The Express.
London, England, 1851-12-10 00:00:00

CONFERENCE OF THE VOLUNTARY
SCHOOL ASSOCIATION.

The CHAIRMAN then read a paper, drawn up by him- I
►elf, on the duty of providing education for the colonies.
The Rey. JOHN CLAItKE, of Btown's Town, Ja-
maies, moved a resolution declaring that the Conference
regarded it as a duty incumbent on the friends of educritioa
in this country to continue to afford htdp in the British
colonies, and particularly those which had been rvatly
delirzred from slavery.
The Rev. 31r. HENDEILSON, of Jamaica, seconded the
resolution.

Yesterday, a conference of the friends of voluntary
and unsectarian education, in connection with the Veleta-
airy School Association, was held at Crosby llall, Bishops-
gate-street ; Mr. 0. W. ALExAm.o.:I, the treasurer, is the
chair.
The CHAIRMAN, having opened the proceedings,
The Rev. J. 11. HINTON read a paper, beaded, " On
the religious character of our pallie schools." lie
said he had die :led his subject into two parts, treathn in
one of the rule Which had Leen followed with regard to
education. and in the other ex mining the character and
claims of the deviations from that rule. The rule had been
to make education religious. The plan generally pursued
had no tia 'retied origin ; it spree g out of tile rectums of
those who had the management of educistion. Education,
when in the hands of the schoolmaster, was the same
process es when in the lianas of the punt. Ile-
ligious culture was one of the most impottent
parts of the schoolmaster's duties; and if efforts of this dais
were wanting the effect must be most pernicious. The
truths ef relogion carried with them a moral force which
conal be derived from no other quarter. As regarded the
deviations from this rule, he hal especially in view the
plans forpevering England `cat:: schools for secular educa-
tion. The desion of establishing seen schools oririnateil in
1836, and it had recently been revival by the Lancashire
Public School :emaciation. The views and objects of that
body were to be found in a voliene published in 1850. Ile
slid apt with to clinrge the members of that association with
designing to exclude religion. education, believing that
met of tea at set a high value on such education. The
(inc.:ion was, what was memit by sce'itar eauctision, and
aow it was to be given? Ihe National Association
had propounded the doctrine in the broadest
light. They said " secular education " included
eye eythiug which was not theological, or which
did not favour the tenets of some religious sect. This
attempt at explanation 'bowel the dune, r which attended
a definition ; for if the idea were fully curried oat all reli-
gion would t; i excluded. The weird " secular " wes now
being nsed by the association in a avec which it lied never
previously booth. The confusion of the exatting deenments
was greatly increased by the attempts mule to explain
them. Contusion was worse confounded by Mr. Cobden's
declaration at Manchester the other day that we were not
yet arrived at a period when it ceuld he said what secular
education actually was. (" Hear, hear," and laughter.)
Tha word "seetarieu " as much required definition as any
ether which was used in the argument. Pr. Beard con-
ten-led that the Bible should be excluded beeeese a large
ekes of ;arsons regarded it with suspicion, nod because
common- education must be supported on a ceramist
ground. The plen of the National Association comprised
only the existetes of God and the duty of love and revels
once tar Ilia. (Cheers.) What right had the association
to eeleele atheists from their system? On their own
;retinas each an (illusion was not justifiable. To say of a
scheme of education that it wr.s not to be sectarian was to
say that it •va. to be Christian. Christians were divided
into sects a/I'T on points of discipline and church govern-
ment. Dr. B aid complained loudly that the system had
been melted"goalies a' This was a mistake: it was only
deistical ; and he was sure the British public, when they
understood it, would shrink from it with unconquerable
repugnance. One of the writers of Cie asocietion said it
would be et:retitled that the object of education was to
prepare mad fur the duties of this life. This was not
admitted; it turned part of the battle-field at the
outset. The proper object of education wes to
educate can es what he really was. (Ileac, hear) The
advocate* of .he news_yetem were trying to mace out a
cans tar impatient a ;albite tax, and it was to be feared that
if the tax were was,: imposed many of the arguments would
soon be abeeeloneal. According to Dr. Davidson, eel:gam,
4 decatien more net c meted on by a secular person. Thiel
was rank l'usosi-m—(laughter)—and as such he (Mr.
Hinton) proterga ramiest it. (Cheers.) He then dissected
the details of the Leneashire pain, and prononneal the
system impractical:at and inefficient. If religion were
excluded, children would naturally be led to enter-
tain': eibte If its :rah. Thus the education imparted would
not nay bo nen-relieiotes, but anti-religious—(hear, hoar)—
and childreu would grow up to follow in the steps of
the infidel. (Cheers.)
The Err. J. IF2ltNETmoved a resolution declaring that
in the !shipment fit the confereaee it was indiapensable that
the education "item in public schools should be religions,l
and that no anon Ameat for religions instruction collateral
to a system of st ea:ar education could effectually supply the
religious culture reemired.
Ni. S. Uhl,diS, of Manchester, seconded the resolution.
As a delegate of the voluntary school committee of Man.
cheater, forested about tw months ago, ho wished to say
that tat ceamittee was a:weeding in accent:ince with the
views of this as= elation. The principle whica they held
was, that education was a parental duty, as tee entially so as
the proviiliug fool and eaelter. (Hear, hear.) lie would
braely glawie at the state of parties at Manchester. Man-
cheater mid been far two months the bat the-tield of two rival
associations. Public rueetiiags and s.sir.ert had been held
almost clely ' • and the gentlemen on both sides had abused
each other almost daily. (Laughter.) He then quote,'
some extract* (roan a pamphlet, in whites one of the asso-
ciations wet LICDOUXIDeII by a member of the other. It was
felt, however, by the committee which he represented, that
if some coecessioas were made on both sides, it was not im-
preiteb!.• that the two contending parties would unite. lie
was assured the other day by a member of the National
Association, that he saw not the slightest prospect of its
success withent the essietince of the voluntaries. It was
feared that the scheme of the Salford Association was most
likely to :le :opted by parliament, being introduced ureter
the auseicesul the privy council =dot Sir J. Shuttleworth ;
and he helieved that if it were adopted a bill would sub ee- CuMetlTTal. POI PERJURY' wag the heading
quently be carried, applying the system to the wi.ole given to a paragraph in the Express of December 6, erra-
ta:matey, with ear Jame* Seuttleworth fir the alieister of neously stating that Mr. IS. la Brewster and his Leather
instructi:.a. (Hear.) The government and the clergy saw • had been committed for paijury at Braintree County
clearly th it if such a system were established the ; Court. The parties so committed were a Mr. G. Fairliea
effect would be to place the siitiole education of the people a witness, and Mr. A. Fairland, the defendant, in a CAW in
in clerical hands, a tax of simenee in the pound being le- ehich Mr. E. F. Brewster was plaintiff.
vied for its support. The clergy of the Ea tablished Church Seatous DISTURBANCE ON TIIE WOltne oF THE
had hitherto received about 7-10ths of the grant for cdu-
-4,1)I; rn WALES HAILWAY.—For some time past a growing
cation, alai he believed that if the Salford bill were carried, feeling of jealousy and dislike has been evinced by the
they would obtain a eerie isenaling share. lie would sag- I Englith and Welsh excavators employed on tie line .f the
gest that the Conference, at the close of its sittings, should South Writes Railway against the Irishmen si:ailarly ru-
be adjourned to Manchester, and that by means of public gaged ; and on Saturday nightlaultaii open rupture resulted,
meetings and lecture.; en inert should be made to roll back situ occasion id serious apprehensions as to its probable tee-
the tide. tuination. There arc about GOO men working on the line
Tae Iter. Dr. COX elan:ern:a the resolution, which was between Carmarthen anal Kid Belly, a distance of sheet 11
adopted. miles, and theta are divided between the respective contracts
Mr. MI ALL read a parer on the voluntary aspect of the , of Mr. Sharpe and Mr. Davis, and the majority of the
edueatien question. lie heed that for those who already workmen are paid at the Ferry side, a village 9 miles from
possessed education taxation wee unnecessary; while for !p and Saturday night fest was the usual pay
those who could edue flair children, but did not, a Sys' on which occasion very large number of the exam
tem of education by tee tti as would be ineffective, unless vetoes assembled. Owing to some dispute, the lung eke-
accompanied w ith a pre as:ea compelling children to attend; risked and *mouldering animosity broke Rath, tied the
school, which in this eJuntri woad be impossible. Neither men, being iuflamed with drink, commenced figting. Tho
would a pu.4.ie education reach the immoral and dangerous i Irish drew their knives, on finding themselves attacked by
classes of the emendation. It was nothing to provide means, superior lumbers, and 'a
dreadful riot ensued. In com-
a .slur unless you could:11SO induce those who needed 1 Treace of the inefficiency of the rural police force, the chief
it to cause to taloa, In thia re-,test, the mere provision of constable has fur some time pain been compelled to with-
ethicatieu errs the elTert te meat birds by putting salt I draw the constables from the Ferry site, and therefore the
on their tails. It must not be forgotten that there riot prevailed unchecked for hours. Nine of the party were
were ether "tie° hes:alea that of edueathans leertully wounded about the groin, and one man was
which, by many, were not pseesrly performed. Nurs- I literally "scored" all over. Sunday passed over without
log and the providing eLothLs might on that ground a renewal of the daturbenee ; bat, on Monday, about
egiall it with eduration be devolved en municipal authori- j two hundred and fifty of the English and Welsh
ties. lie mutinied with :. i caruest appeal to the confer- bearer proceeded to Cued, a place between the Ferry lido
owe to do their duty in the matter under discussion. ; and Carmarthen, and compelled nearly 100 Irish labourers
The Bov. W. BROCK proposed a resolution declaring to desist from their work. The poor fellows, of course,
that any attempt to bring the caddren of the poorer classes came to Carmarthen for refuge, and measures have been
under scholl insheetiou by means of compulsory rates adopted by Casa. Scott, the chief constable, for an increase
would be en application of law beyond the sphere of its of the force,so as to prevent a recurrence of the disturbance it
authority; and, unless fel: 'wed u-a by measures equally but it is fearea that the ill-feeling will not speedily subside.
immaitie anal impracticable fur oeupelling school attend- Thu in:volley of the removal of the troop of dragoons,
anec, would fail to amid to the nuulaer already unler ins . which was formerly stationed in Carmarthen, is now the
emetics.i general theme of conversation, and it is hoped that they
- The Rev. D. T111N1.13, cf Steckwell, seconded the rem- I will be speedily restored, or serious consequence-3 may
lotion, which was adopted by the matting. e 115414,
The e 'siren nee then atijunened till 6 o'clock, when Mr.
rue HoP Durv.---On Thursday evening a son-
0. W. ALEXANDIR ^g tin presided.
merlin meeting of hop growers of and.-Kent was held at
The Rev. O. CL-R%% first whitened the assembly.
tlte_Seedtar..oHoter, Maidstone, to take into coneideeation the
Ho said the coegneational beard at first exhibited a desire
of the planters in Sussex to obtain an entire
to amalgamate with this msociation, but, having since be- "repeal of the duty on hops. Mr. Punnett, who was in the
Came a rich body, it had exhibited Cu same tendency as all
chair, explained why the meeting :tad been so hastily sum-
othe s rich bodies. It now became the mociatioa to lee up
mooed, having only been thought of during the market
and stirrieg ill account the great work of educe-
hours, and to give an outline of the former proceedings of
don, having ail mho elements of sueeess which existed in the
the hop planters relative to the duty. He reminded the
congregational board. As regarded the questions of eduea. ,
• meeting that when they last met en this subject an agree-
tion generally, the great want was not the want of echooh' meet was arrived at, ia which the representatives of nearly
but the want of interest alltaaT parents. all the various districts of the plantation concurred, that
Mr. JOSEPH ST ClifilE said his great objection to the
they should ask for the remission of the war duty and the 3
government system was its tend.acy to paralyse voluntary
per cent ; in other wools, that the excise duty should be
effort.
After some conserration, reduced to a penny per pound, at the 2411114 time deprecating
a diminutions of the duty on foreign hops. Tito Sussex
lir. C. GILPIN moved a meaution, affirming the dela-
Lamers had now thrown aside that agreement, and had
rablenem of too union of differs fit denominations toe educe- geld meetings, at which it had been resolved to petition
tional purposes.
.1 parliament for a repeal of the entWo duty, not caring whe-
The Rey. T. H. CLARKE, late missionary of the Lon-
don alissionary Society at Jamaica, seconded the resolution. I thee that should be followed by what he believed would be
Mr. E. CE.allliE supported it, and observed that the ; !„ts,.:, meetingiuesitablhad therefore been called in order that thee result, the free Importation of foreign hops.
only education which was worth having was that wothed a"'
rveramont might know the real state of feeling among the
out by the meral enemy and milighteamcnt of the people.
op on this subject. After some cone ensattenal
Mr. GILES weuld like to know what the obstacles were di,vus )'lancers
,u resolution was carried, to the effect tact it
that prevented the congregational board from uniting with
--- would he wholly inconsistent with the interests of the
this amenities. Kent
Mr. J. BROWN', who said he had been obliged to leave hop planters of )lid to !educe. the customs duty on
the British and Foreign Scheel Society on account of its foreign hops, and that parochial petitions be prepared for
signature, and for pre eeetation to parliament, praying that
accepting government aid, begged that his name might bar
fit down by.) the committee of this emaciation fur 1001.1 the customs duty on foreign hops may at all hazards be
pLoud cheers
retained. A committee was appointed to carry this reeolu.
(
The Rev. Mr. RICHARDS thougLt Mr. Gibe's question! ti_on_r ing
ialitoeect , and, arrangements having been mile for
"waysand meanie" and a vote of thanks having
ought to be answered. The only reason which the congre- Pe""
been eel to the chairman, the meeting broke up.
gati.irial board gave for not acting in alliance with the asso-
DErmaurtz or TILE Si.vraN.—Amon thepa-
elation was that it preferred denominaticaal action. He
?sager. by the Braziliansteamer, ,
mail Severn, which left
then announced that Mr. Sturge had given his name as a
Southampton yesterday, was Mr. Ward, who ts going eel
subscriber for 1001.
The CHAIRMAN said he would renew his own sub- Lisbon in dipllaoeusatic capacity. Amongst the cargo by the '
scription of 259/. per annum f a ordinary purposes, and
Severn was specie, value about 139,004.11.sterling,p
Severs
amounted to about . ,largest
230 tuns the cargo ever taken
Mr. ELLINGTON was announced as a donor of 801. in the
out by a Brazilian mail packet. A very large quantity of
next two years, and Miss Stnrge of eV.
The resolution was then agreed to. French goods farmed part of it.

The Rev. Mc. DAY, also of Jamaica, supported the re-
solution, and stated that he had been obliged to close two
schools for wont of means, government aid h_hag refused.
The CIiAIRMAN thought he could put Mr. Day iu the
way of re-operang than. (Cheers.)
The Rev. Mr. CLAYTON, of Jamaica, supported the re-
solution.

Mr. SCOBELL said the pr,judice against colour ex-
tended to Western Canada, and, ho was sorry to say, de-
prived the fugitive slaves who had:taken refuge thereof the
benefits of the common schools. Nochild of coloured pa-
rent.; was admitted. (Hear, hear.)
The resolution was then act, to.
On the motion of tho Pc T. W. Ilttoex, seconded by Mr.
GILES, the committee was regusunsd to publish the whole or
-its of the papers winch had b..:n read to the Con-
ference.

On the motion of Mr. ELLINOT9B, a vote of thanks wu
given to the Chaitman, and the 'netting vparated.

HEALTH OF LONDON DURING THE WEEK.

The official table says:—The state of the public
health, as indicated by a eaustart Mere:ea of mvtality, is
far tram being favourable at the present tine. During friar
weeks of November, the 'learns reitistered in the Lonlon
districts increased in the fullowin? progression : 989, 1,022,
1,132, 1,279; and in the week ending last Saturday they
role to 1,218. During thu mute five weeks the deaths among
old person. of GO years end upwards have numbered suc-
cessively ar2, 207, 242, 277, and 305.
It will be seen from a review of ten previous years (1311- at.
49) tl.at in the week of 1817 correspunding la last week in- St.
fineuxa raista the deaths to 2,454; but with the exocption
of that year they did nut Many e.trrespuuding week exceed
1,146, anis wore generally much les. The average of the tin
weeks was 1,123, and if corrected fur increase of populatioa,
1,235, eumpartd with which !he deaths of last week exhibit
an tact ss uf 81. It is liarttly new:wary to remark that if
the unusual mortality of 1817 welt: excluded from the C 3,11-
raison, the result would be still more uniavourablii tut
last wce4.