The Sun.
London, England, 1839-03-28 00:00:00

NATIONAL EDUCATION.

A most numerous and highly respectable meeting took
place yesterday at the Freemason's Tavern, pursuant
to notice, for the purpose of adopting resolutions to
promote a comprehensive system of national education.
Among those present we noticed,Sir Culling Eardly
Smith, Mr. Baines, M.P., Mr. Charles Lushington,
M.P., Sir Charles Style, M.P., Mr. Andrew White,
M.P., Mr. Pease, M.P., Mr. Samuel Gurney, Dr.
Liefchield, Dr. Fletcher, the Rev. R. Ainslie, the Rev.
George Clayton, the Rev. Mr. Kirk, from the United
States, the Rev. Dr. Vaughan, and several other per
sons of eminence.

Sir CULLING E. SMITH was unanimously called to
the chair, upon taking which he shortly stated the ob-
ject of the meeting, and adduced as evidence of the
went of education in the people ; the fact of Sir Wil-
liam Courtenay, better known by the name of Mad
Thom, inducing a belief' in the 19th century in the
county of Kent, that he was Jesus Christ. He also
stated that the course pursued by the Chartists pointed
out the necessity for education, because he would ven-
ture to say that but for the want of education the
people would never be induced to follow the precepts
pointed out by those individuals. In conclusion, he
trusted that every person present would obtain an im-
partial hearing.
Sir CHARLES STYLE, M.P., proposed the first reso-
tion, which was to this effect—that since the most
vigorous measures were eminently and urgently required
to render national education universal, that meeting
could not but express satisfaction at the disposition
recently manifested by the Government to afford addi-
tionional facilities for the instruction of the people upon
liberal principles—especially at the expression of her
Majesty's wish that the youth of the kingdom should
be religiously brattetft), and the rigs or'conseience
respected. It was incumbent on those who wished for a
system of education based on religious principles to be
up and doing, and boldly to set forth their opinions on
the subject, in order that they might be brought under
the consideration of the Legislature, and pressed upon
the attention of the Government. The promoters of
the present meeting called upon the Christian commu-
nity of the country to aid them in the great cause they
had in view—namely, that of obtaining a national edu-
cation for the people of this country, and at the
same time to secure that religious instruction
based upon the rock of Christianity—the Bible.
The object also of the present meeting was to resist
every attempt whether it came from the Church or
any other religious denomination, to infringe upon
the rights of conscience. He most cordially con-
curred in the views that were taken by the present
meeting, and he would do all in his power to aid
so important an object.
The Rev. D. LIEICHILD seconded the resolution.
He went to the full extent of the fundamental
principles of the glorious Reformation, for by that the
Bible, and that alone, was the religion of Protest-
ants. What was the proposition of Government ?
Why to lend assistance to all who sought to embue the
children of the country with sound and religious educa-
tion, leaving them to adopt such a course in giving that
education, as seemed just and right. He for one, re-
joiced in such a proposal, and he should therefore, se-
cond the resolution most cordially, which would have the
effect of assisting that proposal.
The CHAIRMAN before putting the resolution stated
that lie had had an amendment put into his hands
which he would read, and then ask the opinion of
the meeting whether it ought to be put or not—for
his own part, he must say, that he could not see that
it had any relevancy to the subject of the present
meeting, the object of which was to promote a com-
prehensive system of national education.
Captain ACHERLEY believed that the present meeting
was one for free discussion, and such being the case it
was the duty of the Chairman to allow the amendment
to be put.—(Confusion.)
The CHAIRMAN said that considering the amendment
was not within the limits of the purposes for which the
meeting was convened, he should take the sense of those
present before he put the amendment.
Captain ACHERLEY—It is the public that make the
meeting, and not the Committee ; and I insist on the
amendment being put.—(Great confusion.)
The CHAIRMAN said be should read the amendment,
and then take the sense of the meeting upon it.
After some observations from Capt. ACHERLEY, amid
great confusion, in which he denied that the Chartists
were rebels,

The CHAIRMAN put the amendment to the meeting,
which he declared to be negatived, and the original re-
solution carried.