The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1864-10-11 00:00:00

0 S RRR L

The general meeting en held in the afternooto in
the eapter House. The Lord Bishop of tbe Diocese
preaided, and tbe spacious hall was filled by • large
end induential assembly. Amongst those present
were Sir V.. Strachey, Bait., High Sheriff of the
county, Lord Taunton, Lady Auckland, the Countess
of So' reniont, Lady A. Jo'life, Capt. Joldfe, M.P.
Major Paget' E. A. Freeman, H. 'rhring, H.,
Marshall, T. French, 11. Bernard, J. Welsh, and R.
Smith, &qrs. ; the Dean of Cork, the Dean of
Cashel; Archdeacons Fitzgerald and Denison ; the
Rev. Canons Meade and Pinder ; the Rev. Pre-
beodaries \Layne, Horton, Rhodes, Neville, Lane,
Milward, Ommaney, Selwyn, Hawtrey, Bumpetead,
Byrnes, Scrarth, Church, Lake, Bond and Gray; the
Reeds. J. Kempthorne, J. Burke, A. Dunne, Hon.
E. P. Talbot, F. B. Porthast. E. P. Vaughan, R. G.
Boodle, J. Ward, J. Wood, T. West. .1. W. Levies,
J. H. Macaulay, L It. Hamilton, J. U. Dixon, J.
W. Taaker J. Colorant, F. Fowler J. Braucher, .I.
Y. NioholsOn, W. Purvis, H. Boni. G. Theist, W.
E. Buller, C. W. ninepin, R. Haynes, W. B.
Cann. J. W. Lace. C. Downs, C. Carey, W.
Metcalf, C. P. Rees, P. V. Faisal, W. G. Fitzgerald,
F. White, R. E. Wallis, T. Warren, J. Moiling,
T. D. Bernard, T. Longitnan, J. B. Donna, W.
B. Doyen, W. T. Blathwayt, 0. Newnham, and
W. Meade. The proceedings were open with prayer
by the Bishop, after which
His LORDSHIP addressed the meeting, remarking
that the reports of the diocesan inspectors allowed
that the work of edessuon HY progressing. There
were present at this year's diocesan examinations
27,173 children, and the names of scholars on the
books of their Church of England acheole exceeded
37,590. This was an increase as compered with the
preceding year of 137 children present at the ex-
amination. 80 far the statement might be pro-
nounced satisfactory. The reports of the inspectors
afforded valuable information of the effect upon
education of the new Code. Mr. Carey say.:—" It
appears to me that the religious knowledge of the
children has aot been quite so well maintained,
1/11110 geography and general subjects have been
almost laid aside. (Hear, beer.) I have been more
than awe told by the teachers, ' Oh, air, we have
not been able to do much in that line HOC* the new
code came in;' and this observation is confirmed
by the demand for reading books, copies, and slides,
and a corresponding decrease for Looks of a lighter
clam." Mr. Braucher states that, "in one im-
portant school the Catechism was much below what
it ought to be," and add., .•I fear this is in some
degree due to the revised code." Mr. Ainslie
motes :—"There are symptoms of a too exclusive
attention to the three B's, at the expense of religious
teaching." Mr. de Ifoleyns mentions that in his
district, in no one instance where • vacancy has
occurred, has a new pupil teacher been appointed.
The old monitorial system is again resorted to. Mr.
Cross intimate* that in his district there are only
two certificated incline, that one school is knocked
up, and another is greviously affected. Mr. Spoke
is of opinion, however, that, "though the code ham
in some instances diminished the Government grant,
yet it has exercised • beneficial effect in turning the
attention of teachers to the lower clans. This is
especially seen in the difference between the lower
class schools under government inspection, and those
not under that inspection." Tens were the prin.
cipal remarks made by the inspectors. There were
several important points in the Blue Book just
issued by the Committee of Council on Education,
which he ought to mention. The committee's
report says there has been a decrease of
£24,831 7s. 43. in the grants for building schools
during 1861, and that this decrease follows a de.
crease 6(05.518 he. 7d. in 1662. (Hear. hear.) The
report then continues: We noticed in our last report
some of the causes which have diminished this part
of our expenditure, and among them the reduction
in 1860 of ihree.eighthe in the rate of our grants."
They Pate further :—" The reduction would pro-
bably have been leas if the establishment of nationl
schools in parishes containing Dissenters, and not
able to maintain • second school, had been provided
for in the National Society's terms of union. The
consciene clause prevented the building of schools,
and this fact was clearly admitted in the committee's
report. (Hear, bear.) He should like to Pate in
plain language, and yet most temperately, what the
effect of that conscience clause was. In • pariah
where there was no Nounisformist school the
government would not give a grant to • church
school, unless that church school would admit
the children of other denominations, and the
children of the school,. establiand under such con.
ditione escaped teaching in religion, the Catechism,
and everything religious bet the reading of the
Bible. The clergy objected to this regulation, urging
that they have been at • great expense—at too great
expense for their families—in raising schools, and
that those schools ought to be helped by the State
as church schools. Not only had the clergy raised
schools—they maintained them. —The clergyman
said I think it but right when l raise and main.
tam n a school, that I should have the teaching in
religion of the children committed to my charge."
This conscience clause did not apply to toIIIDS where
there were British and Foreign School, to which
children might go, bat it applied to places where
there could be but one school. Parents never
objected to have instruction in religion given their
children by the clergyman—in fact, there was no one
else to give such instruction in small parishes. The
Dissenting preacher generally came from the neigh-
bouring town, or was as agriculturist or tradesman
of the village, who had no time to spare in the week
days to teach children It, therefor*, remained for
the clergyman to do this, and he never beard of an
occasion in which the clergyman's, endeavour to
benefit children in this manner had been objected
to. (Hear, hoar.) Some years ago there was • dis-
pute in this diocese as to the enlargement of the
National Society's rules, and grant" were then made
to Kimmins and Terence, which reined the rule.
Clergymen who thought it necessary to admit Non-
conformist children to their schools, and not repeat
the Catechism to them, wen at liberty to do so. In
, Twertoo, and other plain this system
been tried, and had worked uncommonly
well. Very few persons had left the church on
• Sunday to be religiously trained elsewhere.
He knew that a great many person objected to the
consoling clank and he knew also that =icy were
in favour of it. Another subject to which he wined
to direct their attention was the subject of middle
schools. Their Education Board deplored the want
of middle schools. There were very few in the
diocese. Their chief diocesan inspector, Mr.
Vaughn, had established one, and the education
given therein was most satisfactory. Grammar
schools in the county educated children of trades-
men,but to no very great extent. Several difficulties
encompassed the establishment of middle schools.
One difficulty had to be met at the very outset, in
defining who the middle CLOW. were. There were
the lane farmers and small fanners, the big trades-
men and the little tradesmen. The next question
was as to where the taboo, should be built. By re-
ceivieg boarding scholars only, and Mr. Vaughan
did, the yearly charge per scholar could not be less
than CIO, though Mr. Vaughan managed to charge
only £25. In that town they found it could not Ise
done under £3O. What tradesman in • small town,
what farmer of moderate means, could afford to pay
£3O a-year each for the education of several sons?
Unless the parents lived near the school, they must
pay that sum for the education of their children, or
the children must go uneducated. The middle
classes wanted no eleemosynary aid, no Government
support—there must be great freedom in the educa-
tion of their children,. (Hear, heir.) The improve-
ment of middle clam education was much needed,
and be was glad to find that Her Majesty had
authorised • commission to ascertain the best mode
of e•tablishing good schools for the middle neon.
(Hear, bear.) The females of the middle clime
wanted good education quite as much as the males.
In this country, where they made a good deal of
obsess, se soon as farmers' daughters were
capable of corning a pail their whole etHISZT
were oneicentrated on cheese-making. and
they quitted home they were frequently ignorant of
meaty thiago they ought to know. (H an. hear.) No
pro. lIPOO that he knew of was made ior the educa-
tion of the female children of small farmers. Re-
turning to the educational work going on among the
poorer claws in his diocese, he use happy to be &lola
to eta*, that the number of children who had paned
the last Government examination was very large ;
shout 23 per cent. did not nee, and he dad not think
there would be so much Pee of money to the diocese"
as at MP time be was Motion to suppose the new
°ode wield esleiL He had no doubt of the truth
anew of the inspersior's rested', that the education
of the lower assess was better attended to than
formerly. With regard to pupil tendons, the Blue
Book says :—" We see no reason to think that the
syggesgv=il Pothers will fail ann. the revised
code, they are regarded as junior instructors
in astnentary school; or as candidates for admimion
into normal schools. The number of papal teachers.
2,971, admitted to apprenticeship on 1463 wee
trotter than in 1862 by 209, and oLlisrlem by 13
than the number admitted in 1861 the pn-
Tina code." Tb• report then alleged that the re
dunks of 1,572 in the total number of pupil
teachers, 14.180, at the mad of 1863, an
with the toPI =ober, 15,752, at the s.d a18672d.
can be accounted for. The right reversed prelate
said be regarded it an • lamentable otreasedasee
that the number of pupil Peahen bad been three
diminished by 1.572 in one year. In this diocese it
was found that there was no possibility of r•Vheetell
the pima tesithers as they came oat of their
apprenticeship, an they were drives beck
upon the namitorial system (hear, beer),
of width be bed snen • Lon doll, hat
had Dever seem snob good in it, (neer, bear.) At
It.. prowl ormoser orir's 'shads sirs very Iliverish
—retro** would pabigos king thesis quirky

state of things. He WEE totally opposed to the en-
forcement of the conscience cisme, and he hoped
that inquiry would prove that it was inadvisable to
introduce an element of religions disoord where it
did not at present exist. As everything was 80418
on exceedingly well, it was greatly to be regretted
that Government had put this hindrance in the way
of education in small parishes. (Hear, heir.) The
seeretary of the Diocesan Societies would Dow read
the reports to them. The education report was
drawn in what he thought was somewhat strong
language. He was not present when it warn drawn
up—if he had been he should have objected to some
portions of it as using language too strong for the
occasion. It, was one of those who be lieved that
strong language did not answer—a good deal
more might be dose by reason and good temper.
(Applause.)
The Rev. Prebendary FAGAN then read the several
reports.
Captain JOLLIFFE, M.P., having moved their
adoption.
The DEAN of Coax rote to wooed it. In the
course of his remarks, be rid that his feelings to-
wards the Church were not so desponding as were
those of some of his friends. The English Church
had • great part yet to play in the history of the
English nation. (Hear, hear.) Seeing such a meet-
ing as that, composed of all parties, they were
encouraged by the thought that the time had not
yet ore when the English Church bad ceased to be,
in the highest and beet sena., the Church of the
nation. In this case wee she the Church of the
nation— the held the faith, influenced the mind,
I governed the action and feeling of the largest, the
truest, the soundest part of the English people.
(Hear, hear.) After • lengthy allusion to Mr.
Spurgeon's recent sermons on baptism, and in COE.
, damnation of the Evangelical clergy, and after
referreoce to the fact that Calvin, whom Mr.
Spurgeon greatly admires, believed the baptismal
doctrine taught by the English Church, the reverend
opeaker concluded by stating that there was within
the broad limits of our Church room for large
diversities of thought, and ministers honestly enter-
taining differences of opinion on minor subjects
might intend to each other the right hand of fellow.
ship. He hoped brotherly union might grow in their
midst in spate of all opposition. As they drew
closer to Christ they would draw closer to each
other, and in this way the Church of England would
defy all her enemies—all the enemies that the great
enemy of truth could rare up in this country against
her. ( A pplause. )
Sir E. &neater, High Sheriff, moved the nest
resolution :—" That this meeting recognises the
improvement of middle class education as one of the
, great wants of the present day, and would rejoice in
seeing any steps taken in this direr to promote
that object." He hoped the proposition he now in-
troduced would meet with greater support than the
one be bad before eubenitted. People often
asked, "Who are the middle classes ?" and he sop-
most of them would be inclined to say, "I
rit't when you don't ask me;" for in this country,
where we had distinction without separation of ranks
and claret, it was difficult, or rather impossible, to
decide on the extreme CS•01 on either aide, or to
draw any sharp line between the middle and the upper
classes on the one hand, and between the middle and
the lower on the other. Vet at a little distance from
either extreme we saw clearly rough that there
IVY such • middle class, including many of the
tradesmen of the towns and the farmers in the
country, having its own characteristic features,
habits, and interests, which ill this matter of educa-
tion, as in so many other respecta, must be specially
recognised and provided for by arrangements of their
own, and not borrowed or appropriated from those
of the other classes. (Her, hear.) After the
reports of the Public School Commission, be did
not venture to assert that in the knowledge acquired
from books rid teachers the middle classes were now
farther behind the upper clears than they were in
preceding generations ; but that they were in great
danger of losing their proper position, as to school
knowledge, in relation to the working classes, he
supposed there was no doubt.
Lord Tauerox said he rose to second the resolu-
tion moved by Sir Edward Strachey with the
greatest satisfaction. It was quite true, as Sir
Edward had rid, that while much had been done in
this country of late years for the improvement of
the education of the lower crasss of society—and
attention also bad been greatly directed to that
which required great improvement—the education
of the higher clears of society, there still remained
• wide stntcm of society intervening between the
higher and lower classes which bad, perhaps, as
much of the sterling properties of the English
character as other—viz., the great middle-classes
of Englishmen, who had not that opportunity of
educating their children which it was highly
desirable, both for their own sakes and for the sake
of the country at large they should poems. (Hear,
hear.) He was very happy to observe that the
attention of the country had been directed to this
subject ; in all directions the counties were on the
move. An excellent school of this description had
been established in the county of Surrey, mainly
through the exertions of the Archbishop of Canter-
bury. One or more of these schools had been estab-
lished in Sussex, and another in Suffolk. (Hear,
boon) There was one school to which be would wish
to draw particular attention, in a county similar in
many respects to our own—the neighbouring county
of Devon. At West Rockland • school had been
established through the exartious of the Rev. Pre-
bendary Grierton, of a nobleman whams name be
could not mention except with the greatest
feelings of respect—the late Lord Fortescue—and of
Lord Devon, who worked in harmonious concert
with the principal persons of the county—with
the view of educating the IPLUI Of farmers in con-
siderable numbers, giving them an admirable educa-
tion at a moderate scale of expense. (Hear, bear.)
Middle class educatioe, there were doubtless diffi-
culties to be encountered, which did not belong to
the question of the education of the lower claims.
, The middle class were an independent rises; there
must be no dictation; be believed they would he
vforro'ealous of Government interference if it were
upon them in any manner. (Her, hear.)
Be believed the machinery to work these schools
must be more localised than was necessary for the
education of the lower classes, as suppoited by the
great Government grants. A Royal Commission
was about to issue to inquire into the whole of this
greet subject, and he was not without hopes that
the labours of that oriatinission might result in
making suggestions, and affording means foe the im-
provement of middle-clams education in this country.
(Hear, bear.) Having referred to and praised the
speech of Sir Stafford Northoote at Leeds upon this
topic, the noble lord proceeded to urge that Somerset
should not wait for the report or labours of any
Government commission —that work was best done
which they did for themselves. (Applause.) He
trusted that a gnat length of time would not be
allowed to elapse before the gentry and clergy of
this county united together, in order to provide such
means of county education which should be worthy
the name, and be available to the great body of the
yeomen and middle classes. (Hear, hear.) No
county in England more required such a movement.
Within the radius of twenty miles of that place
there resided a large and most respectable body of
small farmers—some tenant farmers, some owners
of tbe soil—a most valuable and important and re-
le clew of the community, anxious for the
re-
spectable of their children, who would gladly avail
themselves of it if it were provided for them.
(Hear, hear.) He did not wish to east • sweeping
censure upon private echonla existing in the district
—he believed many of them were well conducted
and worthy of support; but he should not be speak-
ing the truth if he did not say that there was a
great want of means of education for the middle
classes of society. (Her, bear.)
The Rev. Prebendary LAKE expreiniel his satis-
faction that • Royal Commission had been ordered
to issue upou this subject, and staled that when the
last report of the Committee of Council was issued
there were 704 grammar schools throughout England,
of which number it was not too much to say that
700 were the proper inheritance of the middle clam,
from which middle-clue boys had, by various
accidents, been ejected, to which he hoped the Royal
COEDUlisAion would restore them. (Hear, hear.) No
lees than seven hundred schools were founded,
twelve or fourteen for every county, in which it was
enj ined that Latin and Greek should be taught, not,
as the Freciab would my, de rogue?, as a matter of
worsity, but because they were tbe only objects of
education in those days. He spoke of the change
that had taken place in middle-class education
during the last sixty or seventy years, during which
period he remarked the middle classes had been
turned from their own posesesions by accident, and
the same had been given to the upper Glaser It
would be an extremely important question for the
Royal Commission that was about to Uwe to con
sid.ir by what means they could re-establish middle-
class education. He concurred with the remarks of
Lord Taunton that Somerset could not wait for the
report of the commission which would not isms for
one years, during which time he advised that
this and other oration should rescue them-
selves front the reproach of having done
nothing for the education of the middle-obsess.
The mole remarkable, what he might cell the mast
national schools in England for the middle Glares,
were the schools of Mr. Woodward in Sussex, con-
taining • great trilogy of schools. They were estab-
lished on • praise system, and Mr. Woodward
seemed to have felt that to place wheels before the
middle clears at • moderate pries would be levies
them an opportunity of obtaining education, and be ,
hit upon the idea of having an upper middle school •
at • mitre price, assisted by teachers from the
various colleges, sad handing over all the profits to ,
the lower school. Being an enthusiast in this system
of middle-class education, Mr. Woodward had es-
tablished an upper school of 800 be4s. sad • lower
school of 800 boys, and to sow called upon the public
to assist ben in the formation of • school for 1000
boys. The noble lord suggested that it would be
better not to go into details, sad he would, there-
fore, lay down the general principle that the middle
clamor might to have their schools, that there was •
vast number of grammar schools about the isometry
whigs bameged to the middle armee and which be
thought by male nesse ought to be reclaimed for
them. (Hear, boar.) He Aleded what mairob
. Naiad Northam &Ain $o wills,
00 exprouled bis Wel that lads sad Greek won

not necessary in order to carry out the intentions
of the found, to of the schools, which were that
the boys should be instructed in their Own
language, and Latin and Greek were mentioned
in the wills becaurr they were at that time
the only objects of education. The true objects
of middle-class education he held to be to mete the
people more devoted to their Queen, and more at-
tached to their Church. (Applause.)
The Lo-d Btsuor, in patting the resolution, which
was unanimously adopted, said Lord Taunton had
expressed • wish to him that the clergy and gentry of
the county should meet together and discuss the
subject Gf education. If his lordship
would bring together a few gentlemen of the shire,
he (the Bishop) would undertake that clergymen
should be prepered to meet them. (Hear, hear.)
Archdeacon Davison WILS called upon to propose
the next resolution :—"That this Meeting depre-
cotes the legal inforcement of a 'conscience chase'
as • condition of state aid, because it believes that
the religious isclucotion of all the children will be
weakened from the fact that two or more systems of
religious training are at work in the same ochooL"
He said be had not drawn up the resolution, but it
aptly expressed what be most wished to prom opal
the meeting. It was twenty years since he began to
fight the Committee of Council on Education, who,
in all their actions, ever since it began, and though
all governments had been endeavouring to supplant
dogmatic truth by private opinions of religion, he,
on the other hood, maintained that it was absolutely
necessary for the existence of the National Church of
England that the should hold an entirely opposite
principle—that she should maintain the truth as the
had received it, and deliver it faithfully just as she
had received it also. The Council of Education had
gone 04 for the last five-and-twenty years—from it.
commencement, by little and little, until they
now said no Church school shall have any
building grant unless it would consent to
violate its conscience. Why it should be thought
that the Nonconformists of all the people of England
were the only people with consciences, be did not
know. If it were against his conscience to admit
into a church school children who were not bap-
tised—if he would rather die than do so, why
should the Noooonformist's conscience be only re-
'sated, to the total exclusion of his conscienee
Why his 00•101eDOO WY to be altogether set and, he
weld not understand. He dseired that the Dan-
'eaten should have their fullest share of the Meow
tion Grant. (Hear, hear.) But the Committee of
Council wanted to keep the grant from one side, and
take it away from the other. He appealed to tho
meeting to show that they wire in earnest upon the
question, and not allow it to be maid that the
only persons whose consciences were not respectod
in England were the people of the Church of England.
Only let the Church be true to herself, and all would
be well. But there must be no flinching—no half-
and-half messurea Let them flood the Legislature
with pet,tions against the enforcement of this con.
seisms obtuse, and let them be careful in doing so to
say, that no one of them wished to debar any ooe
Dissenting body from having a full share in the edu-
cation grant. (Hear, bear.) In conclusion, the yea.
Areadescon contended Out if they could not get
justice done to the Church in this matter, they ought
to call upon their repreeentativm in Parliament
to vote against thej.eduoation grant altogether..
(Applause.)
The Rev. Prebendary Hoasait seconded the reso-
lution, after which the benediction was pronounced
by the Lord Bishop, and the proceedings terminated.
The amount of the collections at the cathedral and at
the meeting was £57.