THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 334, 30 August 1898, Page 2

THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

On Sunday evening last. Pastor Steed preached in the Oddfellows' Hall, at Cambridge, taking for his text Acts, 9th chapter, 15 verse : " But the Lord said unto him (Paul) go thy way ; for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles and King?, and the children of Isieal." The preacher said he had chosen that text to show that whenever the Lord had any message to convey or work to be done it was carried out through the Disciples, who were now represented by the Clergy. On the question of having the Bible read or taught in the public schools there was a great diversity of opinion, some being for and others against it ; yet the individuals on either side were equally conscientious and intelligent. It was a matter of great importance, and, in his opinion it was a ca3C of doing right or wrong, of justice or injustice. The State schools belonged to the Government and not to the church. The State embraced all the men and women of the colony, of many national'.ies and different beliefs, and it had been agreed by ali, through their representatives in Parliament, that certain lines should be adopted in the matter- of educating their children which would not be offensive to any of them. Now the question was could the Bible be taught in the schools without encroaching upon the rights of some of the inhabitants. But then they were told the Bible should not be taught, it should only be read. Which Bible was to be read, the Catholic or the Protestant ? Then the Jews did not believe in the New Testament, and there were infidels, whose lives weie often a standing rebuke to professing Christians, who ignored the Bible altogether ; and yet all these various sects were entitled to have justice done to them. Mr Steed said he believed the New Zealand system of education was one of the best in the world, and it would be a pity to interfere with it in the manner that some contemplated. They were told that whatever was done would be purely imscctarian, and it had been suggested that the " Irish text book " should be used. The speaker then referred to this text book and clearly demonstrated that it taught the doctrine of the Catholic Church. What the agitators wanted was to teach religion in the schools, and they could not have an unscctaiian religion. The reading of the Bible in the schools would not help the children a bit, unless it was explained, and that could not be done without offending some. It was the duty of the Ministers of religion to educate the children in matters pertaining thereto, and then no one would have their rights trespassed upon Many of the religious Ministers were very fond of intermeddling in State affairs, but they would never get the people made religious by Act of Parliament. They had an instance of that in the Puritan Parliament, which was composed of the vilest of hypocrites. Macauley said : " Try to make a nation of saints and you would make one of scoffers,' 1 and lie (the speaker) was sure that was correct. The churches should do the work, but no man or woman could teach the Bible without having the love of Jesus Christ in his heart. Mr Steed gave many other reasons in support of his contention, but we have not space to devote to it.