The Express.
London, England, 1866-12-11 00:00:00

COMPULSORY EDUCATION MOVEMENT.

A meeting of the citizens of Manchester, con-
vened by the Mayor, in accordance with an influential
requisition, was held yesterday in the Town-hall, to
consider the propriety of petitioning parliament in favour
of the adoption of a measure to provide for the primary
instruction of the children of the poorer classes, by means
of local rates under local administration, with legal power,
in cases of parental neglect, to enforce attendance at
school. The meeting was one of the results of the in-
quiries and operations of the Local Education Aid Society,
and the discussions at the recent Social Science Congress,
which have tended to produce an impression that the
indifference or inability of parents can only be
met by legislation which shall empower local
authorities to compel the attendance of children at free
schools. The meeting was well attended, and the gentle-
men on the platform included amongst them representatives
of both the educational parties which agitated the ques-
tion in Manchester 13 or 16 years ago—and who were
known respectively as the supporters of the secular plan,
and the promoters of the Manchester and Salford scheme
for supporting primary instruction combined with reli-
gious teaching, both parties assenting to the agency of
local ratio. . • ...

—...—.,.
Mr. Alderman BeNNErr, president of the FAlucation Aid
Society, moved the first resolution, which was as follows :
•• That in the opinion of this meeting it is desirable to
make complete provision for the primary instruction of
the children of the poorer classes, by means of local rates,
under local administration, with legal power, in cases of
neglect, to enforce attendance at school."
Dr. J. WArra seconded the resolution, which was sup-
ported by Mr. W. It. Callender, jun., and the Rev. Dr.
M'Kerrow. _ _ . . . .

.„..-...
The Her. J. NUNN, of St. James's, Ardwick, rose to
move as an amendment, " That this meeting, while feel-
ing deeply the necessity that still exists for bringing the
lowest classes under the influence of education, is nut pre-
pared at present to adopt the bill of the Education Aid
Society, but is of opinion that further investigations into
theextent of educational destitution are called for." He
believed that it could be proved that the bill was uncalled
for, that it was disproportioned to the evil it had to re-
medy ; and that in its first part it was mischievous, and in
its second impracticable.
Mr. W. WARBURTON seconded the amendment, which
was negatived by a great majority, and a petition in ac-
cordance with the resolution was adopted.

CARDINAL CULLEN AND FENIANISH. His
Eminence Cardinal Cullen, in his pastoral to the clergy
and laity of the diocese, alludes to the troubled state of
the times and the mums in which it had its origin. As he
observes, experience has shown that the promises held out
by revolution have almost invariably ended in oppres4on
iof the people and the triumph of despotism. In Ireland
the people are not led away by these chimerical dreams,
which in other countries have produced such disastrous
! consequences to religion and liberty. The cardinal
tells us there are foreign emissaries among the
people urging them to join secret societies, or
: take part in revolutionary movements. But while
recognising this source of danger his eminence, at the
same time, sees no justification for the alarm which seems
to has e filled the public mind. He speaks with the
voice of knowledge as well as of authonty, and informs
us that, though the people should be on their guard, there
is no ground for the foolish panic of which the Grand
Lodge has taken advantage to offer the government th.
services of the Orange Maroons. And he remarks that
these organs, which have circulated exaggerated reports of
the state of this country, wire the most active in praising
the resistance of fanatics orfools to lawfulauthority in other
countries. His eminence expects the people to keep aloof
from the preachers of revolution, and not to think
of a collision with the constituted authorities. He sum-
marises the consequences of any attempt at violence—
" Some property may be damaged, some lives lost, and
some deluded young men condemned to perpetual servi-
tude, and doomed to a death worse than death itself." A
resort to physical force would only " put money into the
pockets of informers, and give SD occasion to those who
indulge in Orange orgies to trample on the rights of the
country and uphold Orange ascendancy." We have no
fears that the people of Ireland will disregard the paternal
admonition of the head of their church, and that no oppor-
tunity will be afforded the Orangemen to arm in support
of " law and order."—Frermanis Journal.
THE UTILIZATION OF CHURCHES.—MT. Hughes,
M.P., presided last night at the weekly secular lecture at
Surrey Chapel. The chairman said that he often re-
! gretted so little use was made of places of worship
between the Sundays. Whatever tended to raise the in-
tellect and unite people together was fitly housed there.
He was sure that Christ was pleased io see houses built in
his name so employed, and he hoped the present example
would be generally followed. The Rev. Newman Hall
then delivered a lecture written for the occasion, on the
' subject of the Alps, by Mrs. Newman Hall, which was
listened to with great attention by upwards of two
i thousand working people.
' The Ritualistic practices at two of the leading
churches of the party In London are about to be brought
to the test of the law, prosecutors having come forward
in each case. The Ch;itenhani Examiner states that a
movement to assist in testing the legality of
fthesie prac.
time has been oommeneed in that town.—.word.