Newfoundland Schools.
The Times, 1824-07-14T00:00:00

x est0rcay the first annual weeting of the friensa and supporters of education of youth in, the colony of Newfoundland, by the establish. ment nf schools there, was held at the London Coffee.house, on.Lud. adte-hill; Sir 'H. I2e'GLIS, Bart., in the chair. themeet-ngconsisted ofrbout-20 or 30 ladies, and Some halB a dozen gentlemen, besides the committee. Thoe CHArtArm , after apologizing for his incomlpetency, directid the Secretar to read the report, which began by congratulating the Society onatct sup ort which it derived from variots quarters. It then went-into a nistory of the state of the colony since its disco. very by Cabot, In the reigp of iHenry VII. It then showed that theYe vere aboutit-sxteen schools bn the island, or about one toi 1,800 souls.- It was to remedy this great defect that this Society -had been established. The whole amount of-the funds of the~ Society during- the last year; in-luding the Gavernment grant of 5tOl.,/as li7001., and the expenditure was 1,1001., leaving an hadequate dtplus. Gtovernment had also grpnted land to the Society fot building schools, and also free passages in ships of war, or traaspotrt, to SchoolmastersandSchoolm'istresses. Besides tbis, Goverenment had given 6001. towards a new school, and 1001. per annum topay a Schoolmaster. W. H. ltRAT, Esq., moved a resolution that this wasoneof the most lmportantof our colonies. It was, he said, peculiarly fitted for raising a hardy and enterprising set of men for oar navy, Its population was about 70,000, and the s3ips employed in itatrade were more than 1,00D. These considerations would show the value to be derived by extending the blessings of education to that colony. W. lit. JENNEY,-Esq, in seconding the nmotion, directed their attention to the importance of giving children such religious and mo- ral education as would make them good sabjects to the State, and worthynmembers of our religious community. The resolution was carried unanimoufsly. The Rev. H. BUDD moved the second resolution. This was the oldest of our colonies, and whilNe it had mainly contributed to our own national and maritime superiority, yet had it derived but little advantage from the mother country. The lives of the Newfound- ladmen were of an amphibious character, about six mnonths being spent at sea, and the other on land; and to that they might have at- tributed, until now, the slow Progress of education and moral irf.. provementin the colony, It was a happy thing, however, that the Government of the Island had been taken out of the hands of naval administration, and given to a Civil Government and Coincil. The Society's schools were opened, as far as possible, on Dr. Bell's sys. tem; but where most of the children were those of Irish Catholics, it would have been must absurd to have taught the Churc' of England Catechism. Twice a. week, however, the Catechism was taught to thie children of Cl3urch of Eng. land pUarents, if required. He was sure that true Christian be- nevolence would never cease to do good to nankind as long as there was any to be done. 'llhe whole soil of humanity had surely not yet been irrigated by the streams of the living waters of instruction. It could not be fairly considered as intrusive in that Socirty to enter, with others,. into the wide field of universal charity and benevolence towards all mankind. This it was that gave England so much in. fluence and so vast a superioritv over the nations of the earth. It was thus that she dispensed to every quarter of the globe the bless. ings which Heaven had so lavishly bestowed on herself. L JOHNe BLACKET, Esq., seconded the resolution.-As England was making the greatest exertions to extend( the blessings of truth and knowledge to all parts of the world, surely Newroundla,.d ought not to be left out or forgotten.-Carriedi unanimouslv. Tile Rev. JOHN WEST moved the third resolution, that, owing to the dlefect in thc number of schools in Newfoundland, means should betaken to extend religious and moral instruction in that colony. lr. S. WEST (one ofthe respectable Societv of Friends) second- ed the motion, because it contributed to extend the great system of moral and religious improvement, which tended to man's happiness both here and hereafter. ,C. RoBINsoN, Esq., moved the next resolution. He had been himselfsome time in Newfoundland,and could speak to the absolute necesslty of doingthosethings for that colony whichwere the objects of this Society. It was strange that thestate ofthis valuable and hi- therto much neglected col ^yhad been, until lately, almost unknowvn in this cotuntry; butnow Government wvasengaged in conferring ample |benefitsonit,andthese would run hand in hand withtheobiectsof this society. Hehad not thought that there were8omany assl6schools in the islan(d;butthisheknew. that they werenotbecalled schools; they were more places for the assemblage of children to receive the elements of education, but no religious or moral instruction was given to them. The exertions of the Society, too, he honed would bring about a re- concilintion with the inhabitants (the aborigines) of the island, and teach them the tTuths of the Gospel. - Codiner, Esq., the founder of the Society, seconded the reso- lution, and detailed the attention and kindness of Government to- wards the Society. PERCIVAL WHITE, Esq., in moving the 5th resolution, conld never think that they had'too many mnoral and religious societies in this country. Several other resolutions were put, and unanimously agreed to and, thankshavingbeen voted totheChairman, the meeting separated. We regret extremely the thin attendance on a meeting whose obh jects are so highly imp rtant. ELWPBpUAtbtAzSVD SCROOL&..