The Sun.
London, England, 1856-03-07 00:00:00

eleenla be open to inspection, but that the inspectors
should is all cases be appointed with the consent of the
archbishop and the bishop of tho diocese. lam not sure
that I am quite right in this, but, at all events, that some
Church authority should be a party to the appointment.
So it observed that, with respect to the Church schools, the
inspectors being thus appointed, the Church being cons
emoted with the State, reviewed the accounts, and inspected
the religions as well as the secular education. As to the
other schools, the British and Foreign School Society, the
Wisloyans, and afterwards the Roman Catholics, asked
for a similar condition to that already agreed upon, that
while they admitted the right of inspection they required
that no inspector should be appointed who was repugnant
to them in any way, and to whose appointment they were
not, in so far as having the power to object, parties. But
with regard to all those bodies—the Established Church,
the British and Foreign School Society, the Wesleyans,
aid the Roman Catholics—their principles are well known ;
it is perfectly well known that they will in their schools
give religions instruction according to the tenets which
they hold sacred, and therefore the Committee of Privy
Council, in handing over to them the grants"they make a
aid of their schools, have full security as to the character
of the educatios. With regard to all these societies
have inspection as the secular education, and we have
(Hear,
ample security that religious instruction is given. ,
hear.) There has been a dispute, and it is worth the
while of the house to attend to it fora moment, inasmuch
as it tends to show the manner in which the religious in-
struction is carried into effect—there has been a dispute
between the British and Foreign School Society and the
body of Unitarians as to the mode of teaching. The
British and Foreign School Society declared at the com.
meacement that their dchools were schools for all sects
—that they should read and teach the Bible in theta,
but would adopt no particular formulas either of the
Church or of any denomination of dissent. The Unita-
rians say, "It is true that is your rule, but by oral in-
struction you do give teaching on certain distinctive doc-
trines of Christianity from which we conscientiously dis-
sent, and you have, consequently, sot carried into effect
she principle of equality yen professed." The
British and Foreign School Society say in reply that
they have only taught what they consider to be the
plain meaning of the Bible lessons that are read.
But it is obvious that in their teaching they do give
instruction in those distinctive doctrines which separate the
Church from all those bodies of dissenters which are called
orthodox dissenters, and which separate them also from
the Unitarians. (Hear.) The system assumes to be to give
the utmost latitude in reading the scriptures, and though
the Roman Catholics and the Wesleyans may have nothing
to say, in one and all it may be said that definite instruction
- in religious subjects is given in the schools that receive aid
from the Privy Councilerants. Such is the state of the case.
I am not now asking whether the system was wisely
adopted ; but I think the house should know what is the
security they have that religious instruction is given, and
what is the plan upon which the grants are made. When
we propose that an education rate should be levied. I ant
aware that it is impossible to bind the ratepayers to give the
money they raise byrnsans of the rate either exclusively to
the Church schools or to the schools of any denemination ;
they must necessarily have great latitude and libertyleft to
them as to the education they give—(hear) —but the ques-
tion arises whether any condition whatever should lee im-
'posed upon them and if any, what that condition should
be. (Rear.) This is a question of the utmost gravity and
importance ; it is one which the house may have frequently
to eousider, and it is one also which I am far from saying
that I have arrived at any conclusion upon that may not
be overturned hereafter by the decision of the house. Bat
what the conclusion is that I have arrived at I will now
state. Is the two cases I have mentioned as the free states
that I have established schools, viz., Switzerland and the
United States of America, a very different course has been
pursued. So far as I understand it, the State of Berne
gives a Protestant instruction, while the Canton of Fri-
. boarg gives a Raman Catholic education ; but in each case
those who are unwilling to receive the religious instruction
afforded—that is the Roman Catholics in Berne and the
Protestants in Fribourg—are at liberty to absent them-
selves from it, provided their parents express a desire that
they should do so ; and in this way the principle of religi-
ons liberty is recognised and respected. But the States of
New England, and more especially Massachatsstts, have
taken a different course, and it is, I think, desirable that
the house should know what that coarse is, and what aro
• the general opinions upon it, so that when they come ulti-
mately to decide, they may be enabled to have all the points
bearing upon the matter under their consideration. The
statutes of Massachusetts enact :
It shall be the duty of the president, professors, and tutors
of the University of Cambridge, and of the several colleges,
and of all precepters and teachers of academies and all other
instructors of youth, to exert their best endeavours to im-
press on the minds of children and youth committed to their
care and instruction the principles of piety and justice, and a
sacred regard to truth, love their country, humanity, and
universal benevolence, sobriety, industry, and frugality, chas-
tity, moderation, and temperance, and those other virtues
which are the ornament of human society, and the basis upon
which a Republican Constitution is foundcl, ttc.
Xis obvious as far as these words are concerned that they
might have been enacted by a senate such as that of Rome
was before the introduction of Christianity—for there is
nothing in them that gives any Christian sanction or Chris-
tian character to the schools ; but with respect to the effect,
Mr. Twisleton on the one side, and Mr. Tremenheere on the
other, have each given the impression they have received,
while several men of great eminence in the United States—
Mr. Webster, Mr Everett, Mr. Winton, and Mr. Prescott,
and many others eminent in literature aid political affairs,
have given their opinion in favour of the system, and state
that receiving the secular instruction which the children
do receive in the public schools of Massachusetts in the
week, and afterwards on the Sunday receiving distinctive
religious instruction in the Sunday-schools, or at home,
they are brought up as good Christians. and the religious
character of the state is preserved. An Episcopal minister,
Bishop Eastburn, of Massachusetts, says it is a fact that
none who are supposed to entertain religious sentiments
can be employed as teachers. That is a great testimony
coming frem such a person—and if it be tram that no per-
son who is even suspected of irreligious opinions is ever
employed in teaching, and the ministers of religion are
zealous and active in their duties, and if also there pre-
vails, as there does in New England, and has from the asst
arrival of the emigrants from this country, by whom the
Neer England States were founded—a religious and Chris.
tian sentiment, it may he perfectly true that these schools
may favour the Chris! inn character of the country. On
the ether hand, however,nr.Tremenheere speaks as though
there were some suspicion of the teaching of such achoois,
and as though he observed in the papils a want of Chris-
tian knowledge. All I can say is, that I should be .loth to
offer any opinion that was opposed to that of men so emi-
nent as those whose names I have quoted, and I should be
loth above all to give an opinion as to a particular scheme
of education which has been, after full consideration,
adopted by wise men in a ferei,gn country. (Hear.) If is
should be the case that the Christian character of the coun-
try is preserved, and that brotherly love and Christian
charity are inculcated it these schools, I should rejoice in
the fact, but with regard to oar own country I feel that
net only are these high authorities opposed to it, but that
there is a strong public sentiment prevailing which would
strongly disapprove of the enactment of such a law as that
fa which I have alluded. In the first place, I would ask
leave of the house to read the opinion of a man, whose
opinions, whenever they are quoted, are always received
with deference and respect—the opinion of one of the most
virtuous and piously-animated of our public teachers—l
mean the late Dr. Arnold. (Hear.) Re says :
Oa the whole, I am quite clear as to my original position,
namely, that if you once get off from the purely natural
ground of physical science, philology, and purely logical--
the moment, in short, on which you enter wi moral subjects,
whether moral philosophy or history, you must either be
Christian or Antichristian ; for you touch upon the ground of
Christianity, and you must either take it as your standard of
moral judgment, or you must renounce it, and either follow
another standard or have no standard at all. In other words,
again, the moment you touch on what alone is education--
the forming the moral principles and habits of Man—neutra-
lity is impossible ; it would be very possible if Christianity
consisted really is a series of theoretical truths, as many seem
to fancy ; but it is not possible, inasmuch as it claims to be
the paramount arbiter of all our moral judgments, and he who
judges of good and evil, right and wrong, without reference
to its authority, virtually denies it.
That is the opinion of Dr. Arnold, ;ad I will add that
it is the opinion of one of the present inspectors of schools
a man of very great intelligence, and whose experience is,
at all events worth consulting in reference to the working
of our present national schools—the Rev. Mr. Cookl
have taken from him the account of the secular studies of
the schools and the proficiency of the scholars in geography,
arithmetic, and other subjects of education. He
say:
• goes on to

I have confined my observations hitherto to the secular se-
ptet of school studies, because ed.njections were generally
made by persons who believe net the time of children in na-
tional schools is absorbed by the Church catechism and un-
intelligent reading of the Old Testament. But I do feel bound
once mere to hazard an opinion, deliberately formed and
confirmed by a long and minute acquaintance with the work-
ing of elementary schools, that the one great influence which
has elevated and developed the intelligence of these children,
which has given clearness and accuracy to their perceptions,
which has moulded their judgment, exercised their reason,
and expanded their imagination, has been the careful and un-
interrupted study of the Word of God. The religious instruc-
tion is onr best reboots is of au excellence which has never
break rivalled in any system of national education, and whieh
can be appreciated only by those who have had opportunities
both of constantly examining the children under instruction,
and of watching the effects of that teaching upon their con-'
, duct iu after life. I know many young men and women who
are now doing their duty humbly
rand faithfully in their ap-
pointed sphere of adieu, who gr.:WilliY attribute the measure
oione su,
cce
nstrss thauctiohn, t as rewarded their exertions to their impree-
e i and hale.ta acceuired in national schools.
Now, air, I think the. opinion of Dr. confirmed
Arnold asit is by the ezperieheo of this enlightened officer of the
Committee of Council of Education, t •
weight in determining this point. I ea' r:lnouts butift ]save
myself, that there is only, in fact, one question to wiz., whether you will leave the instruction given cionnisiridez
as:keels confined to those secninr subjects to which I have
adverted, or whether you will introduce into them moral
instruction also ! If you confine yourselves to
arithmeti '
and geography, and such like studies, it is not
necessary that you should have any particular religion at all, bet
when you say more than this-- and I believe everybotly
says more—that what yen seek in e lucating the young is
to give them moral impreesione which are favourable to
the good order of society and the due performance of their
social duties in after life, those impressions which are likely
to be usefel to them here, and conduce to the elevation of
their nnderstandirgs and their well-being in all future time
—I think, then, that yen cannot teach these moral princi-
ples apart from the Christian religion. Bat, while it is
desirable that this should ho carried into effect, there is no
doubt very great practical difficulties in the way ; if you
pass the subject over altogether, and maintain, as I have
said in the resolution, that schools shall bo established and
schoolmasters appointed, you may appear to be neglectful
of the great object in view; and if, on the other hand, you
preecribe too much, and give an advantage to the Esta-
blished Church over any other relirdens denomination,
then the great principle of religious liberty is infringed.
The only conclusion, therefore, at which I can arrive is,
that the authority of the Holy Scriptures should be gene- i
rallylacknowledged in all the schools. I think Parliament
may fairly say, that in all schools established by the State
the Scriptures shall be read daily; hut, at the same time,
that any parent or guardian who may wish that his child
should not receive that instruction shall be at liberty to
withdraw the child during the hours that that instruction
is being given. Ido not think that we can pa's the sub-
ject over altogether, nor do I think, on the other hand,
this
that
resolution we can venture to go further than I propose to do in
That in every school supported in whole or in part by
rate's, a portion of the Holy Scripture, should be read daily
•.,n the school, and sucli.,other proyision .slierekl4ye • naaelo for'
religions inistinetion as the school committee may think fit,
'ant 'that yo child sinnlcl he c'....mpelled to cosine any religions