RELIGIOUS EDUCATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 August 1919, Page 2

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION.

To .the Editor. Sir,—We hear a lot of appeals made fnr funds to send missionaries to China, Africa and other foreign countries to convert the heathen, to a knowledge of flort and Christianity. But In reading J. 0. Taylor's letter Of the 29th July, one would be inclined to bolieve, in Bplte of all our avowed civilisation in New Zealand, that there is no savage country in the world that is as much in need of missionary labor as Lepperton is, if Mr J. 0. Taylor is a fair sample of the inhabitants of that district. Even a lieathcn in Africa, India or in any other uncivilised country would find It difficult to invent an excuse for, making such an uncalled for attack on Chris-' ttan gentlemen, as J.O.T. made on Mr .Hhie without the least provocation whatever, except that a certain section of his constituents envited Mr Hine's presence to a certain ceremony. But I dare say that Mr Taylor, is more to be pitied than blamed, I have known Mr Hlne for over twenty years now, and although we were not on the same side in our political opinions, I always found Mr Hlne a jgeritieman, also a man who always was forc:moat in church matters and Holy religion. [Mr Taylor says- the- law.EiviTig'free, secular jawi compulsory education in this country is jtyyj best, safest and brightest enactment, that ilias. ever "been enacted rb.v any J human b6,lng. jMV Taylor' might be acftr(Tiii'» to'ills jottjict in life. If '.h&iA.objedtf 'it to promote' (?toiinal»;. : of all up children trt.jlve and die like do©* or beasts,. That tills Is proved''by the 'number"of young 1)o\s. who after leaving school-'bfcffo'd the Magistrate'court dally for. vebforyt and other crlmcstof - want. of. moral aiidjjwllgloua training in Stale schools.' Lovo'"me 'truth and it will' maVe you 1 free. Qulte 'VlgrliV/ Mr' Taylor, but jwhere Is that truth toMikifound?-: Not in the Istfite schools, if our Now. Zealand public men: ; ar? any criterion to go by, which it ought to ■be. Truth is only found irt true religious education. Would it not be better If those children-wero taught religious and moral education, which would jtyake them good, honorable citizens than teach them material education only which teaches them to commit dark deeds in the dark? —I am, etc, JOHN DIGGINS. Inglewood, sth August, lfllfl.