Denominational Education.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 9 February 1892, Page 2

Denominational Education.

— — • . At the Anglican General Synod on Friday the question of State Aid to Denominational Schools wasdiscussd on the motion of Archdeacon Harper who moved " That in the opinion of this Synod it is desirable that the Education Acfc shou;d be so amended as to contain a provision for grants in aid of the maintenance of schools set on foot by any religious denomination, provided that the secnliar instruction given in such schools shall comt up to the required standards, and satisfy fche Government inspectors and, further, that the Legislature be petitioned to the foregoing effect." In speaking to fche motion he said thafc people said " we cannot afford fco sustain Churcli schools and State schools as well." Now the bulk of the people would send their children to the denominational schools to- " morrow if they could but get rid of the religious di i.culty. He himself could in two months open a large school for girls in < hristchurch if this difficulty were smoothed away. Mr G. Hunter brown seconded the motion. Sir 1 ohn Hall following said :— The great difficulty there lay in the the assertion and the belief thafc the ■ granting of the request here made would really injure fche present ■ system of national education. What 1 fchey had to do as practical men was not merely to pass a resolution of a ' kind that they had passed by the • score, but to endeavour to influence * public opinion by satisfying the minds of the electors that the present ' system was really doing harm in one 1 respect at least They must bring the matter home to the i conviction of the majority of the 1 people of this country. They should ' t

'l . - •■ ' ,r ■*■■■ also show that what they desired coa d be given without endangering the efficiency of the present system. »Yhy should not the clergy deal with the question more largely from th*. pul-jid? ' b • Rev A. R. Fitchett, Dunedin, sai there was an uneasy impressic . ab. iad tbat they were making r _■"'" hei 3way on this subject ; that the y we.c merely beating the air. te was also doubtful of the Church schools would come up to the requir . d. standards. They should express fcheir opinion that in the meantime the Roman Catholics ought to get the grant in aid for which they, asked. They had efficient schools in existence, and at present their consciences were being wounded. Mr James Allen supported free, secular, and compulsory system of national education. The Rev A. Towgood said one very great difficulty in the way of attaining fcheir wishes in the direotion of grants in aid was the opposition offered by the Presbyterian Churoh, a powerful body which knew its own mind on this subject. Messrs 0. Hunter, Browne, W. Gt. Britton, and Rev E. T. Howell supported the motion. Archdeacon Mules moved an amendment as an addition to the , ' resolution, " That as denominational schools can only be maintained hi. large centres of population, provision '. should be made for the imparting of religious instruction by the teachers in the public schools, and that the Legislature be petitioned to the > foregoing effect." In. speaking to the amendment, he dealt chiefly witb the advantage that would aocure from employing the teachers in the schools. I'he Dean of Christchurch seconded the amendment, thinking that such a course as proposed thereby would be better than btate aid to denominational schools. ...... The Dean of Waiapu, Mr Hunter, Brown, and the Bishop of Dunedin supported the resolution.. The Bishop of Christchurch said he was heartily sick of discussions and resolutions, which, apart from their indirect result, led to nothing at all. Most of the people did not . believe the Anglican Church was in earnest in the matter, and he believed the people were right. They were content to pass resolutions instead of putting their shoulders tell the wheel and doing something , foi?%themselves. He did not brieve their Church would live, ancfcpr 20 years in this Colony if they did nofc have the Catechism and the fundamental principles of Christianity taught to the young of New Zealand. Mr George Beetham was of opinien that their great object should be to end. avour to inculcate in the minds of people a livelier interest in Church matters, which could only be done by bending 'more clergy into the country to endea our to eff ct thafc obj-ct. Religious education was a question of expenae, :snd upon, the shoulders of the hnyand the aiergyi a ike some share of tbe burden should fall. • ... . - The Rev R. Coffev supported the amendment, remarking that the time for discussion had passed, and the time for action had arrived. In cou lusion, he sugge.ted that the word*. '• private enterprise" should be used in the resolution instead of the words " any religious denonii- • nations." 'lbisssuirgestion was accepted, by Arch lea con Harper. Archdeacon Fancourfc opposed, the aniendtne.it nnd Mr Quick opposed ' both resolution and amendment.; Archdeacon Williams supported the amendment. The Primate hoped the Church would uot, as suggested, adapt itself to any new conditions. As to the question <>f the expense of religious education, he said tbat if the State provided education for all the children of New Zealand, they would have to put up greater accommodation and go to more expense. He was utterly opposed td the amendment, thinking that the resolution was quite sufficient. jhe amendment was then put, and was 10..t, on a division, by 24 to 11. The ayes wer* Bishops, 8 ; clergy, 0 ; laity, 2 Noes— Bishops," - 1 ; clergy, 10 ; laity, 13. ; The reso utiou was carried on the voices. . — abridged from N. Z. Times. '