The Bible in Schools.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XIV, Issue 3135, 21 November 1893, Page 2

The Bible in Schools.

PUBLIC MEETING W OTJDFEL LOWS' HALL. The public meeting convened last evening for the purpose if Bdvocatir_g a scriptural tpxt bock in the state schools wass largely att nled ; the O diollowa' Hali I wascrowcM. The Rev. T. A. Hamilton' occupied the chair, and opened the meeting with prayer. On the plat'orm also were : —Bishop Julius, and the Keva A, Blake, G. J3 Inglis, S. La wry, J. Cocker, A. A/er, and Messrs Mcdiou-nt, Hoare and Twentymau. The chairni»u said that the qaesi »n of the education of the young had always heen before the nations, and it was quite natural to say that education was the way to deal with vice and crime. There was a great difference between education and wisdom A person might possess wisdom without the moral training necessary to use that knowledge aright. He had been a tencher himself before 1877 when the Bible was read in schools, and after that date, when it was excluded, and he could assure his hearers that during the period in which the Bible was read it was much easier to keep order ani discipline. (Applause), If order was to be kept in the schools, there would have to be something to appeal to the moral nature. Education should bs not only for the body and mind, but for the spiritual portion ; otherwise it was educating only a part imtead of the whole child, The Education Act he regarded as a grand system, but it wanted something to make it perfect, and that want they proposed to supply. With the Bible in schools it would be the most perfect system in the world. The present Act had provided for religious education, until Sir Robert Stout and others of similar views succeeded in their endeavours to eliminate it» The question was whether they were to allow a small minority of unbelievers to keep them from having their children educated as they wished. The present system was distinctly sectarian, as it was at present in the interests of the unbelievers, who were as much a sectu-as any religious denomination. The text book he was speaking of had been introduced in Ireland where it had met with the approval of both the Protestant and the Catholic churches. He was pleased to see so many ladies present. If the men had not used their votes rightly in the past now was the time for the women to do so. The chairman here read a letter of apology from Mr C. W. Furnell, in which that gentleman stated that he had always deplored the absence of the Bible from schools and if they could achieve their object without injuring the feelings of any denomination, and without injuring the stability of the present system ot education they had his heartiest sympathy. Mr Twentyman moved the first resolution :— *' That as no scheme of education is complete which leaves the Bible out of account, this meeting expresses hearty sympathy with the movement to amend the Education Act so as to permit of the reading of selected portions of Scripture in the State schools subject to a time table and conscience clause, and as the Scripture text book of the Irish Nation«l Society appears to be generally acceptable to the community it is recommended for adoption." In schools various kinds of literature were taught, and he would tell them that it was not possible to exclude the Holy Scriptures. The history of the past showed that whereever the Scriptures had been the people had been raised to a higher level of morality. The speaker advocated the adoption of Bible teaching in an eloquent speech The Rev. G. B. Inglis seconded the resolution. Bishop Julius, who was called upon to move the next resolution, said he was surprised to see so good a meeting even in Ashburton. He thought they would have been sicK of meetings. Political meetings, abounded, and they had talk by the bushel, and therefore he had not expected such a large audience. However, he was glad to ice them all, and thankful to see so many men. Some time ago he had been asked if it were possible to convene a meeting in Christ church where representations from the different denominations could assemble and discuss nutters in connection with the introduction of the text book into schools, oorne had urged him to forward the movement, others had said that the representatives would not meet and that when they did they would not agree, but he thought *' Let's try." The result was that delegates consisting of clergymen and laymen from different denominations answered his invitation to discuss the matter heartily and cordially, and they had a good meeting. That meeting led to another, when a committee was appointed. The second meeting led to a third, when an association with a very long name was formed. Then a bit public meeting was held in Christchurch, and resolutions affirming their principles were unanimously cai-riod, They were not creating an opinion, but an opinion which was already created wasfindingexpression. There were associations all over the colony and what had previously been whispered was now an important question in practical politios. He did not expect that they would gain many victories at the coming election but victory was sure to come before long. He did nob believe in denominationalism pure and simple—(applause)— but he did believe in a state system of education. But he wanted to see a proper state system of education, and he wouldn't move his little finger to hurt it. He did not believe In a system which would ots.\y train the one side of a child's nature. The reason the clergymen were moving in the matter was because they considered the spiritual part of a child's nature to be the chiefest and grandest part of life. At present they were practically being taught as though they had no souls, telling them inferentjally tint spiritual education was not worth having, because children took notice of the importance with which such subjects were treated. The clergymen said that ft was essential that children should ba taught first of all to exercise those functions that link them with God. (Applause.) It had been faid that the churches should do this work, but he could tell them that it could not be done, and he knew a good deal about it and the duties of clergymen. A good parish priest hai a lot to do, and anything like systematic teaching in schools could not be done by him. He could do a little, and should. A proper teacher, although he might not be particularly clever, was trained to impart what knowledge he had got. Few clergymen had that training though they had other kind of training. It would be considered to be a great mistake to put untrained teachers to teach children geography. How could in untrained teacher then be expected to teach children religion, and that too after the discipline of the school had relaxed. He believed in the present Education Act, excepting two words—" strictly secular," and it was monstrous to suppose that by altering those two words and adding another subject to 'the syllabus the present education Bystem would be destroyed as was so often stated. If he asked that the Sanskrit language be added to the syllabus he would be told that it would be monstrously difficult, but he would not be told that it would destroy our present system. }in New South Wales the text book was in use, and had been for some time, and it had not injured their system. The larriklnism in Sydney had been referred to as an argument against its success, but the opponents did not say how many more larrikins there would have been without religious in- | flue^ce, There had/been m«>y influence*

at work in Sydney, and the wonder was to him that it was as good as it is. He • believed that religion had been the foundation of England's present strength and sreuuess, that religion had been behind very many good and noble lives, and he was afra:d less the coming generation should grow up without it. The main objection to th«-ir wishes had been removed, as the denominations were agreed as to the 6uitableneea of the Irish text book. (Applause ) v hatever they did,, ho wished a'l the churches to pull together, if he could t?e*. his friends the Presbyterhns, the Wesleyans the Baptists, and the Roman Catholic Bishop— which he did not ihink ha cjuld — (laughter)—and the Salvationists to agree to tho text took, it would be seen that the mtin difficulty was out of the way. Surety there were some present who would like their children brought up, mot so much with a view to drawing out their smartness—for they were smart enough already—as to developing nobility of character, reverence, modesty, and an acknowledgment of a power above themselves. Oh'ldren should be brought into contact early with God, so that the spiritual blessings which had made so great a nation of the Jews would also descend upon them. (Applause). He moved, " That with a view to eivlng effect to the resolution now adopted, an Association be formed for Ashburton county to be affiliated with the Christchurch Tub Book Association." Mr Hoare seconded the motion. The Rev Blake spoke »t considerable length in moving the following resolu. tion:—"That the ministers of all the churches in the oounty, with one lay delegate from each, be a committee with power to add to their number and elect their own officers." Bithsp Julius rose to explain that he was in favour of the State granting aid whereGovernmentinspection was allowed. He was sinking his wish in that direction for the sake of unity in the introduction ,of the text book. (AppJanse). The Rev. Ager, who seconded the mo* tlon, and the Revs Cocker and La wry also took part in the meeting, the two former stating that they did not believe in grants to denominational schools, but expressing their pleasure at the evident unanimity of opinion with regard to the text book. The resolutions were carried unanimously. Votes of thanks were accorded to the chairman and to the speakers, and the Bishop closed the meeting with the bene* diction.