The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1847-08-17 00:00:00

ly 2-2nd,l

correct statement of the case, it dearly
of a large number of schools, and
kind or other, are,wlling
1r would not have corn-
4ect, to avail themselves
sit out appearing to do

voluntaries,,
a, but would be the last
They are-
e, of re-
ceiving GovernMent aid. If anxious to avoid the reality, they
would never apply for it, as they have certainly done. And,to
ct, the following plan has been hit upon-
utes of the Committe2. of Council of
6 which minutes were prominently
the late debate on the. subject,, and
speakers, every Dissenters'
dition of such aid, regularly

i.e., if a

can do it and still

persons i

to avoid

,t the reality,

It appears that by the Mt
August and December, 18
before the public during
often alluded to by the
school receiving aid must

to it them
but the t-t)

report of such religious condition would, therefore, of course
be a proof of the reception of Government aid. Could the
managers of these schools evade, or procure the abolition of,
this condition, they could then pocket the grants very quietly
no report would be made : there would be nothing, to let the
public see whence their funds came, and they might maintain
ter among men as consistent voluntaries, all the
in their sleeves at the success of their scheme.

And, stn.. they have succeeded. The Government,
either throUgh imprudence or imbecility, have agreed to annul
the condition of furnishing a report, and a minute of the Com-
mittee of Council has been issued to that effect. (See Mluutes
of Committee of Council, July lOth, 1847.) So that now these

turning I
to

linters of endowment, tliese objector

oveynmentaiti, can,

11dliresume will, quietly secure the benefits of the grant.
and, at the same time, maintain their reputation amongst-
their friends as firm adherents to a principle which their prar-•
tice contradicts. What is this but " loving darkness rather
than light, because their deeds are evil "? Surely, if this he'
Dissent in the nineteenth century, if these be their practices,
we must inscribe " Ichabod " upon its front; for its glory iS'
indeed departed. What would an Owen, a Baxter, an Heiul;
or a Doddridge, say, could. they be spectators of the doings c",

subject in

A word or two on thi

far the question mainly affects the consci(

b-- point of view. 6°
_noes and character
n. If these minute-
lion allowed, all controversy, 0,1.
- „:ants to Popery is at an and. Al;
the Government now requires seems to be an assurance thav
religious instruction is given. Its character or kind natter„
not. And what sect of religionists will not give such assn'
ranee? The Parsee and Brahmin of India, the Buddhist o
China, the followers of the false prophet, the rejectors of the
true, as well as every form and creed which, has prevaile,„
among the professors of Christianity from the Apostles' de);
to our own, would doubtless each give, or have given,, the re.
quired assurance that religious instruction, in their acceßta,
lion of the term, and according to their views of what religio__
is, is or was given amongst them. Of what avail wilt the pat,
liamentary pledges to resist aid to Popery now be? Here is_
loop-bole for Government to admit them to all the benefits
the grant, without asking any leave for of course they 9,1",
assure the Government that religious instruction is given,
though the Word of God may never be seen amongst thtegi
And who knows but that the Papists may form a part of been
large class for whose benefit the Minute of Council has
rescinded ? Of what avail the declared voice of the Coniowno
of England against secular education, if this provision to grep;
aid, without requiring some decided guarantee as to the Ilia/
gious education conferred, be persevered in ? Then vreZ.e.-
.be prepared to cry out, Farewell to Dissenting honesty 1-1;;vell
well to Protestant opposition to Papistical doctrines . fare.
to Parliamentary decisions against secular instructions I":"..:sti.
well to England's glory and to England's pride—her no,'

anity bands,
Commending this subct to wiser heads and abler
and satisfied with sounding this note of alarm I am. YOll,
A ,(4
LAINCARIIRX eLERePie,