CORRESPONDENCE.

Temuka Leader, Volume 2, Issue 116, 25 January 1879, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

[ THE BIBLES AND THE SCHOOLS. (to the epitob. of the temuka i.eadek.) Sir. — [ hope I am not trespassing too much upon your space or good nature in asking you to republish the following extracts from a leading article in the ' OLago Daily Times ' of the 21st inst. They will show, as I am pleased to find, that 1 am not singular in proposing that another kind of compromise than that at present under trial should be tried. The article opens with a reference to Committee appointed in Dunedin to consider the question of Bible reading in schools. " The Committee will do well to take into view the various opinions which are held by the different religious bodies on the subject, and to disarm opposition by putting their proposals into the most unobjectionable shape. There is a large class of persons who are opposed, for many good and sufficient reasons, to the indiscriminate reading of the whole Bible in class, that would gladly see its main historical features and moral teaching brought before the children's minds. Is it better to leave the entire selection to each individual teacher, or to prescribe I he entire course in lesson-books printed for the purpose ? We unhesila'ingly answer that the latter is the proper plan to pursue." The writer here gives reasons for thaianswer, drawn from the character of portions of the Bible itself, and from the prurience of badly trained children. "Then, as a matter of fact, the practical teaching of the Bible is virtually, in our common experience, drawn from a comparatively small portion of its whole surface ; ami . . . it is quite common to treat it, and even for the Bible Society to sell it, in portions. The pure and noble teaching of the book, a-id itsmost interesting stories, are conden <ed in various children's manuals which arc in every household, and we am see nothing but a certain superstitious reverence for what we might term the -wry 'corpus' of the book, that causes scruples as to such selections." I

" But there is another point that should be settled in such a way as to claim the largest number of adherents, namely, ■whether the Bible lesson is merely to be read at the opening of the school, or to be taught as part of the school course. If the former, very many will feel that it is a thing not worth fighting for, and that we had better not disturb the present system for such a slender gain ; if the latter, then it is doubly necessary that the course should be prescribed, and tin; questions in the lessons be set out in manuals, so as to avoid all suspicion of sectarianism." " We arc a little afraid, from certain indications, that there will be a mistaken fight for 'the Bible, the whole Bible, and nothing but the Bible ; ' and we venture to express a strong doubt, if that is the case, of the success of the attempt. 'The one source of strength of Avhat we might term the antireligious sccularits, is tire fact of the divisions which weaken the camp of those who regard religion as all - important. These divisions give great cogency to the argument that it is impossible for the State to teach religion, or anything about religion, because religionists are themselves not agreed. We believe a little giving way here and there would render a compromise quite possible; but if there is not agreements on main points now, it will be almost impossible to carry anything in Parliament next session in the way of amendment to the Act. Each religious body ought, to fix a minimum that would satisfy them, and out of this minimum a practical working system might be framed." I must say that these passages are the most sensible* that I have read on this subject. There must be, in order that peace may be obtained and maintained, " a little giving way here and there." Unfortunately, the loudest advocates of either side show little or no willingness to submit to any modification of their views in favour of those who think differently from themselves. Your correspondent of Wednesday, "Thomas Tancred," urges that the Church of England's Catechism is a manual of morality and religion that all sects could adopt. Appaparently lie has not the slightest doubt of this. But if he could, and would, but view it from the standpoint of one, at least, of the other great Churches, it would not appear to him so entirely satisfactory. A. catechism for the children of Christendom is yet to be produced. The attempt to produce it can be made in JS~ew Zealand as well as anywhere else. —I am, &c, Compromise. Temuka, Jan. 23, 1879.