The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-12-14
The Outcome of the London School
Board Election.

Although the facts relating to the recent
holly contested election of member of the
London School Board, are plain enough,
there seems to be considerable doubt con-
corning the course to which they ought to
point. Not even the leading newspaper
supporters of the Moderates, who were
nominally victorious, are agreed as to the
Interpretation which the new Board should
give to the popular verdict.
TIL facts were these the Progressives,
who wish the religious teaching given in
the national schools to be so vague and I'M
UNCONVENTIONAL that even Unitarians can
not object to it, polled 81 ,632 votes, against
67l ,734 cast by the Moderates, who insist
that the religious teaching shall inculcate
ut least what Anglicans and Catholics con
slider the essential truths of Christianity.
1t Is clear, from the figures quoted, that the
Progressives gained a moral victory, having
thrown nearly 100, 900 more votes than their
opponents; bu. owing to their failure to dis
tribute their strength c~leverly with refer
ence to the system Of cumulative voting,
which obtains at Board elections, they re-
turned fewer member by three; and con-
sequently for three years to come the Mod
erdtes will retain q majority in the School
Board, though it is diminished and deprived
Of moral weight.
Under these circumstances how will the
Moderates use their preponderancei Very
different advice is offered to them by the
Guardian or the one hand and the Spectd-
tor on the other, although both of these
journals sturdily upheld their cause during
the late appeal to the electors. The
Guardian reminds the successful Mod
crate candidates that they owe their
return mainly to the Anglican advocates of
elm Christian teaching. Their business
is, therefore, SO it contends, to reflect
the former Chairman of the Board, Mr.. DIG
GLE, and to adhere firmly to such an inter
probation of the compromise of 1871 as will
assure the incubation of the essential! truths
Of Christianity in the schools. Should the
Progressive minority move TO rescind the
famou circular ~embodying that interpreta-
ton, the Moderates, according to the Guar
dian, should vote the motion down.
Precisely opposite counsel is rendered by
the Spectator, which before the election earn
estly sided with those holding that, SO far at
all events as the older children were con-
cerned, the school teaching should include
some attempt to explain clearly what the
latest of the four Gospels and the letters of
the Apostles to the various Churches are be-
lieved by Anglicans and Catholics to
tell us concerning the nature of COP
and CHRIST n the meaning of re-
demption. Now, however, the Spectator
regards the result OF the election as
proving that u I teaching is not sanctioned
by a large majority Of the parents of school
children. 1t comedies that parents have the
right to decide in what kind OF religion they
desire their children TO be brought up, and
that for the present they have given their
verdict in favor OF the vague undenomina-
tionalism which has remained In almost I'M
challenged ogu during the twenty years
succeeding 1871. 1t accordingly advises
the Moderates to make no partisan use of
their nominal majority, TO replace Mr..
by an impartial Chairman chosen
from the outside, and, in a word, to drop the
theological controversy.
1t remains to be seen which OF these two
counsellors will be needed by the new School
Board, in which, as we rave seen, the Mod
crates will have a small majority.