Lancaster Standard and County Advertiser. — 1902-05-09 (Lancaster, Lancashire, England)

LANCASTER GIRL'S SUICIDE.  ALLEGATIONS AGAINST A LOCAL PREACHER.  CONGREGATIOI:ALISTS AND THE EDUCATION BILL.  LANCASTER MINISTER'S VIEW.  A FIGHTING SPEECH.  A special mecting of thc Lancashire Congregational Union was held on Tuesday in the Roby Chapel, Manchester, tor the purpo.e oi considering the Education Bill. There was a good attendance. The President of the Union (the Rev. It. W. Sni,th, it Lanca,ter) was in the chair.  The President said the On urnstames in which they nset were unique, since it Wal the only occasion in the history of the Union when they had met for a second time in the swine par. The only explanation was the gravity of the eituatiou created by the Government Education Bill. The Htecutive left that no remlut.ons passed by theni, however strong, would tuiet the necessities of the case or do full justice to the indignation with which Congregationalists in common with all Free Churchmen regarded thm outrage on their principles, this travesty of public justice. When he addressed then before, as chairman of the Union, they anticipated a reactionary Bill from the Government—in fact, they were getting quite tam-liar with reactionaiy movements—thear, hear),—but none of them ventured to anticipate anything so disastrously baii as this Education Hill, which went right in the face of all the principles for which they stood as Free Chur 'linen. It raised the whole question of religions liberty, for which their fathers suffered and died, violated the great eonstitutmual law of citizenship that public control should go with public, money, and placed the solemn trust of education in the pr.ostlyUsing and reactionary hands of priests instead of ion the safe and progressive hands of the people. But for one blessing in OilelliSe bhey had to thank the Government. They had united the Nonconformist, of this country as they had not been united for many a long day—)applause). Differences on the war and on Home Rule were forgotten in the presence of their common danger. In this city, honoured by its noble monument of England', great Protector, they were there to ray that the spirit of (Three Cromwell lived in then and in all the Free Churches, and the Government would find a resolute, unyielding Free Church opposition, representing more than half the ' nation, was a force to be reckoned with. Then would be no compromise this time, as in 1870, and they would not ceaise the fight until they had delivered national education once fir all tram the lettere of the priest.. It was said that the education question was degener. ating into a strife between Church and Chapel, and that the interests of the children were being lost in the pitiable squabble of sectalianism, and theie was a good deal of truth in what Was said; he would rescue the child . from the arina of conflict. But who was, respalisade? Surely it did not rest with those who objected to sectariant education (hear, heal). From the first the introduction of the undenominational element into the day-school life of England had blocked the way to a comprehensive system of national education. Alike in the interests of education and of religions equality, education must be rescued from the hands of the clerics and in all its gradations nationalised into a broad, comprehensive system for every child and teacher irrespective of denominational standing. They were not oppoeed to more money going to the children,— (hem, hear). They believed that money spent for education was the money best iment in the country—thear, hear). They were willing to put the whole cost upon the public (undo and to pay their fair share of it, providing that it gave efficiency of education, that absolute control went with public money, that 11D sectarian teaching was given in .sehaol, trupported by put-lie funds. and that no teacher was debarred from following the profession of ten-her on account of his religions convietions—tlear, hear). The principle on which the Bill was based was radically bad. The whole nation was to be taxed to maintain sectarian schools that were to be managed in the exclusive interests of pacts—(hem, hear). The education of children was too vital a matter to be trusted to sectarian zeal, however devoted and sincere, and the more devoted it woe the les safely was it to be Dusted. The manager, of the ie-hools would hold the key to the iftua: tion, since they held the appointment of teachers. All the people had to do Was to find the money for teaching what half of them believed to be a pernicious error and dangerous superstition. He could not believe thatwith such a history 'aro they had behind them the Free Churchmen of this country would be so recreant to their principles so to submit to what the Bill provideil--(hear, hear).  TNE EDECATION A rTHORITT.  The Rev. T. Hooper moved the following resolution This meeting of the Lance, shire Congregational Union in of opinion, for the following among other reasons, that the (toverunient Education Bill ie a reactionary and dangerous proposal which threatens to retard educational progress mind to provoke long and bitter strife. because, by the substitution of a nominated committee for each directly tepresentative bodies as the school boards the Government Education Bin deliver, a deliberate blow at the principle of direct 1 public control over public affair, rad in ea ! dcinz moot seriously thriatens the continu, once and progress of that educational efficien-y which for thirty years has been vigor' nasty promoted. by impularly elected bodies representative of the people soil ressminsible to the besrt educational opinion." He said that a great step forward was made by the Act of 1870. and he did nrt believe there was anyon, theie who could at all remember what transpired then who ever dreamed we should, go -bark no the legislatien of 1870. But we were going harsh, and they stele present not only to say "Halt!" but to .say they we re determined to go further foresee! than in 1870—these, hear). 'Flsis attack had been long and carefully and deliherately planned. For the last two cc three year- a il,tinct NMI deliberate stlyiniit to undo the work of the school board, had been fostered, and !sow the emit wan PPM). Mort had kept salivation back was that it hail not beets in the heesvls of the people Ind in the hand, of intere.ted. partimi--the rnrieal party alla .nl,-. members of the middle classes. School boar& had impinved education, and therefore t hey were hated by -the clerics and middle classes. Th., war net on educate cot but a denominational schcols Bill. The present was& war and not a tattle, and he feared the first battle would go against ihem, but he hoped they would not end the war until the i eclesiastie had bee n driven train the school--vapplause/. Mr. Gerard N. Ford se, ailed the iesnlation, and it was passed.  Hy the foreman: He had never publicly kept company with the girl, andi he had not been courting her.