A SELFISH BODY.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 417, 15 February 1890, Page 2

A SELFISH BODY.

The Presbyterian Assembly is, or ought to be, a very intelligent body, but it certainly cannot claim credit for liberality of sentiment. Judging by a Wellington telegram there is a tincture of selfishness about the body referred to. It is afraid of the growth of denominationalism, as indicated by the voting in last session of Parliament, but yet wishes to secure the fulfilment of its own hobby, the reading of the Bible in schools. There are, we know> many earnest people who favor the introduction of the Bible into schools, and an excellent case can be made out in its behalf, but then we come just to that point upon which there is a great divisiionThe Assembly considers the present system of education to be a good one, only that religious teaching is not introduced into it. The pious Roman Catholic agrees that the system is a Godless one, but the creed wh ! ch he has been taught to obey differs greatly from that of the Protestant. And that is where the thing appears to be so monstrous in its selfishness. The Presbyterian Assembly would have the system of education made use of for religious purposes, but expresses the opinion that the Roman Catholic must be tied down to that or else bear the expense of separate schools, while being compelled to share in the cost of the general system. Very strong arguments can undoubtedly be raised against denominationalism ; no one can deny that it would be a disastrous thing to break up the present system just to allow members of different religious persuasions to have schools for those inclined to the one belief. But it does seem the most rank absurdity for one religious body to try and get its views brought into force, while at the same time giving backhanded knocks to another religious body. If they cannot agree with each other, the strife might at least be left to those—and they are not by any means a small number—who have no scruple about opposing the introduction of any religion into the schools. In regard to the claim which is made by Roman Catholics, they at the present time show the sincerity of their belief by paying for schools of their own, when at the same time they are compelled to contribute to the support of the general system. Casuists can find plenty of room to expatiate on what would be the result if the Catholics were granted what they ask, but while admitting that many ob< jections can be urged against the claim, a great many of those objections exist only in imagination.