The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1851-09-09 00:00:00

CHURCH EDUCATION.

TOsinT,ll—EneE
MeetingDlT R
ofD OF THE
ChurchLIVERPOOL
Education
sSoTciAetNyDffireerj:
landdield in this town last Monday, demands more attention Oaf:
you were able to give it in your paper of the following inornitge
An appeal was then made to our fellow-townsmen trigthe
their sympathy and support to that Society, as one or
many agencies employed for improving the condition of
land ; and to this no reasonable objection could have bs,
urged, had the speakers confined themselves to a simple staid
ment of the principles upon which their Society was based. aunt
the beneficial effects of its operations; but when, insteao,',,
pursuing this natural and usual course, they laboured to to
parage the usefulness of a kindred body, and, as it appear
di
me, went out of their way to impugn the motives and arras
the conduct of all who ventured to differ from them, ti,zi
1-
have provoked a reply, and compelled those who are u"„
13t
ling to be misinterpreted to repel an aggression which nog
not to have been made. clt•
Permit me, then, Sir, to offer a few remarks upon this runcito
controverted question of National Education in Ireland, attach
ask the attention of a discerning public to some facts eto
were not stated at the Meeting, but which, to me at least,snot
quite sufficient to justify sound Churchmen anti consisl:of
Protestants in heartily cooperating to carry out the plans
the National Board.
ra
Perhaps no subject, eithn o
in politics or religion, in d
te
times, has been more spoken and written about by those 02,40
ested in Irish affairs, and yet none more misunderstood,!!'ect
the Government system of Education in Ireland. No suidqe,
has produced an equal amount of political and sectarian 01.'0
or been so fruitful a source of unseemly hearthurnings tor
contention. This is much and grievously to be deplored
Of
we think that by the exercise of a very little prudence an 'oh,
bearance on the part of those who could have had but one 10
ject in view, the real benefit of their common country,
this might have been, to a considerable extent, avoided. ,fef
0 Passing over the social rind political history of It-elan...
the last 200 or 30)years—that black record of her
and sufferings.—l come at once to the period with which 011
fOll
are more immediately concerned, when Government tindef'a,
seriously to grapple with the great source of Irish 110%-nd
namely, the gross ignorance of the peasant population,7o,
endeavoured to elevate the country from its wretched and
ears 1812 and 1831 many attempts had as tO
graded condition.
ndtiitlie on y be et
made, but with indifferent success, to apply national fun or,
the education of the Irish people. In the latter year, hove,
the Government proposed to establish a system which 1111.14
mert the requirements of every class and denomination; 10
the then Chief Secretary for Ireland, Lord Stanley (00W the
Earl of Derby), in his official capacity addressed a letter to
tbe co,
Duke of Lemster, stating thtir views, and soliciting ,dt,
operation of all who desired to assist in so good a e.'"4/
Scarcely was the plan propounded before it was reject
some influential members of the extreme Protestant partY
they, from the positions which they occupied bothecial of
Church and State, were able to gain over many, esplc7oo,
the young anti inexperienced, who looked up to them wit,h4s of
fidence as their leaders ; so that in a few years the nulrou." iso
those who dechired themselves hostile to the Governmengtyr
were certainly very considerable. But why this hcsit sot
After a most careful examination of all the official docului,es,
of the day, we cannot discover one sufficient reason. te
sons, however, are assigned, and we shall briefly refer
them for the purpose of testing their importance. „hoar
First, then, it is said " the National system puts diaw„uti'
upon the Word of God by introducing into the schools .','area
lated perversions of Holy Scripture; thus making the chi.' hest
think lightly of that which all should regard with the hig.
re spect." ider
Now, if this charge could be established, we should cona.or
it no light one. But what is the real case? The Board o.`„
called their compilation the Bible, and never intended; tc`c"rip-
substituted for the Bible. "Scripture Extracts," or god
ture Lessons," was the only name ever applied to [he the
none but the wilfully ignorant could mistake them fort re-
Bible itself; indeed so careful were the Commissioners v.ota.
move every doubt upon the point, that, from the very 'dlt
mencement, they declared and acted upon the declarationitser
"it was not the intention of His Majesty's Government
to claim for themselves, or to vest in the Commissioner!! the
control over the use of the Sacred Scriptures, or ove.lol,
standards of the Established Church of Ireland or of Se°`.e4.
or of the Roman Catholic Church, but only over books contr,,ired
by private authors ; and that the control over these is ralof
merely for the purpose of checking the introduction of I,ov
injurious tendency." fer
Scripture "Lessons" they certainly compiled, but thet:tper
insisted upon their being used by any in their schools,
.0 tlie
clergy or children ; and least of all by those belonging 100,
Church. Indeed the Church Education Society itself adto to,
we " are well aware that the Scriptures may, accordt.;oo
the present regulations of the Board,.be read in the
Schools at specified times." est°ll' •
Now if this be the case, and I defy denial, that the Pr'itiorissr
clergy had uncontrolled liberty to use their own alit tbeira,
version of the Scriptures in these schools, and to teacned
own Protestant children out of them, what indignity Godi
have been intended, or was done, to the blessed Word o „ott!
" But, oh," it is replied, "our liberty is not uncontreor"spq
we are restrained." How, prav, we ask ? " Why, is throe a°;.
a fixed time appointed for reading the Bible, and are.„KY°
prevented from reading it during school hours ?" Certa2"slool
are not at liberty to interrupt all the other appointed bust
of school hours, and if you do exercise your right it to; disetA
•
be in a disorderly manner. The very lowest degree olioett!',
pline demands this, otherwise the school could not be colte tus
at all ; but a very large proportion of school-time is
during which you may teach your children the Bible, tn.jo
chrism. or anything else you like. '1 he rule is, " One ror
each week (independently of Sunday) is to he set apart ....Eta':
ligious inAruction of the children, on which day such_ol7,olol;
or Other persons as are approved of by the parents or guorpOt!‘
of the children, shall have access to them for that fltio
whether three patties hare signed the original apPbc%ioilero
nut." And in commenting upon this rule, the Coma'''. he °_,A
emphatically state, " We take care that sufficient thu:'flistel„,l
apart for separate religious instruction, and that the ras,'
of God's Word, of all Christian creeds, and those aPPraud
by them, shall have the fullest opportunity of readings.ol
pounding it. and of seeing that the children of their rexviy,
denominations do read and understand it, not only wee .0
daily, if they think proper." • 0030
And these are the sentiments and rules which put.' frank
upon the Word of God I—and this the system which.ls tbsit
with Popery and Infidelity! No, Sir, we are certain o,
reasonable person who understands the case will saY„ s, logo
one, whose moral vision is not seriously impaired,. '7l orbs
tain that the supremacy of the Scriptui es is assade :06e
honour of God and the good of souls despised, hece taro
Church clergy are not allowed to go to the schools at ribs
most convenient to themselves, and—no matter whit' ora',Do
dren might happen to be learning—Geography, Histor2;',,jew
thing else—put a stop to all other business that a BP' 41
may be commenced.
W 0
But there are some who with candour say, "Yes, dto od
certainly allow that we are permitted and encouraged es SOS
the authorised version of Holy Scriptures for ours „.e vf ter
children in the schools; and we do not think that, th'..toeirs,
some restrictions as to time involves a decided ''o-11i.
though we do not like it ;—still we cannot join the moot PO
cause the Roman Catholic priests and children arewoiSier,
pelted to read the Scriptures with us." That is, ro..he b
old fable, they say not, "we will neither partake or Owl
ings of these schools ourselves, nor suffer others t?i'ods
is
but, " we will not, because you do not compel ere Y et/
to share them with us." " Gentlemen, say the
sioners, " you are really very good-natured, and Ycni,. ba,so
for the good of your neighbours does you infinite creeTA tutstis
regret, deeply regret, that there are some so infattla,',7ot!7,ol
blind to their best interests that, at present, they will 06(1',el
01
your privileges with you; but we hope, and ,e se co elo
believe that, eventually, they will know better, an.. 0010,
happiness and prosperity will be led to desire Whit' tbeY
reject." " No, no," you reply, " that will not d?-.."0
be compelled, and that instantly, too." " But it
_,,
bility—do what we will, they won't." " Well, then' 104
have nothing to do with you." 's it PI ;0"
Now, in all soberness, I ask is this reasonable? '4 0
rather does it not discover in the objector a twilit n?
monstrous impracticability that can well be imago:wipe:of
An impossible concession must be exacted front_ aft
ouf
Roman Catholic community, or else your privileges,llA,',oorl
value to yout you are allowed to do what yoU.,'siglriii tel
selves, and all who think with you, but unless you.r;;o br.tcsol
who do not agree with you, unless your poor cali.'4 fed tP`'
are made at once to lick the dust, and lay bare 0 .t.
their bondage, your own liberty is but a phantoln
acquaintance a pollution! Or; the
t to tbe toe De. 4
Gentlemen, we appeal from your judgmen Attie
bar of a candid and reasonable :public ; anosses,'-alt,tt
respective opinions either of indiyiduals or cibeutdod tP4,O
with regard to the Romish religion, we coil .ive, eot, )(Of
pate their decision—that your demands are exceslo graooo
in endeavouring to extort what it is impossible
other concessions which it might be possible to 700150,.'0et
forfeit, to a considerable extent, any clamtocolliee.r.l,tifil
Time alone prevents me, Sir, from further trqeo ta,
of
respeCtr'sot
your space; but, for the present, enough has....ct fr.oifso
have succeeded in calling attention to this suoifxercis* ,
who can think for themselves, and fear not to iota,
dependent judgment. ern' r
bo /10
One further observation, however, I may tithe w •,,,e
li
make, and that is, that upon a calm review
ject, and contemplating from a distance two g ebe
tions assumed, and movements adopted, by pot_ by,;?
wonderiousarties in Ireland in reference to it, I ha,us,rateTir,
at more, the rejection of the Nationa_,,,i;
r ups
Protestant. or the acceptance of it by the Rom 'iojes!,loll,o
God cale" o'7o'
one of those inscrutable mysteries which 60.... d die edit 4 ,
to baffle the ingenuity of the most sagacious, if tn,
of the wise; but of this I am convinced, tiTogo-"ditr;to,,'.
had now to be decided instead of twenty YeaLsh an to _cow
schememerit had now,
Ireland fo
theti re
Romanfirst
one half so fatal to Popery as that which isi_e3ayoUrt rer
nor could the Protestants secure one half 0 '
—1 am, Sir, your obedient servant,
bent 0(51'. tea
WM. BREWSTER, 'noun ,ro,teth. otee,
testantism as the one which they have
our sel2 li3
Sept. sth, 1851.
f r
[We publish the above letter at the requestir__ bee
_m
correspondent, although the subject hassaul ereettsail
in this town usque ad nauseam,. and it i u"
specify our opinions on the subject.]
tirnCenthtooliecseri;..l2"blativerl:elet.orlie'
so strange', el, ti

late
On Saturday night, Isaac Steel, a tin-Pi flill'%i"
living in Brooklyn.gardens, opposite the to,Vvv.ife,
Torteth-park, went to the market with I. _ce
three young children in charge of their eldest,: soevpiel
beth Steel, who is ten years old. Daring the re,ll,oBp
the parents, the children lay down before th„.sp
eed
of live coal from which ignited the clothes T„rp
child, Elizabeth, and she was so EeVergl7
cause death on the following day.