Bible Lessons In School.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3941, 17 October 1891, Page 2

Bible Lessons In School.

[To the Editor.]

Sib.—From your contemporary's report of last night's meeting of School Committee I learn that Mr Williams during the discussion of my letter said :- -"As to Mr Woods' assertion with reference to the morals of children he should like to have further proof beyond Mr Woods' statement." It will somewhat surprise your readers to be informed that my letter contains absolutely no reference to the "morals of children." In my oral statements to the Committee about a Jionth ago I made no reference to the "morals of children." Mr Williams is somewhat unreasonable in his expressed desire that I should furnish proof of statements I never made. In order to make the position of Messrs Paige and Dukes and myself intelligible to your readers may I trouble you to publish the letter which was the subject matter of Mr Williams' criticism.—lam, etc., Robert Wood. Presbyterian Manse, 16th October.

Thg.Manse, Masterton, Oct. 15,1891. E. Feist, Esq., Chairman Masterton

School Committee.

Dear Sib, —At last meeting of your Committee I appeared on behalf of the Rev. W. E. Paige, Rev. J. Dukes and myself, and asked the Committee to grant halt an hour once a week out of the tioio at present given to secular instruction to enable us to give a Bible lesson to all children whose parents did not object. We asked the Committee to grant the concession for two reasons : 1. Because even with this shortening of the time for secular instruction the requirements of the Act would bo more than satisfied.

2. Because again and again in other places attempts to give religious lessons after the children bad been five hours at work, have resulted in failure.

The members of committee at last i meeting expressed themselves in favour of the movement, but as they were led to believe that five hours' secular instruction were required to implement the Act, they indicated that they were powerless to make the concession. I take the liberty of calling the attention of the committee to the fact that this is not so. Clause 84, section 2, of Act 1877, reads as follows :—" The school shall be kept open five days, in each week, for at least four Jioura, two of which in the forenoon and two in the afternoon shall be consecutive, and the teaching shall be entirely of a secular character." There has been no legislation since 1887 extending the minimum time from four to five hours. Messrs Paijfe, Dukes, and myself are persuaded thsc any efforts to add a half hours' religious instruction to the present minimum of five hours' secular instruction would only result in failure.—l am, etc, Robert Wood.