7”,tlRF!' 6 "7 Igf . I4IIIMMINVt•7S.!?, 1• .0.8114. - -1•0 -__--,_*- • r tLationali alt I /654. gr0ev,471.4 d0z00r...49-40 `~ ~_ Orr. Our thug, Confititution, an Eabui. di. • A. .. No. 1,297.—V0r... XIV.] EDUCATION BILL. It is generally understood to be Mr. Botinham's intention immediately to proceed with his Bill.for the Education of the Poor. The Protestant Dis senters feel very warmly interested in favour of the professed übject of this measure, yet view the means y wok+ it is to be accomplished with corosiderable alarm : they esa persuaded, on calm and deliberate refiectioo, that the proposed plan is essentially de fective, and if adopted will retard rather than acce lerate the progress of education ; that it will be highly injurious to the interests of religious free dom ; and, in its practical operation, prove to thousands of oar fellow countrymen a source of bitter It is the intention of these observations to show that the prop seed enactment is greatly defective in these important tiniturr•:— Pirst—h has not sufficient regard to the advan tages which result from the co-openttion of the public, or to the habits of those classes whom the measure is intendisl to benefit, while it cannot fail materially to injure the schools for the education of the poor which are already in existence, and have been productive of such important benefits to the country at large. Secondly—The Bill proposes means for the good government of the schools, inadequate to the end, and places great additional power in the bands of the clergy and dignitaries of the church, while it provides no adequate check on its abuse. "And be it further enacted, by the authority aforesaid, that the ordinary of any diocese wherein any school to be provided under this act. either on complaint or on application, shall be situated, may, from time to time, as he shall sec tit, visit such school either by himself in person, or by directing the archdeacon of such diocese to visit the said school, and may visit the said school within any deanery in the s,id diocese, by directing the dean of such deanery to visit the same: which atchtleacon, chancellor, and dean, are hereby empowered and required, when so directed by such ordinary, to hold such visitation at the time or times by him specified; and the ordinary so visiting in person, or the arch deacon, chancellor, or dean, so directed by him to visit, shall have the power and authority to examine all matters touching the said school, and the conduct of the master thereof, and to rebuke and admonish him according to his discretion ; and if he see cause, to remove him from his office of master. MR. " And be it further enacted, that the rector, vicar, perpetual curate, curate, or other minister of any parish or chapelry, whether residing and dß elating or not, may at all times freely enter any school provided under this act, either on complaint or an application, within the same, or fur the use of the same jointly with any other parish or chapelry, and may examine the scholars attending the same, touching their proficiency ; and may question the master touching his government of the school, and touching the proficiency of the children; and such rector, vicar, perpetual curate, curate, or other mi nister, shall answer any inquiries directed to hin. touching the said school, by, or by order of the or dinary of the diocese wherein such parish or ehapelry is situated. " And be it further enacted, that from and after the passing of this act, all bishops anal archbishops who are required by an act made in the tiirty-third year of his lute Majesty, entitled an act to amend the laws relating to spiritual persons holding of farms, and fur eofi►rcing the resii:ence of spiritual persons on their benefices in Englund ;' and by another act made in the fifty-seventh year of his late Majesty, entitled an act to consolidate and amend the laws relating to spiritual persons holding of tin ins, and for enforcing the residence of spiritual persons on their benefices t and fur the support w►d maintenance of stipend.ary curates in Englund;' to make returns every year of matters connected with the residence of .he clergy under their care ;' shall, in audition to well returns, and in the body of the tame, tnrther male a return yearly, specifying the names of all schoolmasters in wily way appointed under this act, within their care, together with the number ofscholars taught by each, and the anitymit of the sale of and average yearly emoluments received by each such master; and shall add thereuntu such remark. touching the said school and the eilu.inion of youth generally, as may be from time to time MONDAY, FEBRUAIt Y 5, 1821 communiisted by the ministers within who s ie pa rishes or chapelries such schools are situated." Thirdly—ls not the measure founded on princi ciPleir calculated to aggrieve and oppress a large proportion of the community ? The following are the words of the act relative to the instruction be omuntunimited to the children in these schools:— " And be it further enacted, that in every school to be provided under this act, the master thereof shall diligently teach the Holy Scriptures in the version authorised and appointed by law to he used in churches, to such scholars as be of age to learn the same, and shall use select passages thereof fir lessons, whereby to teach reading and writing, and shall teach nu other buok or religion, nor from any other book or religion whatever (except as herein after excepted), without consent of the resident offi ciating minister of the parish or chapelry, where such school is held, first had and obtained : and shall use no form of prayer or worship in the said school, except the Lord's Prayer, or other select passages of the Holy Scriptures, in the version aforesaid : pro vided always, that it shall and may be lawful for the said resident officiating minister to direct, from time to time, what portion of Scripture shall be used, either for lessons or for worship in the said school, which direction the said master is hereby directed to follow. e Provided nevertheless, and it is hereby further enacted, that in each school to be provided under this act, the catechism of the Church of England as by law established, together with such portions of the Liturgy thereof as the resident officiating mi nister of the parish or chapelry where such school is situated may appoint, shall be taught during the half of the school hours of one day in the week, to be fixed by the said minister when he fixes the hours of teaching, as herein before directed ; and the said minister is hereby further empowered, if he sees occasion, to order the said master to teach the ' catechism and portions of the Liturgy, aforesaid, on the evenings of the Lord's Day, during a time nut exceeding three hours. Provided always, and it is hereby expressly ordered and commanded, that if any parent or guardian, or other person having the mire of any scholar attending such school, shall notify to the master thereof that he or she desires such scholars may nut attend on the days and at the hours when such catechism or portions of liturgy are taught as ufi)resaid, such scholar shall not in any manner or way be obliged to attend at such days and hours, nor punished, rebuked, or otherwise chastised or molested for nut attending. " And be it further enazted, that the scholars of every school to be provided under this act shall attend the divine service of the Church of England as by law established, under the care :, n it in the charge of the master thereof, once every Lord's day, i a the church or chapel of the parish or chapelry wherein such school is situated, or in some other parish or chapelry joined with the same, in the complaint to the justices at the Qoarier Sessions, anal their order thereupon, unless he be -stisfied that they do attend such worship under the care of their parents, guardians, or other persons having the charge or care of theta : provided nevertheless, unit it is hereby expressly ordered and co.,.nianded, that if any parent, guardian, or other person having charge or care of any scholar, shall notify to the said master that he or she desires such scho!ar nut to attend ttie worship of the Church of England as by law established, but will take care that the said sct.olar attends some other place at' Christian wor ship ; such scholar Shall in nowise be obligrti to attend the public worship of the Church of Engtand established as albresiliti ; with the said master, nor be punished, rebuked, admonished, or in any manner molested for not attending the same." 'l'he prov.sions in the cluus:s affecting to protect the interests of the Dissenters are very specious, but the practical effect of the whole plan wok be most milicloc% oda. The reader's attention is now to that part of the Bill by winch it is enacted, in the followlng temis, (ILA the Fe:ioulmaster inuf:t be a iikinoer of toe Chtfrefi of Englund : " Provided further, and it is hereby enacted, that the rector, vicar, or per i ietual curate res:din g , ur the curate tit other resitkiit otlicirting intnutf.r, Paws 9e. shall have the power to call before him the person chosen and reported to him by the senior church or chapel warden as afilresaid, and to examine him touching his fitness for the . place of schoul-master, and shall net approve of him fix such master, unle4i he be satisfied that he is a member of the Church of P:ngland as by law established: provided also, that that it. shall and may be lawful fur the meeting of householders assembled as aforesaid, to choose, and for the resident officiating minister to approve as schoolmaster under this act, the clerk of the parish or chapelry within which the school is situated, for which a master is wanted, or the parish or chapel or clerk of any of the other parishes or chapels with which such school is joined, under the provision of this act." Against the principle involved in this clause every dissenter from the church establishment has right most solemnly to protest. The dissenters therefore earnestly object to, and protest against, the I. Beellll4e they ire convinced that, by discsnrsging site exertions of the public—by impeding the pruLress of every pion fur prom/Bog education instv its at live ope ration—by neglecting to call lorsli the energies ol the pour—sod by olliittlag the use of Ilium- menus attic° ale absolutely necessary to ensure the Stott 1601011 of the most indigent s lasses—this hill will not only fail to eralige the hopes it holds forth, hut will retattl the very object for which it is rustled. 2. Because, lay imposing a tax for the support of the schools to be estasslished, it will prove practically op pressive to those who desire to "Pre mole universal in struction, as they must maintain wiser schools Isis (leads ell %lions 11111, bill will slut brit. hi; , ts.—• Is rge pi opus lion of the most indigent of Ilse population—this who eats receive . educates/if try means ut Sunday schools only, and onsets also nosy be driven limo the " esialtlisnetl" schools by istisnianagement and app • ion. i. Ilecause„ while it einsoints the proposed schools to the sole nieuagemeut of the clergy sad dignitaries of she Eataldtalled clinic+ to the entire excliimon of she politic at large, it provides no adespiste check ma she undue exercise of the poser thus grained; whirls power expe rience justifies the &water in apprehending will be a dossers*. insitioneol, liable 10 mural abuse, and ral •ealleted to raise guesser obstacles to the general cud than the advaulages which it can possibly afford sill counter. Italatice. 4. 'incense it will prove injurious to the interests of religious liberty, by adding to the uusuler of those civil disabilities undrl a limb dissenters from the church tsia tali 11 at present Labour i flirt clay seem:oiling and legislating spoil a pi iiaciple which is ter hams of all red. gloss persecution, anti winch CIII istiauity and eatisairsed pulley 515110 tu condemn. 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