Bibles in State Schools
BIBLE IN
STATE SCHOOLS
CANON GARLAND’S
FAREWELL.
A PLEDGE AND
A CHALLENGE.
AT the pleasant Sunday afternoon service in the Methodist Church, Albert-street, yesterday afternoon [ 21 July 1912 ], the Rev. G.E. Rowe [ George Edwards Rowe ] presiding, an address on the Bible in State School movement was delivered by the Rev. Canon Garland [ David John Garland ].
The Chairman said he had known Canon Garland, the organising secretary of the Bible in State School League for some 20 years.
He had made his acquaintance first in Western Australia, where he was as active in promoting the interests of the Church as he had been in Queensland.
In the former State, Canon Garland, as diocesan secretary, had done splendid work.
In Brisbane, he had got to know Mr. Garland more intimately, and admired him the more.
In the work of the League they had been closely associated, and the more he knew of Mr. Garland, the greater was his confidence in him and the stronger was his affection for him.
He was undoubtedly an able man, and had devoted himself so tirelessly to the Bible in State School movement as to achieve the splendid success that had been accomplished. (Applause.)
They could look back now and thank God for such a leader.
Referring to the possibility of another referendum being taken, Mr. Rowe said he was a democrat and, as such, was not opposed to a referendum; but he was against any backstair influence being introduced in connection with the matter.
He believed, however, that the parents were so satisfied with the administration of the Bible lesson movement in the schools, that if a referendum were taken, it would result in a bigger role for its continuance than there was for its introduction. (Applause.)
They were very sorry to be losing Canon Garland, who was going to New Zealand to undertake a similar important work, and they wished him God speed in his mission. (Applause.)
The Chairman said he had known Canon Garland, the organising secretary of the Bible in State School League for some 20 years.
He had made his acquaintance first in Western Australia, where he was as active in promoting the interests of the Church as he had been in Queensland.
In the former State, Canon Garland, as diocesan secretary, had done splendid work.
In Brisbane, he had got to know Mr. Garland more intimately, and admired him the more.
In the work of the League they had been closely associated, and the more he knew of Mr. Garland, the greater was his confidence in him and the stronger was his affection for him.
He was undoubtedly an able man, and had devoted himself so tirelessly to the Bible in State School movement as to achieve the splendid success that had been accomplished. (Applause.)
They could look back now and thank God for such a leader.
Referring to the possibility of another referendum being taken, Mr. Rowe said he was a democrat and, as such, was not opposed to a referendum; but he was against any backstair influence being introduced in connection with the matter.
He believed, however, that the parents were so satisfied with the administration of the Bible lesson movement in the schools, that if a referendum were taken, it would result in a bigger role for its continuance than there was for its introduction. (Applause.)
They were very sorry to be losing Canon Garland, who was going to New Zealand to undertake a similar important work, and they wished him God speed in his mission. (Applause.)
Canon Garland, speaking under emotion, acknowledged with heart-felt gratitude the generous and noble words uttered by his friend and of which he was unworthy.
All he could hope was that he would not bring discredit on what Mr. Rowe had said in the new work that he had undertaken.
He came to the church that afternoon at the invitation of Mr. Rowe to express the sense of obligation which the League and the people of Queensland felt towards Mr. Rowe and the Methodist Church for their attitude toward the Bible in State School movement.
Personally, he ( Canon Garland ) came into a work bravely pioneered by the Rev. Osborne Lilley [ William Osborne Lilley ], and of which Dr. Youngman [ Henry Youngman ] was one of the founders.
It was only six or seven years ago that there was any hope of the work succeeding, and the memorable meetings held in the Albert-street Church had made the church historical in connection with the movement.
Regarding the two books of Scripture lessons compiled by the staff of the Education Department, he wished to say there had not been one word of criticism raised against them, and as a fact there were in his opinion no superior books of their kind in the British Empire.
Friction in the schools had been predicted over the introduction of these lessons, but not one case had come under the notice of the League, the basis of whose platform was liberty for the parents to say what their children should be taught.
If a return were called for it would be found that the withdrawals of children, save in the case of one particular Church, were not worth counting.
The League now claimed that the parents approved of the lesson, and they claimed in defence of the teachers that they taught the lessons in an unbiased manner.
He could add his own personal testimony that there had not been a single case heard of where any teacher had given the lessons improperly, and the Roman Catholic teachers were conspicuous for imparting the lessons with reverence and with respect for the convictions of the children. (Applause.)
As to the visits of ministers of religion he had not the statistics for the whole State, but in the metropolis there were about 130 ministers visiting 60 schools, and over 10,000 children were receiving definite religious instruction by the wish of their parents from the ministers of their own Church.
Instead of the Church receiving State assistance, as it was stated they were aiming at through this movement, they were giving valuable aid to the State.
He had found no friction between ministers and teachers, the visits of the former obviated the necessity of the latter teaching religion the teachers only being asked to give Bible lessons.
Among the advantaged of the introduction of the Bible lessons was that the children of Queensland now learned lessons from a book which was of great literary and historical value, and beyond all that, it stood for character building. (Applause.)
The result of the introduction of these lessons had been to strengthen and establish our national system of education, and so long as those lessons were preserved as an integral part of our national system of education, no assaults from without would ever disturb it. (Applause.)
There had also been a gain, inasmuch as the teachers and the clergy had been brought into happy relationships.
The policy of the League would continue to be defence, not defiance.
All he could hope was that he would not bring discredit on what Mr. Rowe had said in the new work that he had undertaken.
He came to the church that afternoon at the invitation of Mr. Rowe to express the sense of obligation which the League and the people of Queensland felt towards Mr. Rowe and the Methodist Church for their attitude toward the Bible in State School movement.
Personally, he ( Canon Garland ) came into a work bravely pioneered by the Rev. Osborne Lilley [ William Osborne Lilley ], and of which Dr. Youngman [ Henry Youngman ] was one of the founders.
It was only six or seven years ago that there was any hope of the work succeeding, and the memorable meetings held in the Albert-street Church had made the church historical in connection with the movement.
Regarding the two books of Scripture lessons compiled by the staff of the Education Department, he wished to say there had not been one word of criticism raised against them, and as a fact there were in his opinion no superior books of their kind in the British Empire.
Friction in the schools had been predicted over the introduction of these lessons, but not one case had come under the notice of the League, the basis of whose platform was liberty for the parents to say what their children should be taught.
If a return were called for it would be found that the withdrawals of children, save in the case of one particular Church, were not worth counting.
The League now claimed that the parents approved of the lesson, and they claimed in defence of the teachers that they taught the lessons in an unbiased manner.
He could add his own personal testimony that there had not been a single case heard of where any teacher had given the lessons improperly, and the Roman Catholic teachers were conspicuous for imparting the lessons with reverence and with respect for the convictions of the children. (Applause.)
As to the visits of ministers of religion he had not the statistics for the whole State, but in the metropolis there were about 130 ministers visiting 60 schools, and over 10,000 children were receiving definite religious instruction by the wish of their parents from the ministers of their own Church.
Instead of the Church receiving State assistance, as it was stated they were aiming at through this movement, they were giving valuable aid to the State.
He had found no friction between ministers and teachers, the visits of the former obviated the necessity of the latter teaching religion the teachers only being asked to give Bible lessons.
Among the advantaged of the introduction of the Bible lessons was that the children of Queensland now learned lessons from a book which was of great literary and historical value, and beyond all that, it stood for character building. (Applause.)
The result of the introduction of these lessons had been to strengthen and establish our national system of education, and so long as those lessons were preserved as an integral part of our national system of education, no assaults from without would ever disturb it. (Applause.)
There had also been a gain, inasmuch as the teachers and the clergy had been brought into happy relationships.
The policy of the League would continue to be defence, not defiance.
Lastly, if those who talked most loudly about Government for the people by the people had not uttered threats the League would not have had anything to do directly or indirectly with any elections, and if those in the political arena were willing to leave the matter alone – and some had learned that it would have been better to keep then hands off – he would pledge the executive of the League never to take any part in politics, direct or indirect.
That was both a pledge and a challenge.
Since the introduction of the Bible in State Schools, divisions in the Protestant Church that were apparent had disappeared and some of the Presbyterian ministers who had opposed the movement were now its warmest supporters and the Rev. E. Barnett (Chairman of the Baptist Union) [ Ezekiel Barnett ] had authorised him to say that he was now Vice-President of the League. (Applause.)
Those who wanted to interfere with the national system of education and had failed when those divisions in the Church existed were not more likely to succeed now there were no divisions.
He again acknowledged the kindnesses shown him, by the Church and its minister and by the members of the League.
Mr. A.H. Littler [ Arthur Harry Littler ], the church organist, presided at the instrument, and Miss Elsie Bates sang “The Promise of Life” while Mr. Stanley Tamblyn rendered “Calvary”.
That was both a pledge and a challenge.
Since the introduction of the Bible in State Schools, divisions in the Protestant Church that were apparent had disappeared and some of the Presbyterian ministers who had opposed the movement were now its warmest supporters and the Rev. E. Barnett (Chairman of the Baptist Union) [ Ezekiel Barnett ] had authorised him to say that he was now Vice-President of the League. (Applause.)
Those who wanted to interfere with the national system of education and had failed when those divisions in the Church existed were not more likely to succeed now there were no divisions.
He again acknowledged the kindnesses shown him, by the Church and its minister and by the members of the League.
Mr. A.H. Littler [ Arthur Harry Littler ], the church organist, presided at the instrument, and Miss Elsie Bates sang “The Promise of Life” while Mr. Stanley Tamblyn rendered “Calvary”.
– from page 7 of “The Brisbane Courier” of 22 July 1912.
The Reverend Dr George Edwards Rowe (26 August 1856-27 October 1926) enlisted in the First AIF on 15 April 1915 as an “honorary chaplain – first class” and was despatched from Brisbane to Gallipoli the very next day with a contingent of the 4th Australian Infantry Brigade aboard the troopship, “Kyarra”. He returned on the troopship, “Ballarat”, via Sydney, on 9 August 1915. The respect with which he was held in the veterans community can be guessed at by the military escort and gun carriage bier on which his casket was conveyed through Toowong Cemetery on 30 October 1926. The image above appeared on the front page of Brisbane’s “The Sunday Mail” newspaper the following day.
