The Bible in Schools.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 264, 2 October 1902, Page 3

The Bible in Schools.

There was a somewhat small, though representative, attendance in the Salvation Army Barracks on Tuesday evening, to hear discussion on the above important question. His Worship the Mayor occupied the chair. In declaring the meeting open, he made an excellent introductory speech, commending warmly the project of Bible reading in schools, and expressing his wonder that the people have ever acquiesced in its exclusion, and hoping the question was on the point of solution. The Rev McKenzie Gibson, though not present, wrote saying he quite concurred in the movement now on foot.

' The Rev Mr Barclay having been called upon to place the whole matter before the meeting, proceeded to do so. First of all, he wished them to understand what they were asking for. ■■ Ifc included five points —The reading of selected portions of the scripture in the public schools, under the supervision of the ordinary teachers, as a part of the common school course, with a conscience clause exempting both teachers and pupils in case of conscientious objections, and with explanations of a literary kind, to be furnished by a little text book to be prepared by a committee of the different churches. Such a practice was not new. The Bible has been read in the schools of all the Evangelical churches of Europe and America, and it is now read in .most, if not all, of the schools of Australia. * Here Mr Barclay read from a speech of Mr Perry, Minister of Education in New South Wales, showing what they do there, and that the institution was quite smoothly, no friction .of ,any sort, and under the con--ditiOns referred to grant the reading of the scriptures in the public schools. It is only the resumption of what, prior to the present Education Act, was done over the whole colony. There was no doubt the whole country, from one end to the other, was waking up to the importance of this subject, and it was a matter for congratulation that among the Evangelical churches all but entire unanimity prevailed. ' Presbyterians, Wesleyans, Anglicans, all were cordially uniting and agreeing at the next election to have this question in the foreground. A plebiscite has already been taken in several places, those voting " Yes " showing an overwhelming preponderance over the " No's." Answering the question, Is this a wise step? Is it a step that has s vcral weighty reasons to commend it 1 Mr Barclay confined himself to two considerations. First, since knowledge of the scripture is an important element in any ordinary scheme of secular education, everyone knows that in. the Bible, intelligently understood, were to be found the chief factors in the conception and organisation of those great institutions that make for the noblest interests of society and the welfare of mankind. All these things have entered into history, whether politics, art, science of legislature, questions of commerce and labour laws, with the varied habits and customs of society, and apart from some knowledge of the Bible, how is. a man to have the general knowledge of such questions—their origin, history, influence, &c.—that he ought to have ? Here Mr Barclay read from a volume in his hand a most apt quotation, fully bearing* out what he had said.

' Wholly apart from its religious or from its ethical value, the Bible is the one book that no intelligent person who wishes to come into contact with the world of thought and to share the ideas of the great minds of the tian era can afford to be ignorant of. All modern literature and ail art are permeated with it. There is scarcely a great work in the language that can be fully understood and enjoyed without this knowledge, so full is it of allusions and illustrations from the Bible. This is trua of fiction, of poetry, of economic and philosophic works, and also of the scientific and even agnostic treatises. It is not all a question of religion, or theology, ovot dogma ; it is a question of general intelligence. A boy or girl at college in th 9 presence of the works set for either to master, without a fair knowlege of the Bible is an ignoramus, and is disadvantaged accordingly. It is in itself almost a liberal education, as many great masters in literature have testified. It has so entered into-law, literature, thought, the whole modern life of the Christian world, that ignorance of it is a most serious disadvantage to the student.'

2. It has been found by experience that the Bible holds a peculiar relation to the morals and good conduct-of the youth of a land, and through them on the nation as a whole. "What lesson comqs to us from Victoria ? There for some time they tried a little handbook specially compiled to teach morals. After awhile it was withdrawn. The inspectors reported that having behind it neither conscience nor any authority of a sacred kind, it was rio use. Here,in confirmation, several distinguished authors were quoted —Sir Robert Peel, who declared, "An education without moral training was only half an education, with the better half left out "; Victor Hugo, who declared that the parents of all children sent to schools where no morality was taught ought to be brought before the Magistrates. How strange ! Go to China, to Ceylon, to Burmah, to Egypt or Arabia, and thei."e in the schools you will hear read the sacred books respectively of these people. It is only Christians that expel their Bible, that book which they profess to be at the foundation of all that is great in their country, in the Church,, and the world. Here Mr Barclay proceeded briefly to

answer certain objections One, is not the Sunday school enough ? 'No; of the 130,000 names in the public school registers a vast number never go near a Sunday school. Moreover, what is one hour a week to inculcate such lessons as are required ? Another: Gould not the Church itself directly give all the religious education that is needed ? Impracticable. No minister of religion over -the five or six or more schools within this district could possibly overtake the work to the extent that is essential. A third : To do as proposed, would not this introduce sectarianism ? J No ; the Bible is not a sectarian j book. It is the charter of all Christendom. Does anyone say, " Oh, your Bible may appear more favourable to yonr religion than mine ?" If there were any truth in this, so much the worse for the parties making the admission.

Mr Barclay's remarks, which were amplified with a wealth of historical references, were attentively listened to and warmly applauded. The Revs Morrison and Tinsley followed with remarks corroborative of the statements put forward by Mr Barclay. At the conclusion of the meeting a committee was formed to take in hand the work of a plebiscite in the best way that might appear to them. The committee consisted of the various ministers of the town and Messrs J. Manchester, G. H. Graham, F. Russell, W. H. Beckett, .D. B. Buckingham, and R. E. Boyd.