The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-06-18 00:00:00

THE EDUCATION BILL.

A meeting of Nonconformists was held on Monday
evening in the St. James'e-hall, London, Mr.
Itl'Arthur, M.P., in the chair, in opposition to sec-
tarian teaching at the cost of the State.

The Chairman said Mr. Forster's Bill contained in itself
many admiraole provisions but there were points to which
they, a. Nonconformists, did not assent. There was general
agreement that the present denominational schools in the
country should not be disturbed. It was • compromise,
certainly ; but was admitted because of the valuable
services rendered by those schools to the question
of education. Another point of agreement was
that no board should have the power or right
to forbid the introduction of the Bible into
schools; the majority would not only admit the Bible
but Bode instruction, If it were undenominatioeal and
unsecterian. If the Bible were, however, introduced,
some such plan as Mr. Vernon liarcourt's should be adopted
to provide against sectarian teaching. Nonconformists
would strenuously oppose power being given to local boards
to determine the religious character of the schools aided by
local rates. All denominational formularies or catechism
should be rigorously excluded. Ile trusted no Government
would attempt to carry • measure against the great and
influential body of Nonconformists of the country. School
boards should be at once established in every part of the
country, and any system of education should be compulsory.
(Cheers)
The Rev. A. Hannay moved—" That this meeting, while
cordially recognising the value of the amendments pro-
posed by Mr Forster to be introduced into the Elementary
Education Bill, feels compelled to express its conviction
that so long as, under its provisions, any classes may be
required to pay rates for the teaching of religious tenets from
which they dissent, the Bill cannot have the approval of
Nonconformist." It was not true that the opponents of the
measure were conspiring against Mr. Forster to hamper him
arid attack him ; their feeling was one of disappointment and
surprise rather than anger; and so far from factiously op-
posing the Government, many had brought themselves to
perilous concessions in order to help the Governtneut out of
the difficulty in which It had placed itself. Ile advocated
the exclusion of the Bible as a class hook from the common
schools. (Loud cheers, and cries of "No, no.", He would
have every child taught the Bible, but taught by proper
teachers and in proper Institutions. (Cheers.)
Mr. Illingworth, M.P., seconded the resolution. He agreed
with the late Mr. Cobden that the only solution of the edu-
cation question WBS to have a sectarian system.
Mr. 11. Richard, M.F. supported the resolution. The
attitude of the Government had compelled many of its beat
friends to assume a position of friendly antagonism, but that
did not imply any disaffection towards the best and noblest
Liberal Government which the country had ever seen. No
man had more earnestly sought, or taken more pains to ob-
tain, a fair and satisfactory solution of the difficultim, con-
fessedly serious and formidable, which beset the question,
than the Prime Minister himself. He (Mr. Richard) could
not speak in other than the kindest and most respectful
terms of Mr. Forster, who was not only an able but honest
and consCieutious man, who, Nonconformists should not
forget, had given them the Endowed School Bills of last year.
(Cheers., He warmly appealed to his brother Nouconformists
not to betray their principles.
The Rev. A. Mursell supported the motion in an amusing
speech, and it was carried unanimously.
Mr. P. W. Clayden Moved "That, considering that a
number of denominational schools have been called into
existence under the minutes of the Privy Council, this meet-
ing does not urge the withdrawal of the grants they at pre.
sent receive, but deprecates any exteusion of the denomina-
tional system of education at the cost of the State, and
heartily approves of the application of the time-table con-
science clause to those schnoM, and of the abolition of all in-
quiries on the part of the Government inspector into the re-
ligious teaching given in them." In proposing this he
wished, as a warning, to say that he had in the Hones
of Commons within a few hours seen a very important
amendment defeated owing to a division amongst the I
Dissenters in the House of Commons. If the resolution
were passed as a wise and generous compromise he
believed the Government and Parliament would accept
It. The Mule of this compromise was this :—The existing
schools were denominational; it was not proposed in the ,
Government Bill to supersede them, but it was proposed
where there schools had not met educational detlelences to
provide rate-aided schools. Let these two classes of schools
go on side by side ; let the denominational schools alone, with
the exceptren of the application of the amended time-table
conscience clause, and do not let them be supported out of
the rates. (Cheers.) This might not be a permanent settle-
ment of the question ; but it was a compromise to rest
upon for a time. If this compromise were not granted, they
must agitate for the entire severance of the Stats with
religion in every respect. (Cheers.)
Sir. B. Scott seconded the motion, which was carried with
a few dissentient'.
The Rev. J. G. Rogers moved—" That in relation to schools
established or aided by local school boards out of the rates,
this meeting believes that the difficulties of the cam may be
met by prohibiting the use therein of any religious catechisms
or formularies, or the teaching of anything in opposition to,
or in support of, the tenets ef any sect—this prohibition not
to apply to the use of the Holy Scriptures, but such use,
wherever adopted, to be under the regulation of the time
table conscience clause, so that the attendance of any child
at such Bible lessons shaU not be compulsory."
The Rev. C. ft Spurgeon seconded the motion. Never-
theless he did not sympathise with much of what he had
heard. He trusted he should never allow his Noncon.
formity to outride his Christianity or love for the Bible. Ile
was sorry to differ from what he felt to be the current of the
meeting, but his opinion was that Government had better
have left education alone. (Cheers and "No, no.") If
the Nonconformists of England had been logical, they
would, instead of allowing the Government to touch it, have
been more liberal themselves in its support. It was a
grow taloehood to sae that voluntaryism had fulled. The
Nettodavratiflii 1111.1 lamt wade a greet ceueerden, Let they

had violated their logical position. Ilis conscience required
that the Bible should be read in the school whore his children
were taught, and if the Bible were excluded he would preach
defter ce of the Government up and down the land. Re be-
lieved the majority of Nonconformists agreed with film.
.Cheers, and "No, no.")
The motion having been carried the meeting separated.

A large gathering of supporters of the National Rducation
League was held at Halifax on Monday, for the purpose of
considering the Government amendments to the Education
Bill introduced by Mr. Forster. The meeting was held pre-
paratory to the general meeting in London on Wednesday,
when the representatives of all the provincial towns will be
In attendance. Resolutions were passed affirming that In all
schools maintained or aided by local rates the teaching of
creeds, catechisms, or tenets peculiar to any tact should be
prohibited by the Legislature: that it was of the utmost im-
portance that the Education Bill should include compulsory
provision for securing the attendance of children at school,
and that the admission of children to schools supported or
aided by local rates should be free. A petition embodying
these resolutions was unanimously adopted, and forwarded
to the Right lion. James Stansfeld, M.P., for presentation in
the House, Colonel Akroyd, M.P., the other member for
Halifax, being requested to support it.

BIRMINGHAM, Monday Night.

At • meeting of the Central Nonconformist Committee,
held in Birmingham to-day, it was resolved unanimously to
support Mr Richard's motion, to the effect that in thee pinion
of the committee in any national system of elementary edu-
cation, the religiousteaching should be supplied by voluntary
effort, and not out of the public fund.. The committee
adhere to their resolution passed at the last meeting to
support Mr. Winterbotbam's amendment on the seventh
clause, providing for the teaching of the Bible without note
or comment. A committee of leading Nonconformists has
been appointed to rems:in in London while the bill is before
the Rouse, for the purpose of watching the progress of the
measures in Committee.

Exiertit, Monday Evening.
At a meeting held to-day the Bishop of Exeter moved a
resolution to the effect that any system of education must
be deficient which does not make provision for religious as
well as secular education. The Bishop said he rejoiced at the
proposals of the Government, because they could not
deal with the masses until they were able to bring
the law to hear upon them. To make the measure a
national one, all parties must be prepared to make consider-
able sacrifices. Ile would consent to the most stringent con-
science clause, but they ought not to concede that religious
instruction should be wholly withdrawn.