Denominational Education.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 25 October 1890, Page 2

Denominational Education.

The Rev. Richard Coffey has addressed a letter on the above subject to one of our Wellington contemporaries and in it, thus puts the Ciise for the Church of Eng'and :— All that we require is tho recognition of those private schools that shall fulfil certain prescribed condit : ons These schools can bo established in the great centres of population. The present public schools wou'd go on as hitherto, but certain denominational schools would be established alongside them, and a healthy rivalry certainly ensue. I fear the outcry made by secularists is part'}' j rlue to downright hostility to Christianity, and partly to a suspicion that denomiuationalism would endanger the >State school system. There is no valid ground for this latter apprehension. In England the two systems have worked together for the past 20 year*, and, as you state, board schools are gaining on denominational schools. Of course it is impossible that private effort can compete with a system, which is amply supplied with money compulsory taken out of the pockets of all ratepayers. No withstanding tho unequal contest, the Church of England has held its own, and edn-

ca'c-i more cbi dren than the board schools. Your anic o would l«ad those, who pro not in possession o£ certain fa. ts, to infer that the denomin 'io al system is no vey vigorous. When the Educa ion Act was passed ad. ;870, the attendance at OiiUich schools was 844,000, but in a.d 1884 the numbers had risen to 1,607,000. Thus in he interval the English ( hurch dou led her ay r.tge school aiteudauco. Sir, the Church is fu ly alive to the paramount imp rrauce of educating her young according to ncr own principles. The fact that she has spent £29,000,000 since 1811 in this good work proves her sincerity. At the present moment, if I. may place my judgment in opposition to yours, enthusiasm runs high, and churchmen are determined that their children shall he instructed in those principles of the Christian religion, which have contributed not a little to mould the character of the English nation. The latest returns available (May 1889) give the following (average) numbers attending school in England : — Church of England 1,609,000 Board schools ... 1,080,000 Wesleyans, Romans, etc 574,000