BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3202, 25 April 1911, Page 2

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

HEATED DEBATE AT TE HAPARA.

RECOMMENDATION NOT TO' ALLOW USE OF. SCHOOL FOR SERVICES.'

The crowded!- attendance at the fo Hapara School last evening on the occasion of the annual meeting of householders betokened that some burning question was agitating the minds of 1 the residents of tiie school district. r lho meeting had not proceeded far befoie the reason for the unusually large at-tendance-manifested itself. The chairman (Mr P. G. Andrew) brought up the question of the occupatioii of tlie school on Sundays. He explained that when the building was first, opened an application had been received from, the Vicar of Holy Trinity Church for permission to hold services therein on Sundays. This permission was granted, subject to other denominations being allowed the same privilege if they so desired. As none of the other denominations required the school for church services, the use of the building was granted to 'Holy Trinity Church for Sundays. The committee- had unanimously decided not to allow the use of the building for Sunday school services, as it was 'intended* to beautify the grounds, and it was considered that the presence of a large number of children on the Sunday, under irresponsible control, would result in damage to the grounds, for which the committee’s teachers might he wrongfully called to account. It was considered by the committee that there was no necessity to use the school as a Sunday school when the Methodist Church had a building for the purpose in the locality. Despite the fact that the committee had granted the use of the school for Sunday services to Holy , Trinity Church, the Vicar (Rev. Dawson Thomas) had gone out of his way at the service in the sclioolhoiise on the previous evening to request those of the congregation who were householders to attend the annual meeting and record their votes only for those candidates who favoured Bible-reading in schools. “I feel very strongly at this unwarranted interference by the Vicar of Holy Trinity Church,” said Mr Andrew,“and consider it a piece of absolutely bad taste for the chairman of a neighbouring school committee to interfere in another district with the object of ousting a brother chairman.” Mr Tiffen had opposed. Bible-reading in schools, and had been quite open and frank in his reasons for doing so. Mr Tiffen had been disgusted at the action of the Rev. Mr Thomas, and his absence from the meeting that evening was no doubt on account of the resentment he felt. Mrs Johnston stated that the chairman was in error in asserting that the Rev. Dawson Thomas had instructed the congregation how to vote on Sunday evening. He had simply advised them to attend the meeting of householders. The Chairman: Yes, and vote only for those who favoured Bible-reading in schools.. Mrs Rosser denied this statement, and supported Mrs Johnston’s account of what had bqen said 1 by the Vicar of Holy Trinity. The Chairman: If anyone who was present at the service on Sunday night will tell me that I am wrong in .representing what was said by the Rev. Dawson Thomas, 1 will withdraw what I have said and apologise. Mr R. Thelwall stated! that he had been present at the church service on the previous evening, and had distinctly understood; the Vicar to request those present to attend the meeting of householders and vote only for those favourable to Bible-reading in schools. Mr W. A. G. Penlington requested permission to be allowed to speak. The Chairman: Are you a householder ? Mr Penlington: No. The Chairman : Then I regret I cannot permit you to take part in the discussion. Mr Penlington : Is it not permissible for a householder to get someone else for him? The, Chairman : Certainly not. If that were permitted' people would be running round town looking for orators and each bring one along with them. Mr J. Bartlett warmly resented the chairman introducing the question of Bible in schools, and the remarks he had made concerning the Vicar. The Chairman: We were a happy little family until the parsons came along and by their interference bred discord which had resulted in setting husband l against wife. He felt very strongly the unwarranted action taken by the* Rev. Dawson Thomas who had no right to canvas for votes in a neighbouring school district. Mr Ba-rlett*: If the Rev. Dawson Thomas bad no right to canvass for votes, what right had' you to go canvassing round for votes to-dav? The Chairman: The reason I canvassed for votes was because I did not feel inclined' to be ousted .at the bidding of a parson. I did' not much care whether I was returned to the committee or not, and felt that if the householders wished to hand the school over to the Women’s Christian Temperance Union they could do so: but when I heard; _of the had taste displayed by the Vicar of Holy Trinity Church I decided to do some canvassing in the other direction. Mrs Johnston : You are out of order, Mr Chairman, in dragging in the Women’s Christian Temperance Union. 1 am a member of that body and resent your slighting reference to it. The chairman. went on to refer to the action of the Vicar in strong terms, and stated that he felt so strongly on the subject that he intended, to show the resentment felt at the unwarranted interference to move: “That this meeting of householders recommends the committee not to allow the use of the school for church services.” Mr Dobson moved, and Mr Thomas seconded, that the matter be left, to the incoming committee. Mr G. K. Pasley said that there was no doubt that the action of the Vicar of Holy Trinity Church had been taken with the purpose of defeating those members of the committee opposed to Bible-reading in schools. Be (the speaker) deprecated the packing of a meeting byvpersons who took little .or no interest in the cause of education simply to secure a certain end which was apart from the working of the school. He had been surprised at the action taken by the rev. gentleman,.and with others very much resented it. 1 The Chairman’s motion was then put to the meeting and carried, bv 21 votes to 18. ten householders refraining from voting. The result of the election of the committee. which sent all the old members back to office, was received with prolonged applause. The discussion was very heated and animated at times, and one lady indignantly left the room. after protesting at the turn the proceedings were taking.