LIBERALISM.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 4996, 8 April 1895, Page 3

LIBERALISM.

We would hope that New Zealand Liberalism is not fairly represented by the recent action of the MastertonLibcral Association (says a writer in the New Zealand Church News), with regard to an application from the Vicar of Mnsterton for the use of the local schoolroom after school hours for the purpose of giving religious instruction to the children who might be willing to attend his class. The School Committee granted the vicar's request, whereupon the local " Liberal" Association passed thefollowing"liberal "resolution : " That this meeting is of opinion that the introduction of religious teaching into the public school at Mnsterton is calculated to injuriously affect the system of secular education at present in vogue. This Association more particularly condomns the action of the Masterton School Committee for (sic) having granted permission to the Rev A, C. Yorke to impart religious instruction in the school hours. 1 '

After this, we would suggest that the Association should find for itself a title that would more adequately express its principles. " The Masterton Illiberal Association " would be much more fitting. It is hardly credible that such an ignoble, uncatholic, ungenerous, uncharitable expression of feeling as that evinced in this resolution could be found in a political organisation in this colony. Yet it has been unmistakably found at Masterton. We are thankful we do not live there, in such an atmosphere of small-mindedness j and wo can but hope that New Zealand politics will never be tainted with tho principles of the Masterton " Liberal" Association, Marvellous things have beon dono in the name of Liberty by fanatics and narrowminded bigots of all kinds, but we thought that the day for these had passed away. For years past the clergy throughout the colony have given religious instruction in the State schools after school hours.without interfering in the slightest with the Educational system. Yet now, under the guise of Masterton " Liberalism " this mustbe forbidden because it is " calculated to injuriously affect the system of secular education at present in vogue!" Truly, the English lauguage is undergoing a change in respect of the significance of some of its words, or else this ideal "Liberal" Association has never understood the meaning of its own name, It had better add a dictionary to its library, for the use of its members, It would be not impertinent to ask these survivals of the" dark ages" for a true and real definition of the " Liberalism " which demands absolutely " secular education " for a nation whichisprofessedly Christian?