Smyrna times., 1893-12-06
EDUCATION In ENGLAND,
THE ANGLICAN AND CATHOLIC
CHURCHES,

Most Americans will hear with sur.
prise that in England the school ouest.
ION Is even more of burning topic OF
discussion than it has recently become
IN TINS country. As would naturally
be expected, the Roman Catholics are
almost solidly opposed to the element.
airy education system which was estab.
llshed under the Forster act of 1870
Their attitude toward the National
Schools, however, would not of itself
amount to much, as they are relatively
small IN numbers. But the Anglican
establishment in cooperating with
them IN opposing the National schools
and for exactly the same reason. name.
ly, that they are goddess. An addit-
lonal reason for its opposition is found
Ia the fact that the Anglican Church
has a parOchial school system of its
own, in which, of course, religious in
stFuctlOn Is given; and it regards the
establishment of National or BOARD
schools as an Infringement of it's pre-.
scrlptlVe right to control the education
OF the nation. For this reason the An
gllcan clergy do everything in their
power to prevent the establishment of
Board Schools under the Forster act.
ana when in spite of their opposition
such schools are established they exert
all their influence to retard their
work. 1t is striking illustration of
the Taet that religion as we'll as politics
sometimes makes strange bedfellows
The English Church which is regarded
at least officially, as the bulwark of
Protestantism, takes an attitude on the
question OF education that is sunnosed
IN THIS country TO be distinctly Roman
Catholic. Even American Episcopal.
lans have established a parochial school
system OF their own, and at every Gen.
eral convention the Importance of de.
veloplng It is urged upon the Church
Ohaer the present English educa-
tional laws both the National and H.
Cnurch schools receive annual appro-
prlatlons from the national excheGuer
amounting to six-tenenths of the cost
OF maintaining them. In the case of
the National schools the deficiency is
met by local tax, and in the case of
the Church schools it is met bv private
subscriptions. This would seem IN no
falr arrangement, especially as the
Church is allowed almost complete CON
troll OF Its schools, in spite of the large
grant made to them from the public
money. But it does not seem SO to
Churchmen. A number of bisboDs and
clergymen are urgently demanding
that the Church schools shall be whoII1
supported by imperial and local tax
alton, and at the same time that oil
Government control shall be with.
drawn from them. They alao demand
That religious instructions shall be per-
mltted IN all National schools. 1t pro
Vlded that any five parents could com
pei National school to allow clergy.
man to give religious instructions to
their children during school hour
1t is true there is no possibility of
such bill ever passing the House of
Commons, but the fact that it is desired
by the Establishment is doing much to
strengthen the movement for disestab.
lIshment. 1t puts the Church in the
attitude of standing on the same plat.
form with the Roman Catholics. and
no matter how meritorious their con-
tention might be in theory, that fact
alone will array against the Establish
ment, not only the whole body of Dis
senters, but large number of Church. |
men who believe that no religious or.
ganlzation ought to have the Slightest
control &C over education.-New York |
Tribune.