Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-29
Special csblegrsp to The Ser.

LONDON, December 2S.-There Is re-
newed church activity since the announce
ment that parliament would assemble
January 20. This is the earliest date for
five years and Is taken to mean that the
most important work is intended to be
well In hand by Easter. which falls I'M
usually late next year. 1t is figured now
that there will be at least fifty-six work.
ing days available for public and private
business before the recess, assuming that
the House OF Commons rises April Is, or
four days before Easter.
Two matters of the utmost Importance
to the religious world or more espe-
cialiy the English portion of it, probably
will be fought to finish at this session.
These arg the education and disestab-
lfShnshtSiIls. On the fprmer the great
est battle with come. From end to end
Great BritSgShas been rent by dissenting
opinions sincA the last parliament shelved
the education \bill, which was manifestly
unfair. 10 mAter from what standpoint
il was Viewed
The Frse-church Council leaders are
jusf as insistent as ever that the meas
uret for the control of the schools be
drawn to suit them. but the Church of
England will meyer allow such a bill to
go Though. The act of 1909 is working
well - far it goes. but the political
nonconformists are dissatisfied and when
they carried their feeling to the polls
at the recent election II was only to be
beaten in4numerous Instances There can
be no doubt that the education question
played very prominent part in the cleo
lions all through England. In fact, 1t was
where this matter was to the fore that
the contest was. most severe. The lib
erals ware uniform losers on this issue.
Holding IN the last parliament large
majority they were unable to hold public
fr,a rt cduN ar st q
The statement is made on what looks
like good authority that the next educa-
ton bill will consist of four clauses and
embody but two alternatives to the mana
gers of the UNCONVENTIONAL, schools. There
will be provision first that the schools
may be carried on and the buildings MAIN
tanned at the public expense. the mana
gers retaining full control of the build
ings out of school hours on condition that
all religious teaching be given only out
side the regular hours and that Cowper-
Templeism be the only religion In school
hours. Secondly, 1t is provided that the
managers may contract to take the
schools from the local authorities and do
with them as they please. but receiving
no aid from the government, although
having an increased grant from the board
OF education. They will then be left 10
carry on their own religious instruction
unimpeded-
The drawback to this bill is that no pro-
posal Is made to meet the cases of the
churcn CnllOren attending cOuIlcii SCnOOls
and no remedy is offered tor the griev-
ances OF churchmen who are now forced
10 pay taxes to keep up system of which
they disapprove. The whole trouble. so
far as the established church is con-
cerned, seems to be that there is strong
feeling against the church being made to
WELD something on which II has expended
thousands of dollars. For instance. there
is st. Marks Church. at Hamilton ter
race that has spent $4,000 on its schools
the government passes a bill making a
grab OF all this.
The Bishop OF Southwell. speaking to
the half-yearly meeting of the diocesan
council. declared that the church found
the secondary schools already attacked
by regulations, but what was more dan
gerous, because 1t struck a more ad-
Vanced class. was the attack upon the
training colleges. He felt that this would
soon result in secular training colleges,
and then there would be teachers coming
to the schools who had no religious train
ing He urged the clergy to arouse the
parents in all classes of society and in
terest them In the subject until they de-
manded the religious instruction to which
they had the right.
This same thought was echoed at an
other meeting by Lord Rosebery, who
made vigorous condemnation of the
practice OF sending skeptical teachers into
the elementary schools. Even though
these instructors had no opportunity in
school hours toget III Woru OF rehslous
teaching. he declared their very presence
was Injurious. He described "skepticism
as applied to the tender years OF child
hood, boyhood. girlhood," as corrosive
acid eating deep into the foundations of
character" He promised to lend his ard
to secure definite religious teaching in all
the schools OF the country.
Lord Londonderry at another meeting
tried to inspirit the northern provinces in
repelling the attacks upon the church and
church schools and exposing the misrepre-
sensations upon which these attacks are
based. He emphasized the fact that the
instigators Of the attacks had in view
only the disestablishment and disendow-
ment of the church.
He touched then upon the second mat
ter which is likely to be laid before par
lament and be made the subject OF dis
cussion coincident with the education bill.
This is the proposition for disestablish-
ment At first II will be attempted only