The Sun.
London, England, 1870-06-28 00:00:00

complicated machinery to 'supply those districts with
schools they were not striking at the great source of edu-
cational deficiency. What was required was not so much
schools as a greater attendance at those which had been
provided, he was bound to say, chiefly by the enthusiasm,
of the clergy.—On a division taking place, the amendment
was rejected by a majority of 303 against 112. There was
a feeble attempt at a cheer on the part of the supporters
of the amendment.—ln the absence of Mr. Vernon Har-
court, Sir Charles Dilke moved to insert words which
he considered would define " public school accommoda-

LLS,
tion," but Mr. Fowler could not accept the
poposition, inasmuch as sufficient interpretation was
given to the phrase in subsequent clauses, but he had
no objection when they came to the consideration of
clause B.to add the word " suitable " by way of explana-
tion. On the unders,tanding,,that the discussion would be
renewed on clause 8, the hon. baronet withdrew the
amendment.—On proceeding to the consideration of clause
6, the Vice-President of the Council moved an amend
ment in reference to the supply of schools in case of de-
ficiency, omitting words which applied only before the
year of grace was abandoned. The right hon. gentleman,
referring to the contemplated year of grace, said there
were disadvantages in the twelve months in regard to
large towns, and the operation of the bill would be delayed
if they adopted the year of grace.—Mr. G. Hardy called
attention to the omission of the year of grace, but the
Vice-President thought the question as to whether it should
be retained or otherwise would best be discussed
afterwards.—As considerable objection was taken to the
amendment it was modified and agreed to.—At a quarter
to eight the committee had reached the seventh clause,
and the members proceeded to leave by twos and threes
for dinner.—When Mr. Corrance rose to urge upon the
committee the acceptance:of his amendment on Clause 7
very few of his own party remained in the House, and
the Liberal benches were but partially occupied. The
hon. member for East Suffolk, although he did not speak
long, tried the patience of the committee, and he was
eventually obliged to resume his seat, in obedience to
cries of " Vide, vide." His object was to make the regu-
lations for the conduct of elemementary schools apply to
schools constituted from and after the passing of the Act,
and subject to any board or rating authority. Finding that
the proposition found no favour with the committee, the hon.
gentleman did not care to occasion the trouble of dividing.
The hon. member for Merthyr Tydvil intimated that the
member for Stroud had asked him to state that he
withdrew the first three propositions of which he had
given notice, but would bring forward the fourth at a
subsequent period.—Mr. Serjeant Simon proposed an
amendment in effect that not only should the child be ex-
,. . •

empted from attending religious worship or religious in-
struction either in school or elsewhere to which he
objected, but that he should not have it made a
condition of attending school that he should do
so on days and occasions he held sac.red. The
hon. gentleman, however, withdrew his amendment
after a few words from the Vice-President, who said that
he thought the case was met by the word " abstain " in
the clause ; but if that were not sufficient, he should be
willing to further consider the proposal.—Mr. Pease
raised a long discussion on a proposition in reference to
the time when any religious observance should be prac-
tised or instruction in religious subjects given. He pro-
posed to leave out the words " either at the beginning or at

the end, or at the beginning and the end of such meeting."
A great difference of opinion was manifested, and Mr.
Forster, who admitted the importance of the subject, said
it was one which occasioned the Government great diffi-
culty. It was impossible, he argued, to deny the exist-
ence of a strong feeling that religious and secular instruc
tion should be separate, and that was the reason a limit
had been made in that respect. According to the present
proposal there could be four opportunities of giving reli-
gious instruction. The member for the University of
Cambridge was 9f opinion that it had been argued as if
the motion of the hon. member for South Durham was of
an exclusive instead of an inclusive proposition, and was
antagonistic to the four meetings for religious teaching.
Many other hon. gentlemen addresied themselves to. the
subject, but the committee were impatient to go to a
division. Shortly before half-past ten the committee
divided, and the amendment was lost by 222 to 122 votes.
An amendment was proposed by Dr. Brewer, that no
scholar should be privileged to attend the instruction in
religious subjects or any religious service held within
school hours except at . the request of the parents or
guardians of such child, and prescribing the form of the
request. The right hon. gentleman experienced, a perfect
storm of opposition, and was constantly interrupted by
both sides of the House. The proposal was ultimately
negatived without a division. Towards midnight the
attendance again became large, and when a division at
about It3o took place on a proposition made by the
member for Birmingham with reference to the withdrawal
of a scholar during the time of religious teaching or
observance there were 414 members present. Mr. Dixon
moved that religious instruction should not be
given in a room where secular instruction was be-
ing conducted.—Sir Roundel] Palmer received great
applause when he said that it appeared to him as if the
hon. member for Birmingham had never been to school
in his life. His experience taught him that different
classes were going on at the same time. The Vice-Presi-
dent of the Council, whilst he acknowledged the clear-
ness of the amendment, could not accept it, and Mr.
Dixon said he would withdraw his proposition for the

present.
Several other amendments were considered, and at a
quarter to one progress was reported, and a rush was
made for the " members' train."
The bill will be further considered at the morning
sitting on Tueiday.
SLIGO AND CASHEL DISFRANCHISEMENT

BILL.
On the order for the third reading of this bill, Mr.
STACKPOOLE moved that the measure be recommitted.
He was followed by Mr. Collins, who hoped the Govern-
ment would disfranchise the two rotten boroughs. The
bill was read a third time, Mr. Stackpole alone dissenting.

CATTLE DISEASES (IRELAND) BILL.
This bill passed through committee.
MEDICAL OFFICERS SUPERANNUATION BILL.
The House went into Committee at five minutes to
one on this bill, and several motions to report progress
were not agreed to, and the, measure, with amendments,
was reported.
BENEFIT BUILDING SOCIETIES BILL.

On the motion for the second reading of this bill, the
debate was adjourned.
The other orders were disposed of, and the House ad-
journed at a quarter past one o'clock.

THE GOVERNMENT TELEGRAPH SYSTEM.
The select committee which has been appointed for the
purpose of inquiring into the best means of extending the
present system of Government telegraphs met yesterday for
the first time, for the purpose of choosing their chairman
and considering their course of proceedings with respect
to the subject of Government telegraphs. It is stated
that to meet the requiremonts of the service several
thousand miles of additional teleg:•aph wires are
contemplated by the Government to be con-
structed in England, and that it will be prepared
at the proper time to show that, notwithrtanding
individual complaints, thegeneral results from the transfer
of the telegraphic lines to the Government have been as
successful in a pecuniary sense as they have been so far
as regard the general public convenience. The present
committee is with reference to the extension of the system
to the Channel Islands. The Marquis of Hartington was
chosen chairman.

RITUALISM AT BRIGHTON.

ELPHINSTONE V. THE REV. J. PURCHAS.

This case was specially appointed to be heard yesterdaybY
the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council on a motion
in a pending appeal from the Court of Arches. The suit
was in the court below, "Elphinstone v. Purchas,'! and
the defendant, who is the minister of St. James's Chapel,
Brighton, was proceeded against at the instance of the
Church Association for certain ritualistic practices in the
service of the Holy Communion. He had not
appeared to the proceedings, and was con-
demned for some of the practices alleged ; but the
Judgment did not include the use of certain vestments,
and the promoter, Colonel Elphinstone, appealed to the
Judicial Committee in order • to obtain a decision on the
important question of vestments, and also on the use of
wafer-bread, holy water, and other articles. Since the
appeal Colonel Elphinstone had died, and the case had come
before the Judicial Committee, on an application to substi-
tute a new promoter, and Mr. Henry Helbert, a resident at
Brighton, was proposed. Mr. Purchas appeared under
protest, and submitted that the cause had determined
by the death of the promoter. There was a long list of
motions before the committee to-day, and it was some
time before the case was rehched. The learned Solicitor-
General could not attend on account of ill-health, and an
application was made that the case might be adjourned.
The case accordingly stood over, and is expected to come
on again next week.

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2,810 ; total visitors, 4,138.

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