New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-10-08


the Rev. Dr. jenkins OF London. The fret paper reau
by the Rev. James II. Rigg ID. u, u
the Wesleyan Training College, Westminster tsns'
DIR. Rgg stated that he would take purely buroPe""
view Of the question In Holland, where purely
schools exist Catholic preoepors are appoinsou " no
communities where that denomination prevails anU
children Of outdoor paupers In Engianu arc nv W
Obliged to 90 N school between the ages OF ana 10
years The Poor Law Guardians pay the iees' Inc
Government pays for the secular results Vi seoui"
education. There 11.oCO puohcy insPo0'ou N0P'
ments OF education having about 2OOoOoo pups on inc
rolls of attendance. "A great majority oI hese
sohools have been established under the influence
~ tho cnrh Of England during the last 90 years. The
schoo hoard schools number only few hundred, but In
n ,o wears they will reach two three thousand The
eker dwelt upon the strength derived by the Church
og England from the schools whcht has established and
when the whole country win be supplied with schools
the Church of England will conduct their workings. lie
England the Government only pays about onethird OF
the cost of UNCONVENTIONAL schools while in Ireland 1t
derays ths OF the expenses OF such schools. In
all Irish schools the Cateehsm OF respective denomina
tions prevailing the vicinity where the school s sltu
ated is taught.
At the conclusion OF Dr. Riggs paper discussion
upon 1t followed The first speaker called upon was the
Row Dr.. McCOsh, President Of Princeton College.
President McCosh-The subject that has been discussed
20 ably by DT. Rigg is one 20 which my attention has
boon attracted for the last quarter OF century DC
RAPIDLY throughout three kingdoms, England Ire
land and Scotland. than had been for ages before
believe the systems adopted In those countries arc
substantially good, l think England was guilty OF
or, as in not educating ts people which has con on,
people educated from the time OF John Knox down
ward. But England 1t is only of late they have got
"a good system OF edueatOn. l am not prepared
20 crtcise severely. 1t works beautifully IL saves
the rights OF conscience and education to the
whole peOpe and above ALL is securing obligatory edn
cation that every child shall be educated That shoulu
bo adopicd m Anerica 1t has been the law IN Massa
mi IN
put execution IN Connecticut, and nope VIII prevail
In an the States In Scotland local boards determine
what TIE religious instruction shall be- but they impose
religious instruction on any parent VINO is unwhIng
get nothing else. Aud when they wish TO have the BDie
and when they wish 10 have the shorter catecllsIn
taught. they at liberty 10 do so, interfering with
no Ouos conscience. In Ireland am not quite sure
about tue statements he made as 10 eulcauOn
becoming denOninatiOnal in Ireland Ii is not
So and never has been Churches have 10 right 10
intorcre with instruction whatever hope we VIII MOI
dressed us hope there will be no disposition in this
country interfere with what has been from the be-
qnuing-thc State providing instruction for the people
IApplausel 1 think Dr. Rigg is carrying his yolun-
taryism hold is the duty Of the state TO
That the people be instructed ana you nave no gn
10 punish those people you have not previously ln-
sructed them. He speaks Of voluntary instructions but
when you leave 70 voluntary effort you hnd tha III tne
wealthy districts the people have good education; WINE
IN the poor districts you have little or none stood by
the Irish education system am pfeared 10 say lney
are now getting admirable system for the first time
In England and Scotland, aud prepared to stand by
the STATE system OF this country i0r elementary educ
tlon Il is the most precious legacy that has been
handed down by our fathers Let us keep 1t, ana let
future ages start this question. tApplause.J
Nr. Stone Of LOndOn-I shall speak only Of common
schools main, aimed out OF the common purse, avaabe
speak only Of the night of the defend
Observation-Disclosures children who If their minds are
left ght in youth viii grow up straight minded to
old age and their minds are warped or neglected in
youth Win be made permanently crooked through their
shoujd in secular knowledge and ia morals.
That right which can in no way Whatever be drawn
from the child; night that must Do protected
by every State. 1t Is a right in which the
rate-payers are interested, III Wbch the parents
are interested, the taxpayers interested, ana III
which every school board Of management ought TO be
Interested The children have right to secular nsfuc,
uon. Dr. McCOsh says the State is pound 10 give H. ana
agree with Inn. say, also, the children have right
10 instruction IN morals ana the state bound TO give
1t and say there is cOih1oh stahdard OF morals III
mans mind. Wny man who builds wall cannot tell
whether II Is straight, he mas TO use the punmet and
when the marine across the sea he uses his com
pass Morals Deoda standard, and II rs ready made TO
hand What the standard or morals common % a The
Bible, when Is tue comnOn STANDARD OF rehglOn. Ine
Jews have as standard the Ola BlDle, and the Ola
Testament and the New the common stand
ara VI morality with Christians say II you
gong 10 the instruction You must see II is given
night well, honestly and faithfully according 10 the
rules LAID down, and you must have inspectors In the
London School Board we have got inspectors after
hard Tight You must also have responsible teacher
Let responsible teacher teach the Bible, and by that
you raise the character OF the teacher of the
Teaching My proposition ls this: Public funds ought IN
NO be gwen 10 ana the general instruction of any
young child, except upon the report OF public inspector
upon the progress OF that child IN such Bible.
Mr. Williams Of LOndon-I am much disappointed that
gentleman did lot follow Dr. Rigg to afford 10 the
system and 70 afford that information in the light OF Dr.
Riggs paper In the absence OF that information, per-
by others, and in doing 90 shall, as far
can, follow his example IN avoiding controversial topics
and a controversial tone. He has endeayOred tc per
suade that the state the central power OF England
is not responsible for religious instruction lie has
imperial power. That is merely distinction in
words The local board Is the state for
local purposes therefore, whatever the local board
does, the state must DO held responsible for IT, He Is,
think quite in statements even In regard 10
fffu He Al
Imperial exchequer has granted large sums OF money
for the erection Of schools, aud granted a capita.
fee for the attendance OF children, irrespective or
the degree Of efficiency in learning cannot therefore,
venture to contend that 30 far as the state by the exer
pubic money maintains schools in which religion is
Taught responsible for the character and effect Of that
system IN England has become strong entre1chnent
OF the Established Church The English Nonconformists
saw that is great injustice He also audes TO the sys
TEN IN ireland. He says much odnm attaches TO the
people in England who insist that instruction III day
schools should be secular rather than religious. Re
hOus teaching III the schools OF England is miserable,
ineieent eonid amnse you o snhnn EnSaDa
which shows that the so-called rensous lh-
schools is o miserable farce. There Christian
people in England VINO think that the schools should
be secular and not religious. But believe that ex
press the sentiments thousands that 1t is IN religious
influence exercised by the teacher rather than IN the
dogmac instruction given In the school that Our nope
must lie so far the moral influence OF the children Is
concerned. And believe further that lust III proper
tion Christian men feel that is their duty as chris
tans, and Ia connection with religious orgahiSauons'
to take III hand TINS work of religious instruction. VIII
The moor of this country and of other countries be
Egtously educated. lApplausel.
DR. Rlgg has told you that there must be den0nna-
tona schools order that the parents have the
cht Of sending their children 70 what schools they like
He omitted tell you there are thousanos OF parishes
her nareuts caunOt send the children the schools
fbey IKE because the only schools there the schools
f the Established Church. aud that must continue 10 De
The case 80 long a. tue mixed system continues He has
moi told Won that there direct aniagonism IN En-
Gland etWeen the denominations and the national sys-
TEN that the clergy ana supporters OF national schools
ARE opg their utmost 10 prevent school boards lest their
own schools should suffer. They nay DE quite rlghi
but am for national education lApplausel And all
have seen siuee visited this country has confirmed me
tile CONVECTION desire 10 England what you nave IN
America, present system. lApplause IL IS
a miserable compromise aud has miserably 1alitd. 1
fnd