RE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS AND "INTERESTED."

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1883, 17 October 1913, Page 5

RE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS AND "INTERESTED."

Sir, —In answer to your correspondent "Interested," as an old Birmingham resident, and one who took an active interest from an Anglican churchman's point of view, in the'first and several later Education Board contests, I would like to give a short history of those earlier contests, and so correct what appears to me a somewhat erroneous statement of fact.

Now, in the first place, after ,the passing of the Education Act, which I think tho late Mr. Geo. Dixon fathered, the Liberal Association of Birmingham decided to run fifteen candidates for tho board; in fact, endeavoured to swamp tho board. The Church, v or Bible-in-schools people, contested the position with eiglit only, the Eoman Catholics one only. Result, liorrian Catholic heads the poll, with the Bible-in-schools eight, and six of the Liberals being elected.- Among the' latter were Mr. Jos. Chamberlain, .Mr. ,; Geo. , Dixon, M.P.'s, Revs. Mr. Dale, Chas. Vince, and a lady, who, I thinkj was. a Miss Sturge, who represented the Society of Frifinds, or, if not Miss Sturge, another Quaker lady, and Miss Sturge was elected at a later period. Thus we get what was the constitution of the Education Board in its first period of its existence, viz., three years. Now, as the polioy of the majority of the board was one of satisfaction with things as they were, nothing of a progressive natsre was attempted during their term. In the following olcction, however, a. change in the personnel and policy of the board was effected, for the Liberal Association, profiting by experience,' placed eight candidates only in the field, with the result that they were returned at the head of tho poll, with the Roman Catholic candidate and six only of the Bible eight following. Now, the policy of the board being one of progression; acting under the powers of tho Education Act, at once began erecting schools that would bo governed by the Education Board; and as part of their policy was no Bible in the schools, this was rigidly carried out, for neither prayer or Scripture was allowed until some years later; but that is anothor story altogether,. which, if your correspondent desires to know, I will be pleased to give him.

But what I want to point out is that the late Mr. Geo. Dixon, nor any lady of the name given, were ever connected with any committeo or party who went under the name of tho Bible Eight, nor do I think any lady of the name given over occupied any position on the board. Miss Sturge, and also a Miss Kenrick, both occupied positions as members, but as colleagues at different periods with Mr. Geo. Dixon, and as such were utterly opposed to the Bible in schools. In conclusion, I would like to point out, in fairness to Mr. Grundy, during the time he was teaching in Birmingham, no board school had either Bible reading or prayer, though, later, tho board were coerced into permitting a very moderate portion of tho Scripture being read and the Lord's Prayer being repeated, but no lessons; but, as I have said, the latter is another story altogether.—l am, etc., J.S.H.