The Express.
London, England, 1850-05-03 00:00:00

NATIONAL /MOLAR IDOCATION.

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Mr. BENNOCH roes to submit the motion of which he
had slain notice, " That the court petition both houses of
Parliament in favour of the establishment of • system of
Batioaal secular education." He regarded the subject as one
of the most important character, and it was not without some
trepidation that he undertook to introduce it to the court.
The question was he admitted one of considerable difficulty.
The solution was difficult, and he could have wished that it
had fallen into abler bands. Still, as he felt that it was one
of light and darknees, he considered they were hound to say
which of the two they would prefer. Now as regarded the
voluntary princiole," he was free to admit that that prin-
ciple had been of immense advantage, bat still he must say
that he believed it to be an evil In many res-
pects, that it had roved to he a failure, and that
none of its recent promises bad been »allied. (Hoar, hear.)
Facts had proved that that which was called a " voluntary
system" was a most " involuntary" thing. He appealed to
the members of that court whether sash was not the fact.
He bad handl »caved, within a very sheet time, from
several " voluntary" institutions, no lam than fifteen invita-
tions to become steward to certain voluntary charities.
What did that meant Why, that the man who submitted
to »apt the office would probably be called upon to pay
I drawn times five or ten guineas, by being thus pressed into
that miscalled " voluntary" service. Such a system was
unjust to the benevolent, while it allowed the parsimonious

•
to Neaps. He sonaidered that Nem by sational provision
alms that education mild be eff orally emend ; but when
he sold that, he remembered also that the objection
might be raised that such a national provision would
be destructive to the independence of the people..
(Hear, beer.) That was, in fact, no objection at all,
lot dipsadence upon the state in that Impels could not be
considered to be more degradiag or spirit-breaking than
i dependent,' on ladfvidusla—the very core of the voluntary
prmciple Sack a principle was not only inefficient, but
vo to the rtharecter of the parties under its •inlia-
sue, and in proof of that he might advance the instances
given in the multi erieing from the workless of parochial
schools, and schools attached to phone of worship. When- I
ever children taught by the system to nod and curtsey to
their patrons, emerged, through any carmanistances, from
the chum into which they were born. and thus rose superior
to annum servitude, they were pointed oat as wonders,
and dignified by the appellation of "prodigies." Such a
result was most injurious to all parties, and even to Um
system which fostered I'. Now, what the advocates of the
voluntary system would dole out in charity, he would
give as a right, and by such means indspsro
denoe would, he was sure, be inculcated far more
extensively than it was under he existing system. It had
been considered well upou the part of the government to
levy a tax upon the public for the pupae of providing an
efficient police force to protect the person. It had also been
considered wall to levy a tax to provide for the poor and to
prevent the necessitous from starving; but was it cot still
better, he world ask, to levy a tax to overcome the demon of
ignorance and to subdue the many evil. that followed in
its oils t God forbid that he should undervalue then-reit:es
of religious bodies' in the great work of education. It it had
not been for the exertions of such bodies the people of this
country might now be in a state of semi-barbarism. But id
the case of the poor who needed educational privileges much
even now remained to be done. He did not hesitate to declare
that as a system he preferred religious education combined
with secular ; but he must also say that he preferred secular
to none, and that was then the question. (Hear, hear.)
He considered that the bill brought in by Mr. Fox, the
member for Oldham, was exactly calculated to secure the
end sought, inasmuch as it provided " free schools for
the people " of the " best description ;" " opporturty
for the addition of direct religious instruction by other
agency at the discretion of the parents ;•' and com-
bined ' local management with governmental supereieion."
lie moved therefore that the court do petition both Houser
of Parliament in favour of Mr. Fox's bill.
Mr. WYLIE seconded the motion.
Sir P. LAURIE said he was astonished to hear two men
who had been brought up in Scotland—a religious zountry—
advecaticg such a bill as teat which would have toe effect of
giving to the
,peop:a au education unmixed with religion.
Now be was a native of Scotland also, but although he con-
sidered, from what he had heard from %Ito Recorder, that
the fate of the bill was sealed, he should move the previous
querion as an amendment to the motion ben,e the court.
(Hear, hear.) He believed the court could not be aware of
the enormous pow-r proposed to be give nby the measure to
the committee of the Privy Council. lie agreed with Lend
John Result in thicking that the power with wicch it
would invest that committee would be despotic, enabling
them to tax the people to an awful extent, and to crier what
queen of govt fitment they pleased on the mere report of any
government inspector of schools. lie knew several of these
who haft signed the re qoisition were conscientious oppocenta
of church rotes. They objected to be compelled to psy for the
propagation of religious doctrines which they objectc 1 to,
and they ought not to support a bill com2eLiog others to
pay for the propagation of irreligious 'ductal /13. Ho knew
he was addressing those who knew too well the value of
religion to ray that it was the only thing to be excluder trim
the national education of the poor. He spoke w.ta the ex-
perience of a ma4istrate for more than 2.5 years, end he did
not he,iotte to say that the great bony of (Menders in the
metropolis w: re nut destitute et secul.r but of religious edu-
cation; and he knew that giviug only secular education
was only glens( power without principle. (lieu, hear.)
During the last twenty years the c aporat tun of
London Lad subscribed •,st sums for giving raigious
education, and why Because in each case the necessity
had bean proved; but it secular education wes to
be provided by the state that court must close the purse, and
tell the eppiicants to apply to the parish. He telt he wu
speaking to men who valued their bible, who I..ved reli-
gious freedom, and wi o knew and acted upon the precept
of the woe man," Train up a chill is the way he should go,
and when he is old he shall not . epart from it." (
Sir Peter Lourie concluded by moving the previous question.
Mr. MAT 1 HE W roc md, d the amendment.
Mr. D. putt' PE WIRESS thought the question was com-
pletely mystified by the obscurity of the espretiliwis, which
were placed, as it were, in opposition to each !a:Li r, as if
what was secular was necessarily contrary to what was roll-

Mr. RICHARD TAYLOR ridiculed the distinction wh:ch
had been drawn in the House of Commons between the
words " secular" and "religious," and we. prOCtedlng CO
point out the weakness of toe arguments usi.d by tLe op•
ponents to the propos. d system, WilCll
A MEMBER observed that there was no court.
The officer of the Court then counted the members, and
announced that the court was adjourned.