The Sun.
London, England, 1870-11-19 00:00:00

An influential meeting was held on Thursday in the
County-hall at Aylesbury, for the purpose of aiding the
Diocesan Board in the erection and improvement of
schools, towards which they are considerable contributors.
The Duke of Buckingham (the Lord Lieutenant of the
county) presided.

The Bishop of OXFORD moved the first resolution—
"That, in order to strengthen and extend the means of
elementary education in this diocese at the present im-
portant crisis, it is essential that the Diocesan Board of
Education should receive largely increased support."
Mr. J. G. HUBBARD seconded the resolution, which was
carried unanimously.
The Ven. Archdeacon BICKERSTETH moved the second
resolution, as a natural sequence to the first—" That a
special fund be at once raised, to enable the Diocesan
Board to meet adequately the numerous applications which
it is receiving for aid towards the erection or enlargement
of elementary schools."

Mr. DISRAELI, who was most cordially received, said—
I think there is one particular reason why at this moment
it is incumbent on the friends of religion and the volun-
My system to niM -a great effort before the termination
of the year in support of the schools in which we are so
much interested. When the Bill was first brought for-
ward by her Majesty's Government, which had taken the
form of an Elementary Education Act, it really was an
Education Bill, and not a mere Bill of Instruction, be-
cause it provided that religious instruction should be an
important portion of the Bill ; and, of course, having to
meet those difficulties which always have to be encoun-
tered when the question is concerned, it was decided, by
a bold, and, as I thought at the time, by a happy judg-
ment, that the character of religious education should
be left to the community which established the
school. Now, no doubt, when that ' measure was
brought forward many Churchmen had scruples on many
particular points, but the subject was discussed by those
who represented you in Parliament, and who may be
particularly described as representing the feelings of
Churchmen throughout the country, and they came to the
determination that they would accept the principle of the
bill ; and, by attempting to obtain certain modifications,
waived their objections on many points, and which in
waiving they no doubt made considerable sacri-
fices. I think, under the circumstances, we must
consider ourselves, as members of the Church, as
responsible for the position in which we are now placed,
and can only extricate ourselves from it with credit and
effect by coming forward and supporting the Diocesan
Board under the circumstances to which I have referred.
I quite admit that this is a very critical question to all who
are interested not only in voluntary and religious educa-
tion, but in the establishment and maintenance of schools
in the principles of the Church of England. There can be
no doubt that the last quarter of the century has been a
period of great trial to our Church ; it has been a period
of great perplexity, and of some peril. Critical occasions
more than once have arisen, produced sometimes by the
onslaught of foes, and sometimes perhaps by the indiscre-
tion of our friends ; but in my opinion one thing has been
most remarkable during that period, that on all great
occasions there has been a rally of the feeling of the
people of the country towards the Church, and that that
feeling has not been confined merely to those who are in
connection with the Church. Now, to what is that feeling
which is so prevalent, to be ascribed ? I, myself, merely
ascribe it to this—to the intuitive conviction on the part
of the people of England, that it is to the Church of Eng-
land that they are indebted for the education which
they have received. I believe that that is
not a sentiment limited merely to the members of the
Church, but that there is a 6neral conviction in the con-
science of the country that had not the Church put itself
at the head of the educational movement the results
would have been most limited and barren. That is a
great position, a great hold for the Church to have upon
the best feelings of the country; and in my opinion they
should omit no occasion and no opportunity, w.lben such a
critical question is now before us, to maintain and
increase that legitimate and holy influence. I cannot
say that I look forward to the present educa-
tional measure with feelings of unmingled admiration
and confidence. But we are not met here to-day to
touch upon the deficiencies of the measure, but rather to
develope, if we can, its merits, and the opportunities of
beneficial action which it confers. Having said this, I
will venture to observe that I do not for one moment take
any desponding view, as some persons do, of the state
of education that may arise in this country. In
the first place, I do not believe that the
efforts of voluntary education will be superseded 1:y the
success of these rating schools. I share a feeling which
is very prevalent among Englishmen, that a rate is a
mode of raising money that should always be viewed
with suspicion and never with a feeling of affection.
That is a sentiment very prevalent in the county of
Buckingham, and if we can maintain our schools by the
voluntary principle, education will not be unpopular in
this county. I look forward to the time when our ele-
mentary education will be of a richer and of a more varied
character than is provided by the present measure. I be-
lieve that that time is near at hand. I look upon this mea-
sure as a measure of transition. It will put an end to some
difficulties and help us on to some advantages ; but I can-
not believe that the people of this country will in the long
run be entirely satisfied with the present provision for
education, fo; they will require richer and more various
elementary education, and when they obtain that they
will require a religious education ; because, as their intel-
ligence is expanded and cultivated, they will require in-
formation as to the relations which exist between God
and man, as the most interesting portion of knowledge
which they can seek to acquire. It is unnecessary
to dilate on the importance of omitting no opportunity
of perfecting as far as we can the education of the
people of this country. It must not be done by halves.
We live in times when the best security of the
Stile is in the intelligence of the people. It is the
best security for our institutions—it is the best security
for our property—it is the best security for that order
and civilisation which make life dignified. I am
convinced myself, and feel satisfied from the consider-
able gathering which has taken place in Buckingham-
shire, that the people are impressed with these important
truths, and are prepared to make a decided effort to
support the Diocesan Board in assisting those admirable
schools which have already been an honour to the coun-
try, which have already accomplished so much good, but
which must be rendered more complete and more advan-

tageous.
Lord CARINGTON seconded the resolution, and inquired
whether the subscriptions would be payable at once or be
extended over a period of two or three years.
The Bishop of OXFORD replied that it was intended
to make the sums payable over two years, and then an-
nounced that Lord Carington had put dowu his name
for £2OO.
On the motion of Mr. Du PRE, seconded by Earl BROWN-
LOW, a cordial vote of thanks was given to the Chairman,
and the proceedings terminated. •

Thursday was the last day for the withdrawal of nomi-
nations for the Manchester School Board. There were
altogether sixty-seven nominations, but of these twenty-
three withdrew.
The Earl of Shaftesbury has published a letter to
caution the public against the belief that the Education
Act will supersede the necessity of ragged schools. He
appealed to the present supporters of those institutions
to continue their bounty for another year, and adds :
" Even upon the supposition—and it is a very
doubtful one—that a new and effective system
can be devised to catch and detain these wild and
wandering tribes, a long interval must elapse between
the actual state of things and the institution of
universal. discipline. During that, interval, were the
ragged schools broken up some 30,000 children would be
thrown back to their former state of wretchedness, ignor-
ance, and neglect. Society, depend upon it, would, in a
great variety of ways, feel the painful results of so vast a
destitution." About 90 persons have been nominated as
candidates for the School Board in Sheffield. There seems
at present every probability of a severe contest. The
Wesleyans have nominated three candidates ; and it is
understood that the members of the Church of England
have nominated five.

Lord Albert Pelham Clinton, youngest son of the
late Duke of Newcastle, married on Thursday, at the
Spanish Chapel, Frances Evelyn, widow of Captain
Edward Stotherd, of the 60th Rifles. After the ceremony
the friends present 'at the church breakfasted at the
Clarendon Hotel. • .