RELIGIOUS TEACHING IN SCHOOLS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2475, 14 April 1909, Page 5

RELIGIOUS TEACHING IN SCHOOLS.

ACTION OF CHRISTCHURCH PRESBYTERY.

[Pep Press Association.]

CHRISTCHURCH, April 13. At tin* meeting of the Christchurch Presbytery to-day, the Rev. J. T. Reid brought under the notice of the Presbytery the decision of the North Canterbury Education Board, in regard to teaching religion in school during tinschool hours. He said that the Kaiapoi school committee had been approached with a view to having the school hours reduced by half on bom- a week, so that religious teaching could be given. The Board had definitely decided that 25 hours’ secular instruction should be given, and that no religious instruction should be given from the opening to the close of the school. This had caused a cessation of many classes held in many of the schools of the district.

The Rev. J. McKenzie moved that a small committee should be'sot up to consult with other denominations in regard to the matter. The Rev. P. C. Durward seconded the motion, and said that a deputation should wait on the Board. He pointed out that the Board of Education was not a popularly elected body, but that the members of the Board were appointed by the school committees, who were elected by small handfuls of householders. In Lc-eston the iieople had decided in favor of the teaching of the

nble in the schools, but the Board had overruled them. He recommended that ministers should go to the meetings of householders called to elect school committees, and endeavor to obtain the support of the people. The Aloderator said that' in several speeches by the late Air. Seddon ministers had been blamed for not taking advantage of the opportunities of teaching the Bible in schools. The Rev. J. AfoKonzie added to his motion, ‘‘That the Presbytery protests against the decision or the Education Board.”

The entire motion was passed, and the Revs. Reid, J. McKenzie, ami Tait were appointed a committee in pursuance thereof.