The Express.
London, England, 1853-06-16 00:00:00

NATIONAL EDUCATION SOCIETY.

THE ANNUAL MEETING.
, The annual meeting of the society was held yester-
day, at the usual place, the School-room in the Broad Sanc-
tuary, Westminster. His Grace the Archbishop of CAN-
TERBURY presided. Tim attendance was by no means so
numerous as on former occasions, but several of those gen-
tlemen who have taken a prominent part at previous meet- '
ings were upon the platform, including the Bishops of
London, Winchester, Gloucester and Bristol, Salisbury,
Chichester, St. Asapb, Oxford, Llandaff, Norwich, Worces-
ter; Lords Nelson,_ Radstock, Robert Grosvenor, John
Thynne, Bayniug, Redesdale, and Harrowby ; the Deans
of St. Asaph and Hertford ; Archdeacon. Bouverie,
Geyke, Denison, Gunning, Heny, Sinclair, Thorp, and
WiffTSM ; Sir Thomas Acland, M.P., S.r Henry Thompson,
Sir J. Gibbons, Sir Henry Dukinfield, Sir Thomas Phillips,
Mr. Ricardo, M.P., Mr. Peter Ainsworth, M.P., Mr Sla-
ney, Mr. A. J. B. Hope, Mr. William Cotton, Mr. Heneage,
M.P., Rev. Dr. Pusey, Rev. J. lieble, Mr. Pullen, the
Hon. and Rev. C. A. St. Johr. Mildmay, Hon. and Rev.
Sugden, lion. and Rey. lior ACV Powys, Hon. and Rev.
Charles Twistleton, lion. and Rev. F. D. Ryder, &c., &c.
The proceedings were, according to custom, commenced
with prayer, which was offered up by his grace the CHAIR-
MAN.

The flrit business was the election of members of the
committee.
The SECRETARY (the Rev. J. G. Lsnsdale) then read the
report, which, after referring t t the royal letter of last year,
and intimating that the committee awaited with interest
the result of the collections received under it, that being the

only source from which they were able to vole grants iu aid
of school buildings, stated that :
" During the pro year the treasurer has been authorised
to pay from the Queen's Letter Fund grants amounting to
.5,9221., voted by the committee is former years; besides
which, the sum of 415/. still remaining due upon grants
voted from the special fund fur the mining and menu-
factoring districts has been paid on the usual
certificate. These grants have assisted applicants
for aid in building 190 schools, providing accommodation
for 23,799 children, together with 76 teachers' residences
The number of schools received into direct union with the
. .

society, not including those connected only with a diocesan
board, has amounted during the past year to 189, making
the total number of schools now in union with the society

. _
10,020. The committee have received reports from the
councils of St. Ma-k's College and Whitelande, which in-
stitutipna, supported mainly by annual allowances from the
society's general fund, continue under the arrangements of
1849, from which much, both in point of economy and
efficiency, has beer. secured. The average number of resi-
dent students at St. Mark's during the past year has been
77, being an increase of 7 upon any previous year. The
number of Queen's scholars is IS, of whom 12 are in the first,
and 6in the second year of residence. The continuance
of Queen's scholars far a third year is optional and
gratuitous. Six younic men have availed themselves
of this privilege. the number of students who
have left the College during the past year has been '22,
all of whom have been appointed to parochial schools. Satis-
factory accounts nre received from those previously sent
out, many of wham occupy posts of considerable promi-
nence, yet strictly within the limits of their vocation. The
terms of admission have been somewhat altered. The ad-

mission fee is II) longer required, and a deduction of 101.
and 151. will be made after the fiat and second certificate

of merit from the payment due for the following year.
The number of applications for masters has been 78, and
although this is probably somewhat beyond the effective de.
manfl, yet after every deduction it may be assumed that
the supply is not equal to the need. The number
at certificates of merit awarded at the last government
examination to students actually in re.idence was 61, 2
being placed in the Ist class, 25 in the 2nd, and 24 in the
3rd. The sum awarded to the College on this account was
1,1851., exceeding that received last year by 1901., a dif-
ference nearly proportionate to the greater number of can-
didates. No account is here taken of old masters, one of
whom also obtained a first-class certificate. The obstacles
which have hitherto prevented the consecration of the
chapel of St. Mark's College have been removed, and the
consecration is fixed for St. Mark's day in 18.14. The prac-
tising schools have continued to grow in extent and in
efficiency, the number on the books being at present 403,
who pay from &I. to Id. a week. But in order to develop
or even maintain this important department of this Institu-
tion, large additional buildings are required, fur which plans
have been prepared, which have been highly approved by
her Majesty's inspectors. For these additions, and fur the
soupietion of the college itself, which will then provide
fall accommodation for 100 students, tke sum of 8,0001. will
bs required, of which the council from the grant of Privy
Council and from other sources can command about 5,0002
His Grace the CHAIRMAN, the returns of the scrutineers I
having been handed up to him, announced that the three
retiring members of the hoard, Lord Lyttelton T. D.
Aeland, Esq., and Sir Thomas Phillips, had been re-
elected, and that Sir H. Thompson had b'een elected to fill
the other vacancy.
Lord REDESDALE, the formal business of the day being
now over, rose to move that the meeting do adjourn.
Mr. A. BERESPORD HOPE seconded the motion.
The Very Rev. Archdeacon Denise", stated the reasons
why he proposed to meet with a negative the motion for the
adjournment. In December, 1861, .having seen the report
of Mr. Fletcher, the government inspector, conveying WI
charge against many of the schools in union, that they
did not teach the Catechism, he was framing a resolution
in answer to that charge, when he saw it reiterated by the,
Bishop of Manchester—that resolution he had intended to
move at the annual meeting of 1652. Re asked his rev.
friend Mr. Need' to take up the case before the com-
mittee, and make it his own, which he consented to do. A
memorial was presented, and an answer was given, which,
uit was before the society in the terms in which it was
made in July last, ho would not advert to further. The
memorial prayed that as inquiry should be instituted
into the charges alluded to and an answer given.
But he did not consider that the answer which
had been given was sufficient to enable them to form
a judgment as to the facts of the case—for they did not
know from bow; many dioceses answers to the questions
pet by the committee had been received—in how many in-
quiry had been refused—or in what shape the question had
been put—or in what details they had been put. And in
the diocese with which ho was connected, though a meet
detailed inquiry was made, and scot up to the committee,
accompanied by a letter from the bishop, the committee
had not thought proper to publish the answers in their re-
port—though possibly they might appear in the appendix.
But what he said was that they ought to have an opportu-
nity of knowing whet was the statement contained in that
appendix before they were called upon to say whether the
answer given to the memorial was satisfactory or not, and
that to separate now without knowing whethey they had
any answer to the inquiry or not was to stultify them-
selves in the eyes of the church and the country.
On the faith of the minute of the committee in 1852 he
withdrew the resolutions he had given notice of last year,
and upon the faith that the inquiry, would be fully and
fairly carried out, said an answer given to the memorial,
he withdrew all consideration as to the catechism. He was
not now going to re-open the question of the relations of
the society with the committee of privy council,
but he entreated the meeting not to let it go forth
to the world that they had set a great inquiry on foot as to
the teaching in their schools and that they were content to
stifle it, for that was what it amounted to in the " previous
question." (Hear.) Though separated from those friends
who voted with mini last year, and from that friend who
took up the question for him before the committee, he was
not prepared to expect that before any answer was given to
the memorial they would come forward ancrsay they were
satisfied ; and that before they knew what th-e facts were in
the various dioceses as to the teaching of the catechism say
they were content that the inquiry should proceed no fur-
ther. This was the very frenzy of vacillation—the charae-
forbids of the absence of all courage. If he could resist the
motion for the adjournment, he should like to bring the
matter to a fair issue whether gentlemen in that room were
prepared to affirm • plain and definite resolution, which
would sweep away all imputations that had gone before,
and from and against all dangers that might hereafter pre-
sent themselves. Let them recollect that by adjouraing
they did not dispose of the question ; for while God gave
him life he would move every year a resolution exactly the
same as that he had moved in former years until the ques-
tion wsa brought to a fair and definitive issue. (Cheers,
and cries of " oh," " divide.") As he might not have
another opportunity., he would proceed to advert to one or
two points. Mr. Chester had addressed one or two letters
to the Secretary. (Cries of" divide," " question.") You
can't put me down (said the rev. gentleman). You ma
ere " question," but I will stop here till midnight but I
will be heard. (" Oh, oh, and " divide.") It is no use to
attempt to hallo me down. (" Oh," and a laugh ; loud
cries of" chair.")
A SUBSCRIBER appealed to the chairman whether the
very rev. gentleman was in order in going into the gene-
ral question upon a motion of adjournment T
His OnAca said it was certainly competent for the very
rev. archdeacon to state his reasons for not agreeing to
the question before the meeting, but it was always for the
meeting themselves to judge whether the arguments ad-
vanced really touched upon the question. (lieu.)
Archdeacon DENISON resumed—lle would not keep
the meeting long, but what he was about to observe did
bear upon the question. The rev. gentleman then referred
to a correspondence between Mr. Chester and the Secretary
of the society, referring to the fact that in 1813 the Arch-
bishop of Canterbury had answered a request made by the
British and Foreign School Society, that the terms of the
charter, which required instruction in the catechism, must
be adhered to, and that the schools in Ireland could
not, therefore, be received into union; but that in 1839
the union with the Irish schools was effected, the condition
in reference to the catechism not being enforced. He
wanted to know—and it was with the view of guarding
himself for the future, seeing that schools bad been re-
ceived into union in which there were Roman catholic
children and the children of protestant nonconformists, who
were never taught the catechism—what was to be their
course for the future. (Rear, hear.) He was as anxious
as any man for the welfare of? the society, but he believed
that nothing could be gained in any country—certainly not
in England—by stifling discussion, and therefore it was
that he was opposed to this adjournment; and he was sur-
prised that a noble lord, to whom the church of England
looked up as one of her warmest and most attached friends,
should be the person to endeavour to throw a wet blanket
over them on that occasion. (Hew.) lie entreated the
meeting not to postpone the decision on the question for
another year—and it would be only to another year, for he
pledged himself to bring it forward ag tin at the next
meeting-014—but to decide upon it while the
facts were fresh in their minds. There were three
bodies watching eagerly to destroy them—the Ro-
man catholic", ttie nonconformists, and those who had
separated from themselves, each having its own prin-

ciples of action distinctly declared. Let them not place
themselves in their hands, and stuititv niseives by leav-
ing it in doubt what were the princip'aesi upon which the
society was henceforth to proceed.
The Rev. 11. WILLIS opposed the motion for the al-
journineet. lie thought it absolutely tires scary that semi
definite declaration should be made as to the:netts:vim that
had been brought against the managers and trustci, et bit%
of the reboots in union with the socie:y—that they hat
violated the contract into which they had enterel whe:t
they received aid horn the society. lithe society was tortoni
with this imputation upon it, be knewnot how any elergymt.ii
could hereafter steed up in his pulpit and read the Queen'.
letter aski..g fur contributions. The truth cithe ;.aarg,s
was one thing, hut the refusal to invistigeto them w.,e
altogether a different one, and investigation was all tb:.t
was now asked. What they wanted to know was how many
diocese returns had been obtained as to the sehoo:e
in which the catechism was taught, how many
dioceses had refused to mike returns, and in how many
dioceses the inquiry was in progre,s, and, as far 119 is ha l
been aseertaieed, ir. how many schoels in union with the
society had the teaching of the catechism been suspended
wholly or in part ?
The Rev. Mr. KEEDLE observed that it was'no dlfirente
in principle with his very rev. friend that induced him to
support the motion for the adjournment, hut merely coa-
sideretions of propriety, order, and re;tilarity of proceed-
ing. Ile certainly had heen the instrument cf
representing to the committi e last year certaii
circumstance brought to his notice by hie very rev. trim!,
and which the committee at his request promised to take
into consideration, and adopt, as this menu rial prayed tht
to do, that mode of inviry they thought best, and report
the result to the next annual meeting. As be understood
it they had done so, and upon the whole they were satisfied
with the answers they bad obtained. The committee hal
mode their gent ral statement in the report, and they re-
ferred to certain document. in the appendix which rants in, d
all the facts upon which they founded their opinion. Ti.o
ground, therefore, of the very rev. archdeacon why they
should express their views and (Onions at the pre-
sent time, was the very ground why they should
abstain from doing so, for it was obvious that they
could not. express a judgment when they had not yet
had the opportunity of looking into the ',Menu?.
With regard to the Archbishop's answer in 181.1, it re-
ferred to a matter of principle, not of management, and of
course ho referred to the terms of the charter. In 1e.13, the
society was constituted for educating the children of
poor in England and Wales; Ireland was not included;
. but, in 1839, Ireland lied been brought into anion with the
society, and through it with the church of England; aid
the society, therefore, then took upon itself more of no
missionary character of the church. It would be as reasea-
able to say to the missionary at Calcutta, " Wny du yea art
enforce the church catechism on all the children mulct your

care r You could not do that in India nor in Irtlank in
the first instance, and therefore you must appre4ch them
in some other way. Ile concluded by urging the meeting
at once to agree to the adjournment. ('• Iltur, Liar," ana
cries of " Divide.")
After some further discussion,
His grace the CIIAIUMAN then put the resolut:c fi for ad-
jouruiug the meeting, for which some 300 or 400 hands were
held up ; on the contrary being put Archdeacon Denisan
found himself supported only by twelve or thirteen h.nds.
The Archbishop having pronounced the apes:o::.:
ing, the meeting separated.

SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING THE AMEND-

MINT OF THE LAW.

The annual meeting of this society was held yes-
today at the Society's roam, the chair being taken by Lced
111tO00RAM, president of the weeny. llis lartlship, wits
was loudly cheered on entering, commenced the preeeed-
inga by reading a lengthy report, from which it appeared
that during the last, the tenth year of the society's existe:...e,
transactions of the greatest importance had occurred. A
conference for procuring the assimilation of the seat retust.:e
law in different countries had been held, :tended by depu-
tations from the most important towns, and the conference
had resulted in the appointment of a royal commitrion, with
instructions to inquire also into the possibility of Pstablisb-
Mg a law of partnership with limited liability. Chambers
of commerce had been discussed, but not approved of and
inquiries had taken place with a view to tire reform of the
ecclesiastical courts. Much had been done with rt ferensa
to the law of lcndlord and tenant ; but all these objests
would have been more forward had the toasty been mo:e
plentifully supplied with funds. Many new subscribers
had been enrolled, and others bad been struck off for non-
payment of subscriptions ; and at present the society was
a satisfactory condition. The report then recapitulated the
great legal changes of the last ten years. the reform of the
equity courts, improvement in the patent law, eutratch:se-
mcnt of oopyholas, extension of county courts, &c. ; au4
claimed for the society a humble share in promsting
these important measures.
Oa the motion of Mr. MACQUIEN, the report was adopted
and ordered to be printed; after which
Mr. E. WIIISTEE moved a vote of thanks to the presi-
dent, vice-president, and officers of the society, for their
exertions in the promotion of law reform. Tne learns('
gentleman took occasion to comment on the amount of
solicitors' costs, and instanced one case of a lady's marriage
settlement, on which, while the fees of counsel were only
131., the profit of the attorney was 63/. 15s. 4.1. With re-
ference to the transfer of land, be hoped to see it m .de as
easy and oheap as any other mercantile transaction. (Bear.)
Mr. ALLEN seconded the motion, which was supported by
Mr. HILL, who complimented Mr. Stuart on the manner
in which he had acted as treasurer of the society.
The resolution was agreed to.
After some further proceedings,
Thanks were then voted to Mr. Stuart, and the mcmtcla
separated.