The Sun.
London, England, 1869-01-29 00:00:00

IRISH BISHOPS.

A correspondent of the Daily News fears that the
Irish bishops do not understand the situation. The
only step they have taken has been to memorialise
the Government for a revival of the Irish convoca-
tion, a request which is not likely to be granted.
What is wanted is to awaken a warm and intelli-
gent interest among the laity in Church matters. The
effect of efficient lay representation in the Sydney
synod was that the subscriptions to the Church
Society rose in the first year from 500 to £6,000.
The pressing need of the moment is that bishops,
clergy, and laity should meet with the least possible
delay in diocesan and provincial synods. Such
deliberations would not interfere with the pro-
ceedings in Parliament. There are many questions
upon which it would be most important to compare
and correct the views of clergy and laity. Some of
the bishops wish to retain part of the Establish-
ment, while the majority of both clergy and laity
would declare for a free Church. Other questions,
such as those affecting the life incomes of the present
clergy, might be dealt with in these synods, and it is
on all accounts most desirable that in this crisis
there should be a cordial understanding between
bishops, inferior clergy, and laity. This cannot be
if the first show distrust of the last.

LEVELLING UP OF SCHOOLS IN IRELAND.

A correspondent oftheiiailyArems considers the
subject of education in Ireland, and draws attention
to the fact, that taking ecclesiastical persons as
teachers in national schools, involves the right to
employ uncertificated teachers. What guarantee will
the State have left for any point of training when
the denominational system is followed ? The
manager will only have to prove that so
many children have been in the school, and
nothing was thought of the efficiency of
the teacher or the acquirements of the
scholars. In his inaugural address at the
Social Science Congress, Lord Dufferin unhesitat-
ingly declared that the control of the clergy would
promote an impatient and intolerant spirit in educa-
tion, while that of the Statesman would favour
mutual forbearance and respect for the feelings of
others. The " mixed schools " have worked well
in Ireland, in spite of the opposition from both
sets of clergy, as the managers allow nothing
to be done or said that can give pain
to a single child of a different faith from that of the
majority. The large attendance of the Roman
Catholic children at the mixed schools is a proof that
the bishops represent an " Ultramontane power " in
their action on this point, and not the opinion of
those immediatlely concerned. It is to be remem-
bered that the excess of the educational grant to Ire-
land above its proportion conies from the taxpayers
of Great Britain ; they should not begrudge it, it is
true; but then they have a right to expect that it
should promote the union of classes, and not mutual
repulsion. If the Irish system be modified, let it be
in the sense of making it more national, and less
denominational. The interests of religion are not
peoplelikely toe
fsuffer under
England
imay
ynsaiti
iiiaetioenua system
;l
but
tt
hewhich
theinterests
of the nation would not be free from danger under a
di nmninational system in Ireland.

MR. DILWAY, M.P.

We have already stated that the election petition
against the return of Mr. Dalway, M.P. for Carrick-
fergus, has resulted in the confirmation of that gen-
tleman's election. The temperance journals are
rejoicing in this result, for Mr. Dalway is the presi-
dent of the Irish Temperance League. They would
seem to have small reason to be proud of their officer,
for Judge O'Brien had to rebuke him because he dis-
tributed drink among his tenantry at a time when
they were likely to be excited. It is bad enough for
anybody to distribute beer at such a time; worse
still for a landlord and a candidate to do it; worst of
all for an advocate of temperance td do it. Mr.
Dalway is a Liberal.
LORD HARTINGTON AT ItADNOR.
The Liverpool Courier will have it that Mr. Green
Price is not so patriotic after all. True he has
vacated his seat to the Marquis of Hartington ; but
our contemporary believes that he has also vacated
another seat, viz., a mansion in the neighbourhood of
Radnor of which he was anxious to dispose. The
Postmaster-General is said to have become the pur-
chaser of it, and perhaps something was paid in con-
sideration of the parliamentary privilege attaching
to it; just as happened when the lateDuko of North-
umberland sold his Cornish seat with the representa-
tion of Launceston attached. One would like to know
if this be true. Disinterestedness is so rare nowadays
that, if only for the sake of variety, we should like to
cast aside cynicism for once.