The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-12-04 00:00:00

MR. MUNDELLA, M.P., ON EDUCATION.

On Tuesday evening, at a crowded meeting of the
supporters of the National Education League held in
the Temperance Hall, Leicester, under the presidency
of the Mayor. Mr. A. J. Mundella, M. P., for Sheffield,
spoke at some length in favour of the scheme of the
National Education League. He contrasted the un-
favourable condition of the working classes in
England as regards education with the state of the
operatives in Saxony and Prussia, where the
compulsory system is in operation. Here the na-
tional schools were but poorly attended, and
the education given was merely rudimentary, while
in the countries above named not one child had been
found who could not read or write. What was the
consequence? The poor of Saxony, Switzerland, and
Prussia, were prosperous; and if England did not look
to it she would soon lose her position The middle and
higher elainis looked after the education of their
children, and the working man, if he wishes to succeed
must look after that of his children. Mr. Mundella
combated the idea that a compulsory system is un-
English ; compulsion wasadopted inlocal and national
government, and ought to be in education, if necessary,
education being the one thing needful for the
working man if lie wished to rise in the scale
of aeciety. He denied that unsectalian education
would do away with religion. On the contrary. it would
strengthen and promote it. The Sunday school teachers
could then employ the time in imparting religious
knowledge, which they had now to use in teaching
the drudgery of the alphabet. Mr. Mundella instanced
the canton of Zurich, which contained an equal pipit-
lotion with that of the county of Leicester. That
canton stippotted many schools and a university,
while in Loughborough, the centre of the district which
Lord John Manners represented, 40 per cent. of the
people never saw the inside of a schooL And yet the
noble lord, when Mr. Samuelson, of Banbury, in the
House of Commons last year, spoke of the perfect sys-
tem of education in Zurich, told him that in Leicester-
shire the people were as well educated as in that can-
ton. The fact was, Lord John did not then know
what he was talking about, and, in fact, very few
people in this country did know much about the per.
feet system of education which prevailed on the Con-
tinent. He concluded by expreiotiog a hope that the
question would soon be settled on the basis of the
scheme put forth by the National League. Resolu-
tions approving of the League were carried.

RITUALISM EXTRAORDINARY
AT BRIGHTON.
In the Arches Court, last Saturday, the cause of I
"Colonel Elphinetone, v. tia R.v. John Purchas,"
came on for hearing, and WIR a suit at the instance of
the Church Association against the Rev. John Pur-
chae, incumbent of St. James's, at Brighton, for ex-
treme ritualistic practices. The articles were 44 in
number, contained in 16 folio pages, for ueing lighted
candles, incense, pro,ieseions, barmen, and various
other offences against the laws ecclesiastical. The
articles had been reformed, and two days set apart for
' hearing the evidence.
Mr. A. J. Stephens, Q.C., Dr. Tristram, Mr. Archi-
bsta, and Mr. B. Show, for the promoter, Colonel
Elphinstone.
The defendant had not appeared to the proceedings.
Sir R. Phillimore, on taking his neat, said he had re-
ceived a long letter from Mr. Porches, the object of
which it would seem was to account for his non-appear-
ance. He need not say he could take no judicial cog-
nisance of the letter.
Mr. Stephens proposed in this case to adopt the
course he had done in the St. Alban's came—namely--
to call the witnesses before he addressed the Court.
Formal evidenoe was given that Mr. Purchas wa
the minister of St. James's Church.
Five witnerre. were ex.ndurd on the part of the
promoter, Mr. Charles Walker, the author of "The
Ritual R.-ason Why," who was the "ceremonial ius "
• at St. James, VIM called, and described the vestment*
used in the services.