, 1874-02-28

$500 0uu J1dG buO compulsory OIduSoo Va
the Act have been submitted to, on the whole,
Without rebellion or complaint. Three years
IS a very short time in a nations life, and the
difficulty by and by will be TO believe that only
three years had really secured so much.
There were, Of course, many disputed ques-
tons about which the whole Act of 1870 was
necessarily more or less of a compromise. Its
authors were comps lied to steer a middle
course between "v0luntaryiSm" and compul-
sion, between Capitalization and local govern
ment, and-laSt, but most eSpecially-hetweeu
qenominational teaching and the total exclu-
sion of all religious instruction. On all these
points they met with difficulties, which they
oyercame with tolerahle success 1t is to the
terms on which the third compromise was ar
ranged that we wish to call especial attention.
BY the provisions Of the Act, schools maintain
ed by voluntary subscriptions might continue
to teach any religious creed their managers
might direct, and were still to receive as before
pecuniary aid from Government. Schools to
be provided or maintained out of the local
Rates were, however, much more narrowly
limited. They were forbidden absolutely to
teach any religious CateChi3m or distinctive re-
ligious formulary, but We're permitted to have
the Bible read and explained, SO only that no
special doctrines were introduced into the eX-
PLANTATION. The compromise 50 far, if not
liked, has been at least acQuieSced in by those
whom it most intimately concerned. The chief
dispute to which the Act has given rise has
sprung from the provision made for the instruc-
ton of pauper children, or Of the children of
parents not otherwise paupers but unable to
pay for their children's education. In the case
of these it has been ordered that the chill iren
may be compelled to attend school, and that
+bo fano ub;ob THAR narnntS aya unahla Tn nav
for them, may be paid out of the Rates. 1t is
further provided that every pauper child thus
sent to school at the command or expense of
the School Board shall, nevertheless, be allow
ed to attend Just such school as its own parent
may select. If, therefore, the parent has a pre-.
ference for the Secular system, the universal
conscience clause" will enable him,
wherever he may go, to obtain what he desires.
If, however, his fancy inClines either to the
Established Church or to any particular form
of Nonconformity, he is still at liberty to exer-
else his choice, provided only that the neces-
sary schools exists in his neighbourhood, and
the twopence per week paid for his child Will
be handed over to those managers who can
best supply bis wants. This is the well-known
25th Clause, about which the whole uproar of
the B birmingham League has been raised. The
grounds on which objection has been made to
it are not at first sight very obvious. The
blot, however, though very minute, has been
discovered and pointed out, and the d scoverers
are so in love with their cleveTness that
they are quite determined the matter shall
not be allowed to rest. Clause IS has been
condemned as sanctioning o possible applIca-
ton of d ratepayer'S money to the support OF
religious teaching which the ratepayer may
not approve. The principle complained OF IS,
it NAV be remarked, recognized on a large
scale by tao yearly grants still made, without
diSpuise, to all sorts Of denominational schools
SO long as they earn them by giving proper
instruction in the secular subjects they under
take while the whole amount called in ques-
ton is ridiculously small, and the services rem
dered bv the school which may receive it cost
much more than the sum paid for them. Itisobvi-
aus. too, that the right Of choice accorded to
the narent, and exercised without question by
ali his richer neighbours, would tend in some
deoree 70 sweeten the bitter draughr of compul-
sion. and might so render him less unwilling to
oo-onerate heartily with the local school autho-
rifles. It was condemned, however, by Mr..
DIXON when it was first introduced, and that,
it seems, ought to decide its fate. He and his
friends are determined, if they can, to make the
abolition of the clause to which they have OBJ
iected the point by which a Liberal Ministry is
to stand or fall. OF course it is in vain to ex-
peot that he and his turbulent friends should