The National Register. — London, England, 1821-02-04 00:00:00

T- -t,-4-- . :v # 7 4 6,414 1 ., e . • • T • 0. j Q --- tiAtt c;i Wa • 16 z ::::g • 7:;M 7 : A -- 7J;74.; t r+ - . • Our iTins, eatultitutiont anti No. 1,297.—V0L. XIV.] MR. BROUGHAM'S EDUCATION BILL. It is generally understood to be Mr. Brougham's intention immediately to proceed with his Bill for the Education of the Poor. The Protestant Dis senters feel very warmly interested in favour of the ti_ rof w ei n o i i t ject is tocibethis measure, d e w t T ith iew co th! mea rle alarm r they are persuaded, on calm and deliberate reflection, that the proposed plan is essentially de fective, and if adopted will retard rather than acce lerate the progress of educatien ; that it will be highly injurious to the interests of religious free dom ; and, in its practical operation, prove to thousands of our fellow countrymen a source of bitter It is the intention of these observations to show that the proposed enactment is greatly detective in these important featurei:— First—lt has not sufficient regard to the advan tages which result from the co-operation of the public, or to the habits of those classes whom the measure is intended to benefit, while it cannot fail materially to injure the schools fur the education of the poor which are already in existence, and have been productive of such important benefits to the country at large. Secondly—The Bill proposes means for the good government of the schools, inadequate to the end, and places great additional power in the hands of the clergy and dignitaries of the church, while it provides no adequate chock on its abuse. And be it further enacted, by the authority aforesaid, that the ordinary of any diocese wherein any school to be provided under this act, either on complaint or on application, shall be situated, may, from time to time, as he shall see fit, visit such school either by himself in person, or by directing the archdeacon of such diocese to visit the said school, and may visit the said school within any deanery in the said diocese, by directing the dean of such deanery to visit the same: which archdeacon, chancellor, and dean, are hereby empowered and required, when so directed by such ordinary, to hold such visitation at the time or times by him specified; and the ordinary so visiting in person, or the arch deacon, chancellor, or dean, so directed by him to visit, shall have the power and authority to examine all matters touching the said school, and the conduct of the master thereof, and to rebuke and admonish him according to his discretion ; and if he see cause, to remove him from his office of master. " And be it further enacted, that the rector, vicar, perpetual curate, curate, or other minister of any parieh or chapelry, whether residing and offi ciating or not, may at all times freely enter any school - provided under this act, either on complaint or on application, within the same, or for the use of the same jointly with any other parish or chapelry, and may examine the scholars attending the same, • touching their proficiency; and may question the master touching his government of the school, and touching the proficiency of the children ; and such rector, vicar, perpetual curate, curate, or other mi nister, sh all any inquiries directed to him touching the said school, by, or by order of the or dinary of the diocese wherein such perish or ebapelry is situated. " And be it further enacted, that from and after the passing of this act, all bishops and archbishops who are required by an act made in the forty-third year of his late Majesty, entitled an act to amend the law. relating to spiritual pertains holding of farms, and fur entorcing the residence of spiritual portions on their benefices in England ;' and by another act made in the flay-seventh year of his late Majesty, entitled act to consolidate and amend the laws relating to spiritual persons holding of farms, and for enforcing the residence of spiritu al persons on their benefices : and for the support and ineintenance of' stipeud.ary curates in England ;' to make returns every year nutters coma:tied with the residence of the clergy under their care;' shah, in addition to such returns, and in the holy of the came, further make u return yearly, specifying the names of all sehoolniestera in any nay appointed ander this act, within their cure, together with the number of scholars taught by each, uud the amount of the sale of and average yearly met UM( Vi-Velvet! by each such niatiter ; and ead tl:Lt our, tu studs "tornarke touching the said school and the education • SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1821. 'of youth generally, as may be from time to time communicated by iihe ministers within whose pa rishes or chapelries such schools are situated." Thirdly—ls not the measure founded on princi ciples calculated to, aggrieve and oppress a large proportion of the eantntututy ? The following ar4 the words of the act relative to the instruction be communicated W the chiltiren in these schools :--• • ' . " Arid he it farther enacted, dial in every school to be provided' under this act, the master thereof shall diligently teach the Holy Scriptures in the version authorised and appointed by law to be used in churches, to such scholars as be of age to learn the same, and shall use select passages thereof far lemons, whereby to tench reading . and writing, and shall teach no otiber book or relig ion, nor from any other book or religion whatever (except us herein atter excepted), without consent of the resident offi ciating minister of the parish or chapelry, where such school is held, first had and obtained : and shall use no form of prayer or worship in the said school, except the Lord's Pierer , or other select passages of the Holy Scriptures, in ;he version aforesaid : pro vided always, that it shaft and May be lawful for the said resident officiating minister to direct, from time to time, what Fortson of Scripture shall bu used, either for lessons or, for worship in the said school, which directinit the Odd master is hereby directed to follow. " Provided nevertheless, and it is hereby further enacted, that in each school to ,be provided under this act, the ca ' the Mart& of England as 1 by law established, ther with such portions of teeltmas the Liturgy thereof the resident officiating tai -1 nister of the parish or cbspelry where such school is situated may appoint, shall be : tau . glit during the half of the school hours of one day in the week, to be flied by the said minister when he fixes the hours of teaching, as herein before directed • and the said minister is hereby further empowered, if he sees occasion, to order the said master to teach the catechism and portions of the Liturgy, aforesaid, on the evenings of the Lord's Day during a time not' exceeding three hours. Provide 4 always, and it is hereby expressly ordered and conunsoded, that if any parent or guardian, or other person having the care of any scholar attending such school, shall notify to the master thereof that he or she desires such scholars may not attend on the days and at the hours when such scatechism or portions of liturgy are taught as aforesaid, such scholar shall not in any manner or way be obliged to :attend at such days and hours, nor punished; rebuked, or otherwise chastised or molested for not attending. " And be it further enacted, that the scholars of every school to be provided under this act shall attend the divine service of the Church of England 1 as by law established, wader the care and in the charge of the master thereof, once every Lord's day, in the church or chapel of the parish or chapelry wherein such school as situated, or in some other parish or eltupelry joined with the same, in the complaint to use justices at the Quarter Sessions, and their order thereupon, unless he be satisfied that they do sttoul.suelt worship under the care of their parents, guardians, or other persons haring the charge or care of them : provided nevertheless, and it is hereby expressly ordered and coanatisted, that if any parent, guardian, or other person having charge or care of any scholar, simat notify to the said master that he or she desires such scholar nut to attend the worship of the Church of England as 1 by law established, but will take care that the said scholar attends some other plaoe of Christian NYti:- ship ; such scholar shall in nowise be obliged ti, attend the public worship of the Church of England established as aforesaid, with this said master, nor be punished, rohuked, admonished, or in any manner molested tin not attending the same." The provisions in the clauses affecting to protect the interests of the Dissenters arc very specious, but the practical effect of the whole plan tent be must mischievous. Thy: reader's attention is IVJW to th a t part of th e Bill by which it is voncteth in the foiloivlng terms, itmt the schoolmaster salist be a snianber of the Churoli at' Englatul:— " Provided within, And it is hereby enacted, that the rector, vicar, o rrtietusil canna Ji the I ;itritc 01 other resident alint3tzt, • ;OA raics 9 ;d• - shall have the power to call before him the person chosen and reported to him by the senior church or • chapel warder. as aforesaid, and to examine him touching his fitness for the place of school-master, and shall net approve of him for such master, unless he be satisfied that be is a member of the Church of England as by law established: provided also, that that it shall and may be lawful for the meeting of . householders assembled as aforesaid, to choose, and • for the resident officiating minister to approve as schoolmaster under this act, the clerk of the parish or chapelry within which the school is situated, for . . which a master is wanted, or the parish or chapel or clerk of any of the other parishes or chapels with which such school is joined, under the provision of • this act. " Against the principle involved in this clause every dissenter from the church establishment has a right most solemnly to protest. The dissenters therefore earnestly object to, and protest against, the I. Because they are convinced that, by discoe the exertions of the public--by impeding the progress every plan for prpmotiug education now in active epee • ration—by neglecting to call forth the energies of the poor--and by omitting the use of those means which are absolutely necessary to ensure the instruction of the moat, indigent classes—this bill will not only fell to realise the hopes it bolds forth, but will retard the very object for which it is enacted. 2. Because-, by imposing a tax for the support of the schools to be established, it will prove practically op pressive to those who desire to promote universal in struction, as they must maintain other schools for children • whoin this bill will nut benefit; vis.—a large proportion et the most indigent of the population—.those who can receive education by means of Sunday schools only, and others who may be driven front the " established" schools by mismanagement and oppression. • 3. Because, while it mitemits the proposed schools to the sole nmusgement of the clergy and dignitaries of the Established church to the entire exclusion of the public at large, it provides no adequate check on the undue exercise of the power tens greeted; which power expeei rience justifies the dissenter in apprehending will be. a dangerous iustrinnent, liable to outsell abuse, and cal culated to raise gi ester obstacles to the general end ilia& • the advantages which it can possibly afford will emirate., lenience. .• 4. Became it will prove injurious to the interests of• religious liberty, by adding to the number of those elm.' disaoilittes under which dissenters from the chinch eats. blislusicut at pretreat labour thereby recognising and legislating upon a principle which is the basis of all tell. gious persecution, and which Christiauity and ealighteued policy unite to condemn. _ It has been contended that the opponents to the hitt II its present shape should suffer it to proceed, seal, on its clauses being discussed iu a committee of the house, pro. pose such alterations as would. in their uwu opinion, reuder it efficient and unexceptionable. But it may to reply be stated, that, an the judgment of the dissenters, the mea sure is objectionable iii its main features, via.—the rejec tion tit pithlic assistance; the exclusion tit public manage mein, and the violation of religious liberty. It is t.ot 11,e principle, but the specific and minor clauses of a Lill, that form the usual subject, for discussion oit its commettsl; and the dissenters are thetenne earnestly ratreated nut to slider any Witticism anuctireltoti of relief, o this nit. mowed stage, to delude Mein tutu 14(41 security, and induce them to postpone, even fur a sitigie day, the claption of ',tempt and iiciive measures of lesistaure. By referring to the bill, the reader will subset ye that *vie are utile' clauses vi melt are highly esi•eptitniable but the objectiiiii, which have heen urged ate Lee , t pre). .1 . 16 e present is nil a patty wit mitt Witith elects the separate totem,. tit any religions &nu. atination. deeply youcel in, and should •waheit the olefin et' all who feel anistuusly valuta tor the eatetiaiOat Or knowledge, and who justly Appreciate the Saine of their region.. libel nes. 111 one triretioistmice it 1. impottaint that burry dissenter should Ist' *wale-1114111 Is Ine tletvirmilatioa to pl ass the IIie4NIII e without an hour's delay. 'file uppunrilts of the bill toted, therefore, wake their she'd, awl utsiaully take the necessary steps for re.isting its eildelitielit, for tioey may be assured unless Weir eituris, he promptly ensile, they will be alto goiter unavailing. Toe legaintate nod coustitisimiral course to ititopt on the UCC4slun, to itattvelitllly to petition built Istot.e3 ill pothoUteill, Let ever) coligtegAtteti of eli,enters, therefore, tliturtatleout the klugtlntu , prepare o temperate retruciet petition tut the re jet ut (lit trill; othl I.le inethis to odorant)** 114 lie {wie that such an appeal to Ind Nisthilli And of the legislatuto will nil tio made in vine. Erirr,NstvE FIRE —lnforinatiou from New Bruns. wick furnishes distressing accounts of an witensiv , and calamitous tire, which has spread its ravae;es ' nearly 100 miles iii extmt over the most fcrti proportion of the North and Western pan of No , Scotia. The tire coutinutal horning tur three day and such wits its iittensity that the very potatoes were burnt in the earth ; hum," fields of ►rain stock of all kind, uud iudoed whole villages ac settlementa, fell it prey to the devourtag elcuieut. v 2 ar7 140 % i~~rri ..J ...1•111..14. • ti f iive k ter ; • the sY x • 7 ; 3 uca n S•VC .• . _ I 1 1 i