THE EDUCATION BILL.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 993, 31 August 1877, Page 2

THE EDUCATION BILL.

Meeting oe Roman Catholics. A meeting of the Roman Catholics of Christchurch aud its vicinity was held at the Gaiety Theatre last evening, to protest against the Education Bill now before the House of Representatives. Despite the inclemency of the weather there was a very good attendance, the room being well filled. Mr Corr moved that Mr Louhnan, sen., take the chair. Mr Barrett seconded the motion.

The Chairman said that he would not detain them long by making a speech to them. He begged to apologise for the meeting having been kept waiting, but he had a long way to walk, and the weather was far from pleasant. He considered it an absurdity on the part of the State in usurping the powers of the Church and endeavoring to educate the people. They Had met there that evening to protest against the absurd and tyrannical system which t He Government were attempting to force upon the Cat holies of the colony. [Cheers.] They proposed to educate the people, but it. was a system which had no education in it at all. They wished to show to the public that this meeting had been got up by the laity, and that they had acted in the matter as free men, without being in any way under the domination of their priests. They were there that evening to protest as men against a tyrannical usurpation by the Government of the rights of the Church. [Cheers.] They all knew that the “ Tablet,’ 1 a weekly newspaper, had been established to enable the laity to brings forward their grievance's, and to place their opinions fully and freely before the world. This was what the

paper intended to do all the while that it went on the broad basis of Catholicity and the spread of the true faith. In the “Tablet ” of the 10th of August was an article on the Bill which he would read to them. [Read.] As to the Lord’s Prayer, which was to be recited in schools under the Act, the Protestant Lord’s Prayer was a very different thing to what it really was. Words were added to it which were never used by the Saviour, and their children were to be compelled to use that prayer and to read the Holy Scriptures. If they were to use a version authorised by the Catholic Church then there would be no objection to it. If the schoolmasters could read the unmutilated version of the Scriptures then the Catholics would have no cause of complaint. But the Government knew, at least those of them who were Christians, that no“ Scriptures could be considered to be authorised which were construed by private persons. Now the Protestant version of the Scriptures had been authorised by a Royal personage, who had usurped the spiritual as well as the temporal power of tne realm. Well, this royal personage was considered to be the most learned fool at that time living. All critics were of opinion that this version was a wrong one, aud there was but little doubt, and he asserted it boldly, that these alterations had been made purposely to spread false doctrine. [Cheers.] Besides this there was a new version being prepared which would shortly be completed, and yet they were asked now their children should read the present version and have it read to them. The same royal authority usurping the spiritual power had struck out of the Scriptures several books which they were pleased to call apocryphal. [Cheers.] The teachers were, under the Ordinance, allowed to select portions of Scriptures wherever they liked and the result would be that they would select (as the teachers were all to be Protestants) such portions as would inculcate the doctrines of Protestantism. He desired to bring the journal from which he had quoted under the notice of the governors of the Public Library, where it had been denied admission on the ground that it was a religious journal. The paper was not a religious paper in the sense it was meant any more than the “ Lyttelton Times.” Like the “ Lyttelton Times,” it touched on all subjects, and was, perhaps, the only paper which spoke the truth. But the governors of the Public Library had declined to allow that paper a place in the library. It had been said that they were under the domination of the priests, but this was mere nonsense and calumny. This journal was for the purpose of enabling the Catholic laity to speak out their minds, which they did. |_Cheers.] The Act provided that unless the parent of any -liild had an exemption certificate he should be compelled to send his child to the Government school. That was, he should be obliged to send his child to a Protestant school to mis with Protestants and to be examined by a Board. Then there was a provision by which a parent not holding a certificate of exemption not sending his children to the Government school could be fined 40s per week for six months. Why, Bismarck, the Mephistopheles of the Christian world at the present moment—the most autocratic Government—woidd never dare to do such a thing as this. [Cheers.] Who were to grant the certificates of exemption ? Why the schoolmaster or member of committee who would, of course, not grant certificates of exemption when the children were being educated at the Catholic schools. [Cheers.] The article he was quoting from concluded by saying that either Catholics would have to go beyond the radius of three miles from Government schools, or to flee from the colony as an accursed spot, blasted by the tyranny of an overbearing Government. [Loud cheers.] It was allowed on all hands that DrLingard’s history was the most impartial ever written of the history of our country. He told of the manner in which Catholics had their religion undermined, Jby preventing them from educating their children. If their children were sent out to a foreign land to get their education they lost their inheritance. [Cheers.] In Elizabeth’s time it was well known that no priest dared to celebrate the sacred offices of religion according to their faith. This was precisely what they were doing here. They were attempting to prevent the Catholics in the colony from educating their children according to their consciences and in the way they were taught. The Hindoo was a specimen of what was the result of this Godless system. They became clever, it was true; but were fiends in disguise, infidel in their hearts, and one of these days the education they had been getting would teach them to continue to get together and drive the British from India. The Mahommedans protested against an education without religion, and would rather have their religion—such as it was—than education without it. [Cheers.] Thus they had the Empress of India, a Christian ruler, taught her duty as a Christian by the Mahommedans. He desired to warn these would-be legislators in education matters that the laws they were endeavoring to bring in were unjust and against the constitution. No tribunal would uphold them, as the laws were unconstitutional, and even if the Act passed the Legislature the Queen of England and her Viceroy would never affix thejsigu manual to such a tyrranical Act as this. [Cheers.] Mr R. A. Loughnan moved—“ That this meeting, while it objects to the principles of the Education Bill, on account of its advocacy of a compulsory, secular, aud gratuitous system of education —a system tantamount to a despotic invasion of parental rights, —protests in the sacred name of justice, against its exceptional pressure on Catholics, whose convictions force them to support their own schools, and who are taxed to support schools which their judgment and conscience reject.” He was in a somewhat peculiar position, as the chairman had taken away from him much that he intended to say. However, he could supplement to some extent what the chairman had said. First, then, it would be as well to inform them how the funds were to be raised to pay for these schools. The Boards were nine in number, and in clause 41 it was provided what funds went to go to make up the Board funds. As regarded contributions and donations, that did not interest them much, as they were not likely to donate or contribute anything, at least willingly. [Cheers.] But there was a charge on the consolidated fund, to which all contributed, they as well as any other persons. Besides this, there were rents arising from reserves, which were for the benefit: of the public, aud of course in which they as well as anyone else had a right to share. Then again there was the capitation tax, which was levied on the parents of all children within the school age living in the districts, They would therefore understand

that besides the payment of their share of the consolidated fund and the reserves, there was a capitation tax of 10s per head. It might be said that this was less than it had been, but this did not matter. This was only a question of degree ; theirs was an objection on principle to have this forced on them. [Cheers.] The chairman had spoken of the prayer at the opening of the school, and the reading of the Scriptures, but he might also refer them to the fact that history was to be taught. Now they objected to be taught out of the text books which were used in the Government schools,because thathistory accordsing to their notions was wrong. But the residt was this, that if the Government gave them exemptions from history the Catholic children would grow up without getting any history at all. They were paying for it by their contributions to the consolidated revenue, the reserves and the capitation tax, and were entitled to have history. [Cheers.] But what the Government wanted to give them was a purely secular system, with a system of exemption, of which not all could avail themselves. They did not want this. They wanted a system in which secular and religious teaching was mixed. [Cheers.] The Chairman here explained that whilst on the Board of Education he had, in conjunction with other members of the committee appointed to select books, recommended the use of an epitome of Dr Lingard’s History and Nedette’s General History, These works were accepted by the committee, but when ho (Mr Loughnan) retired from the Board he found that neither of these works had been ordered as suggested by the committee. He might also say that he had found at Akaroa a most pernicious book being used, viz., Collier’s History, which he believed had been condemned by the Boai’d itself. Mr R. A. Loughnan resumed. He would trouble them to listen awhile to the compulsory clauses of the Act. It was true they had been put before the public by telegraph, but he did not think many of them had had the opportunity of seeing them in their extended form. [Mr Loughnan here read the clauses referred to.] Who, he would like to ask, referring to the certificates of exemption, could convince the school committee that their children were being instructed elsewhere. It. bad been said that they should rely upon the liberality of their fellow colonists, but it seemed to him that it would be far safer to have a legal enactment. It was provided that any child having reached a standard of education should receive a certificate of exemption ; but if their children did not read out of the books prescribed by the Act how could they be examined on them to see if they had attained the standard ? The fact was that the system was not a system of compulsory education as such, but was a system of compulsion to attend a certain set of schools. If the Legisture made it compulsory on them to attend their own schools it would not be objected to. Indeed, he could not see what reason there was for the introduction of this system at all now. It. was the most tyrannical system ever introduced in any country. [Cheers.] It had been urged that if denominational schools were allowed they w r ould get the whole system of education burst up. But there was in a part of that colony a system in force which was a complete answer to the views of the anti-denominationalists. There was in the County of Westland Ordinance and in the Nelson one a clause under which Catholic children and others could attend their own schools. He w r ould read that clause. [Read.] Under this clause schools had grown up, Catholic School Committees had been formed and had erected schools. They had also applied to the Central Board for funds, and had given secular education during a portion of the day. After this, when the children not Catholics had retired, religious instruction was given. These schools had reached a high standard of efficiency and had been conducive to the welfare of the districts in which they were situate. Their success was a complete answer to the objections of the secularists, and he could not see why the same system should not be introduced here. [Cheers.] Mr Curtis, of Nelson, had given notice of a clause to be inserted in the Bill when it was before the House again. That clause was modelled very much in the same way that the Nelscn and West Coast one was. It was as follows : —- Whenever any twenty-five or more householders in any education district shall signify in writing to the Education Board of such district their desire to be constituted into a separate body for educational purposes, it shall be the duty of the Board to convene a meeting of such householders for the election of a school committee in the maimer provided in Part 111. of this Act, and it shall be lawful for the Board to grant to such committee such aid in books, school apparatus, and money as the Board shall deem expedient, or at the option of the committee such aid may be granted in money only, inclusive of the value of such books and school apparatus as would otherwise be supplied by the Board. Provided always that every such committee shall provide aschoolhouseor schoolhouses to the satisfaction of the Board, and shall appoint and pay the teacher or teachers of such school or schools; every such teacher haying obtained a certificate of competency as provided in section 44 of this Act; provided also that all books used in any such school shall be approved by the Board, and that in every respect wherein no special exception is made in this section every such school shall bo a nublic school under this Act, and subject to the provisions which this Act makes for the conduct, management, and inspection of public schools ; and that every such school shall be open to all children between the ages of five and fifteen years without fee or payment of any kind. Though not perhaps containing all that they required, it w r as perhaps worth while considering as a compromise. The reason why he had referred to it was to show that there were other means of framing Education Acts besides the very peculiar and unsatisfactory measure introduced to the House. He was surprised to find such a measure as this introduced into a House composed of educated, intelligent, and liberal men. [Cheers.] He contended that in the cause of education there was no reason whatever for the bringing in of such a measure. [Cheers.] He would now move the resolution he had read. Dr. Doyle I’ose to second the motion. The chairman"and the mover had spoken so fully on the motion that any remarks from him were unnecessary. He begged, therefore, to second the motion.

Mr Corr rose to speak to the resolution. He did not do so exclusively as a Catholic, but as a British subject. They had met that night to discuss an Education Bill which, il passed, would bo a great injustice on the Catholics. The law of England protected private property, and gave everyone a right (e express their opinion. Now, they did not want anything from the Government; all they wanted was to ha let alone and allowed to educate their children in their own way. [Loud cheers.] The promoters of this Bill were men of education ; but he could not understand how they eould have ignored the {act that a child must first bo taught to look

up to the Supreme Being who had given him the right to receive that education. What he wanted to impress upon the meeting was that they should agitate this question, and never leave off. The Bill had a twofold object in view, one of which was to ensnare the consciences of Catholics by offering them a bait; and secondly, they said if we can’t get their faith we will take their money. Now, as regarded the exemption matters, he might say that he knew sometliiug of local committees, and that he had never met so much ignorance as on these committees. [Cheers,] How then could a Catholic hope to get any consideration from them when they were told that they would die rather than lose their faith. [Cheers.] What the Catholics should do was to unite and to register their votes, so that when these men came for election they might feel the weight of their votes. [Cheers.] The Chairman said they would only be too glad to hear any gentleman speak on the Subject. They had no wish to make it a packed jury, but they wanted all to speak their minds openly and freely. [Cheers.] The motion was then put and carried unanimously amid acclamation. Mr Nolan rose to propose the second resolution, as follows —“ That this meeting protests against the unfairness of the Education Bill towards Catholic schoolmasters, whom it effectually excludes from the public schools by the Protestant Bible and Prayer Clause ; as also against the injustice of the bill towards all private and denominational schools, by the stringent and arbitrary clause referring to exemption certificates.” There was so much tyranny in the clauses to which he had referred, that it required a master mind to deal with them as it deserved. [Cheers.] Never had anything so degrading been perpetrated in any part of the world, more particularly by a people who were proud to claim for themselves a connection with a people whose freedom was their proudest boast. Yet here in New Zealand, where the very air should be redolent of freedom, they "found that the Legislature were endeavoring to fetter the consciences of the people. In England they were doing away with all obstacles to freedom of conscience, but here they were imposing fresh ones. What he contended was, that if Jews, Mahommedans, and Pagans w r ent to these schools, and were treated to homoeopathic doses of Scripture and prayer each morning, they would go home Jews, Pagans, and Mahommedans still. But more than this the teacher had to give the religious teaching, and they must recollect that it lay with the teacher to give what bias ho liked. How could they be sure what religion the teacher would impart ? But, again, the clause prevented the Catholic teachers from gaining a livelihood, and more than this, the result would be that the Catholic schools would be closed up, the more so as the fines which would be imposed would compel them to do so. He had been told that the Catholic Church was averse to education. This had been said to him by persons of education in that city, but he told them that in no case had ignorant Catholics been good ones. From the very first year of her existence the Catholic Church had fostered and promoted education and learning. She had provided all the great seats of learning, and had also done more than anything else to promote the cause of education. [Cheers.] As regarded the charge that the Catholics would, had they the power, do just the same to the Protestants, lie would quote from a work by Mr Mackay. That gentleman, a Protestant, said that in parts of the Continent where Roman Catholicism was paramount, the Dissenting ministers were allowed to giye religious instruction to their children. Again Mr Mackay showed that a purely Roman Catholic countries more schools and universities were founded than in any other part of Europe. [Cheers.] Everything that was beautiful in art, in music, in painting, in sculpture, was fostered by them Catholic Church, She had nursed the from their infancy, and painters who required to embody on their canvas the beautiful forms of art must go to her symbols for a model. They claimed all that was noble and all that was" beautiful for the Catholic Church. Though the world was persecuting the Church, her vigor was as youthful and her potency as great as in those days when she crowned kings and gave monarchs their sceptres, [Cheers.] And so she would go on thriving and progressing under persecution. He thought they would agree with him that the Bill was oppressive in the last degree to them as Catholics. They wanted to bring up their children as honest industrious citizens. It had been said that Irish Catholics were intolerant, but he would tell them an historical fact. After three hundred years of persecution, the first law passed by the Catholic Parliament which met at Dublin was that from and after that time, and for ever, it should be the law of Ireland that no one should be persecuted for his religion. [Cheers.] They wished the co-operation and sympathy of all sections of the community. If any portion of the people were oppressed the Catholics would give them their aid and sympathy. Therefore as the Bill w r as an oppressive and unjust one, they asked the cooperation of all sections of the community. [Cheers.] Mr C. Sexton briefly seconded the motion.

Mr A. P. Sheath moved the next resolution as follows—“ That in the event of this or any other such objectionable Bill passing, we Catholics do pledge ourselves to agitate against it, and to move in every legitimate manner, and particularly at the hustings, to bring about its modification or repeal.” He desired to urge on all Catholics the necessity of registering their name on the list of voters, and thus obtaining a vote which they should use to strike out the names of those men who would not see justice done to them as well as other sections of the community. [Cheers.] If they did this they would soon have members in the House who woidd see justice done to the Catholics. [Cheers.]

Mr Barrett said that he desired to second the motion. He might say that had it not been for the agitation of the Catholics in Westland they would never have got that clause which had been read to them by Mr Loughnan, jun. They in Westland had worked hard for it, and had been nobly assisted by the liberal Protest ants of Hokitika. The Yen. Archdeacon Harper had by his influence and by his liberal sentiments ably assisted the Catholics in getting the clause inserted which had been read by Mr Loughnan, jun. A committee had been formed to consider the Bill then before the Assembly, but had been unable to agree upon it. The Yen. Archdeacon Harper had appealed to the public, and called a public meeting to consider the clause which Mr Loughnan had read to them. At this meeting the clause was agreed to by a large majority, although the chairman (who was the Mayor at the time) declared it to be the other way. After this they never had any trouble on the educational

question. The clause had worked excellently in Westland and Nelson, and yet the Government wished now to bring out a legislation which was no more than a class system of legislation. It was not a system for the benefit of the whole, but a class alone. Cheers.] When the time came to register their votes let them remember to go in a body and do so. Then they could select men to represent them who would not tyrannise over them. [Cheers.] He did not believe that the liberal Protestants of Christchurch required the Catholics to support schools for their children at all.

Dr Syraes said after the invitation which had been given to any one to come forward, lie felt it his duty to do so. He was not a Catholic, and he might say that he had come there that night because he sympathised most heartily with the Catholics, and considered that they were fully entitled to oppose the measure by all lawful means. He knew, but he only spoke for himself, that there was a large number of persons who sympathised with the Catholics in their movement against the Bill. So far as he was concerned, he would be prepared to urge the Catholics to try by all lawful means in their power to keep the Bill from passing, but no further. He could hardly reconcile the advice of Bishop Moran, that the Catholics should disobey the law, with Christian teaching, which inculcated obedience to lawful authority. He spoke under correction, of course, but this was what he believed Bishop Moran was reported to have read. The Chairman explained that this was not quite correct. Bishop Moran had advised passive resistance —that was, that Catholics should refuse to send their children to the Government schools.

Dr. Symes said that lie should like to know whether there was any objection in Nelson and Hokitika to the danse quoted by Mr Loughnan. Father Binsfleld and Mr Barrett stated that in Nelson and Westland the clause worked admirably. Dr. Symes then proceeded to contend that without religious education children rapidly became intolerant. He believed that secular education tended to increase materialism and infidelity. They ought to fed themselves deeply indebted to the Catholics for the determined stand they had taken on this most important matter, and he congratulated them on being the champions of freedom of conscience. [Loud and continued cheers.] The motion was then put and agreed to unanimously.

The Chairman said he thought they ought to record their thanks to Dr. Syme for the manly manner in which he had come forward that evening to give them his sympathy. [Cheers.] Mr McQ-uinness moved—“ That copies of the resolutions passed at this meeting be forwarded to the members for Christchurch and the Hon. C. C. Bowen, Minister of Justice.” Mr Corr seconded the motion. A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the proceedings.