BIBLE-READING IN SCHOOLS.

Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 328, 16 August 1898, Page 2

BIBLE-READING IN SCHOOLS.

On Friday evening a meeting was held in the Cambridge Public Hull to discuss the question of taking Bteps to have portions of the Biblu read daily in the public schools of the colony. The Mayer (Mr Bach) occupied the eiiair, and theie was a representative attendance. The Mayor said that as Archdcacou Willis' name appeared first on the requisition, he would call upon him to address the meeting. The Archdeacon' said he had worked for 23 years in his church advocating the reading of the Bible in the public schools, but in church there was no opportunity of hearing the other side, and lie unci his fellow petitioners had asked the Mayor to call the meeting in order that they might discuss the matter and learn the teuling of the public regarding it. i'ersonally he felt it was of vital importance that the Bible should be read in the schools, in order that the children might become accpiainted with Biblical history so that the clergy might have a foundation to work upon. He then moved, " That this meeting urge* Parliament to cause such amendment to be made to the Education Act as will provide for the daily reading of a portion of Scripture in the public tchools of the coloDy." He stated that under the present system the clergy or the various denominations were at liberty to teach in the public schools in the play hours, and he had tried to do so, but had given up in despair. It was too much to expect children to voluntarily stay in school when their fellows were"enjoying themselves outeide. Many others who had tried had given up in despair. He only wanted portions of the Bible read by the duly certificated teachers, and not, as many thought, religion taught. That was the duty of the cleruy. ~ Unless the children had a knowledge of the Scriptures it was a difficult task to make them understand what religion means. He would only have certain portions of the Bible read, as some portiousof it wi re uotsuitableforchildren. Various Bills had been before the House, advocating the reading of certain por Lions ; there had been great diversity of opinion as to which were the most suitable, but he believed it was now generally agreed that what was kDown as " The Irish Text-book " was the most suitable. However, he would be in favour of any portion Parliament might decide upon. When the Government usurped the teaching "of the youth of the Colony it took away the teaching of the Bible, and he considered it was its duty to restore it. Some might say it would be the beginning of denominationalism, but he could not see how this could be. He did not wish to go back to the old system, and lie was not in favour of grants to deneminational schools—though for years he was—as they could only flourish in the cities. A few years ago one was tried in Cambridge, but it failed. Again, some teachers, it was said, were inSdels, and would poison the minds of the children. Even granting that, ho would sooner the little ones knew the Bible stories as fables than not know them at all ; a conscience clause would allow of children '.withdrawing on their parents objecting. The Bible being excluded gave it a bad name with the scholars, who would naturally think it was an objectionable book. In America it had lately been decided, by a large majority of 400 of the leading learned men of the United States, that it was the duty of the State to teach Bible facts and history and moral lessous from it. He advocated it because it had been the foundation on which the great British Empire had beeu founded, and he moved the motion, feeling that it would be for the good of the country and of the children now growing up a;id yet unborn. The Rev. Mr Cannell seconded. He was in full sympathy with the Archdeacon. Ho only knew of one clergymau wdio had successfully taught the Bible in schools under the present system, and that was Archdeacon Dudley, the father of the present Archdeacon of that name. He considered the New Zealand system of education would be perfect if it included teaching the Bible. The Mayor then read a letter from Mr R. B. Fitzpatriek; which pointed out some of the difficulties that he considered would arise if the Bible was tau«ht in the schools. Mr C. Craig said if the Bible was to be taught at all he was in favour of its being given as a whole. He considered the places where the Bible should be taught was in the Sunday-schools and at home. If it was taught in the schools it would lead to dissension between the various religious bodies. Mr Fletcher said his child had more to sturly now than it was able to accomplish, and asked what subject should be deleted to make room for the Biblereading. A stranger, who said he was a teacher under the Board of Education—we are told Mr Phillips, of Bangiaohia—said he was in sympathy with the Archdeacon, but the syllabus was so full that something must be left out for Bible-reading. It was a matter on which there was a great diversity of opinion amongst teachers. The Bible-reading would be the thin edae of the wedge, and he was afraid that if it were introduced the secular system of education would be ruined. Mr Rugc said in his country (Germany) Scripture was taught in the schools for one hour every day, and he did not consider the children there were at nil behind those in New Zealand. Mr Wells thought it of the highest importance that the Bible should be read in schools. He said his opinion had been much strengthened by reading Benjamin Kidd's book on " Social Evolution," which showed that there had never been a people who existed without a religion, and the higher the class of religion the higher the civilisation of the people. Without it they ceased to have wealth and power, and gradually ceased to exist as a people. The most intellectual race ever known were the ancieut Greeks, but now they were not to be found. As they dropped religion they faded away. France was the example of the present century ; it was only a question of time when she would cease to be a nation. Ho wanted them to consider and not be led away by claptrap. If they did away with religion they would deteriorate. So if religion was necessary to existence, would it not be well to find room upon the syllabus for Bible-reading. He believed Vic'oriaand New Zealand wore the only colonies in which religion was not taught in the schools. They should be careful how they put away what had made the British nation what it was*. There were many homes were the Bible was not taught and the children did not attend the Sunday-schools, and he felt that, no matter what was left out of the syllabus, the Bible should be read. Archdeacon Willis said many attempts had been made to have a secular code of morals introduced to be taught in the schoolz, notably Hack wood's "'Moral Educator," but the effect had been declared useless and they had been withdrawn. The motion was then put and lost by one vote. The Archdeacon then thanked the Mayor and all present for attending, and a vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the meeting.