in the chair), Dean jFitchett, Dean Harper, Archdeacon Hariper, Canons Carrington and Sedgwick, JRevs. Burton, Purchas and Ilemland; i Presbyterian Church—Revs. Dr. Gibb j (Wellington), Davis (Dunedin), Tait and Mackenzie (Christchurch); Methodist Church—Revs. Laws, Rothwell, Buttle, jLawry and»Mr. J. A. Flesher; Primitive [Methodist— Rev. S. Henderson. An 'apology was received from Brigadier : Gist (Salvation Army). The conference was convened as a reLi suit of an informal conference held in j 'Christchurch in June, 1911. i ,j It was reported to the conference that' .' the Anglican Synod, Presbyterian As-' s' sembiy, and Methodist Conference had , j formally accepted the main principles of , jthe New South Wales system, and had -! empowered their delegates to enter into r negotiations for a conference and joint action with the representatives of other -! denominations. , It was moved by Dean Fitchett, secbonded by Dr. Gibb, and carried: That , the general statement of policy affirmed < |by resolution at the last conference be

, i reaffirmed, and that the conference con- . I stitute itself a league to carry out the »j resolution. The resolution referred to is i as follows: That this conference approves of the general principles of the system of religious instruction which obtains in New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, and West Australia, and commends it as the only practical solution j a of the problem of religious instruction in] ) the State schools of New Zealand. j On the motion of Dr. Gibb, seconded; by Mr Davis.it was resolved that a league bo established, to be known a& the Bible in State Schools League of New > Zealand, and that all Bible in State i schol organisations already in existence will be invited to incorporate with the

new league. It was decided that the headquarters of the executive be for the present in Christchurch, and that an executive committee of the officers of the league and twenty others be appointed. It was agreed that the policy of the league should apeal to the Legislature for a referendum to be carried out on/ the lines of the Queensland in 1910. , . The question of appointing an organising agent was referred to the executive, with power to act. The following officers were appointed: President. Bishop Neville; vice-presi-dents, the Anglican Bishop, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, presidents of the Methodist Church and Primitive Methodist Conference, officer commanding the Salvation | Army of N.Z., chairman of Congregation Union (subject to his consent), Dean Fitehctt, Dean Harper. Revs. Dr. Gibb, R. E. Dunis, I. Jolly, Methodist chairmen of districts and chairmen of , local branches of the league. The Rev. J. Mackenzie was appointed secretary pro tern. A committee was appointed to approach various local clergymen and laymen with a view to securing their services on the executive. • The general feeling of the conference was that the meeting represented an I epoch in the history of the movement.' and that the time was ripe for an appeal to public opinion on the whole question.