THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 525, 26 July 1880, Page 2

THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

[To the Editor of the Wairarafa Daily. Sik,—One of the chief topics now before the House, if we set aside the financial difficulties, it the notice of Sir W. Fox for the re-introduction of the Bible into schools. The worthy knight appears for a time to hare set aside his feud with " Boniface,' 1 and to hay# mounted another hobby, if hobby we can call it. Sir William is, however, the last we should have thought likely to trouble his head about the matter, as his speeches in general, smack of pugnacity and scurrility, rather than of peace and: goodwill, which are the subjects one looks for in: the Book he champions. However, I do not wish 1 to doubt'the bona fides of the hon. member for Bangitikei r , and I have no doubt that he has very many sympathisers. I beg leave to say that I do not wish to be unnumbered amongst, these, and I will, therefore, proceed to give my views on the subject. . Although I advocate, and have advocated, = many alterations in our present Education 'Act, yet I do not think it will be wise to tamper with the. " religious clause," for in my opinion that is the main point in the Act, In the first plaoe, the re-introduotion of Bible-reading would be a gross injustice to the Catholios, who form a large proportion of' our population ; and we feel that it would haVe the immediate effect of; entirely . alienating: that body from,our,education -system. The proposed alteration would but be the thin end of the wedge, •and' if. it were to, become law, would infallibly 1 lead to Denominationalism, for the Catholics would then have good cause to urge : their claims to special aid, and would, no i doubt, find many Then, agairifihavefartoogreatareipectfor jth«iMr^uTolume x to;wuh toj BMvitiic.on-j

person attempt to teach any other subject without comment 1 I think not. Then why should.they .attempt:to.;teacli that moat difficult and mysterious of books in such an insane manner! . Finally, what an instrument for evil it would prove in the hands of a " Freothinking" teacher I I will suppose him to be reading the subject of- Balaam's Ass. being gifted with, speech. Of course a man holding' such ' views would probably ridicule the subject, and in.order to impart his ideas to the class hevhaS only : to Bhrug his shoulders, and smile, for children are only too sharp in suoh eases. Therefore I oan only say that I heartily hope Sir William's motion will never, meet with, the support of the House, for .should it do so, the conse;. quencea will, I feel, be most disastrous. Yours Ac.