BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8485, 12 July 1907, Page 5

BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS.

APPROVED OF BY MASTERTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE. A circular was received at the meeting of the Masterton School Committee, last evening, from the Wellington Citizens' Uible-in-Schools Committee, who are taking a referendum of the 1,800 School Committees in the colony with a yiew to having the Bible read in the New Zealand State schools, asking for an expression of opinion from the Committee as to whether they were ! favourable to the Bible being read in schools on the lines set out by the Wellington Citizens' Bible-in-Schools Committee as follow: —(1) That the Bible be read as a classic; (2) no comments allowed, except geographical, grammatical, and historical ; (3) the State School teacher only to supervise the Bible reading; (4) any teacher or scholar having conscientious objection may be excused from Bible lessons. It was proposed to get a deputation of parents to wait on the Premier during the present session to urge the introduction of Bible reading in State schools, and if the Committee approved of the movement, they were asked to appoint one or twi delegates —committeemen or otherwise —to represent the district on the deputation. Mr H. O'Leary said he would support the movement, as, judging from the conduct of some boys, a little Bible reading in the school would do no harm. He could not see how any objecton could be taken to the movement. Mr H. H. Cork said the movement seemed to be receiving pretty general support from other School Committees in the colony. In answer to a question, the Chairman (Mr R. Brown) said it was proposed to have the Bible read during school hours. Continuing, the Chairman said it seemed strange that the Bible should be a forbidden bouk in schools. Sunday school teachers were hampered in their work because they could only get about one hour per week to teach the Bible. With regard to the question of taking a referendum of the people.on the matter, the Chairman said the Government had other means in their power to introduce the Bible into the State schools. There was nothing to stop the Government from taking a vote of the people on the question when the census was taken. The Rev. J. N. Buttle said it was strange that in a country, which called itself Christian, there was no chance for State school children to learn something about the Bible. The present form in which it was proposed to introduce Bible reading into the schools was preferable to what is known as the Nelson system. It surprised him that it was in connection with the primary schools that the agitation was for the introduction of the Bible, while the secondary schools, or most of them, always had scripture lessons. Messrs W. A. Fendall, C. Perry and G. Tovnsend expressed themselves in favour of the movement, which, they thought, could do no harm a' l long as the Bible was read as a classic. On the motion of th .* Rev. J. N. Buttle, seconded by Mr Fendall, the Committee decided to give its support to the movement, and the Rev. J. N. Buttle was appointed to represent the Committee on the deputation which is to wait on the Premier with regard to the matter.