EDUCATION.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3936, 10 August 1881, Page 3

EDUCATION.

(To the Editor of the Erening Star.) Sib,—The proceedings of the Legisla-tive-Council, or House of Lords of New Zealand, which has passed a resolution authorising Bible reading in schools, amply proves the necessity of my warnings, even if action should come too late to prevent evif consequence. It has been - abundantly .and convincingly shown that - simple secttlar education means the development of worldly knowledge emancipated from creeds and superstition. It is admitted that the Bible docs not teach morality, history, charity,- science,; or even according to sectarianism pure '' so wilfully determined. So dishonestly unscrupulous are certain of the sects, however, as to represent the most numerous, most powerful, and most Uprned Roman, Catholic Church, as desiring thp reading of the Bible in schools, .in 'Opposition to the well known lagts that this Church does not practice it in its owweomtndn schools, and strongly condemns the practice everywhere. Truth * once told is eternal, but falsehood requires a continuous invention of lies to maintain - it, and' such is the present case, with Bible reading in school advocates. Roman Catholics know that the Bible is an unfit book to read in schools; they know that it is written with such force,and naked««as\of diction as to render it improper for indiscriminate perusal. Without de airingjin the remotest degree to treat with ' levitAthe veneration with which many good 4>d wise men regard the Bible, it «ay b* truthfully and moderately said to conflict at least with modern notions of morality, such .as (without entering into a*y particular references), honours, duty to parents, honesty, humility, charity, mercy, justice, chastity, fidelity, and most Jtfher esteemed virtues and morals. It isfnown to contain descriptions and images of voluptuousness, on which the imagination of youthful males and females ought -aot^to be permitted to repose. Nona* of tbV ancient Greek poets, or . mttdera French novelists, display more . taxury of imaßnttion,/or combine more acnaual' ofeafawfiova than parts, of the Bible. Selae of it details atrocity at vrhich mftnr^ 'shudders. , Much of the history is*'' spurious, and/ the narration of some of its. atb/ies would excite in map ror woman'So o4her- ; feeling than horror. Should a pure woman be permitted to read privtte'y what she would tremble to bear or tea eft .her children. S» ould she cogitate ai>4 *Wll*e upon wbat she would < ( jratherdie than reveal? The urgency of '. the pub)i« causflf compels me to write thus. The action of the Legislative Council and the movement of certain . sfcrtsrfarß urge me to Remind my fellow colonists that' the people govern «Wrevllbd that they aft; the people. Being v appyisewVot this most important, fact, ilearn your power and use it wisely; manifest yo^r strength; exhibit your vtlettrminatioß-Trby declaring for a national ' educitto# Jfre^ to all, at the expense of all, conducted. a»A«t_the guardianship of the State, at the expense .of the State; free, purely and , t eomptetely free; from all Bible reading, religions teaching, or sectarian influence, and for the honour, the happinf ss, lhe virtue, the-salvation of the State.—l am,: &c ,

Bon Ami.

■ A Bostonian being asked if bei wouldn't lur»<so go to the South African diamond fields t<s bunt for precious gcmg. mswerad " No ; Ire fovn'd'~««rd ~e»btft>eieir t both on the back of my neck, and I don't like prospepUnf any moteY*-**"'