CORRESPONDENCE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 57, 6 March 1873, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

To the Editor of the Nelson Evening Mail. Sir — Will you he kind enough to give insertion to the following considerations which . have heen prompted by the report emanating from a sub-committee appointed by, the -< Central Board, with a view to amend the Education Act. It appears to me that Clause 37 is the wisest in the whole Act, and so closely conoected with Clause 2 of Amendment. Act, which empowers Local Committees to prescribe the general course, of instruction, discipline, etc, tliat the one cannot very well; be. repealed— nay, even altered— without the other. According to Clause 2, the power rests with the localities themselves in which the majority rules; or a clause will have td be inserted doing away with that provision and conferring the same on tbe minority. Further, it aims at the extinction of the vital qualifications of our so highly -prized and popular Education Act, which we seemed to be so enthusiastic in upholding at all hazards by memorials to the General Government some twelve months ago. What harm is there in the reading of the Bible? one feels inclined to ask. A book so full of truth, purity, goodness, and love ; which teaches us our duty to God and man. All our laws are taken from and our social position based upon it. This book in my mind is no more controversial than most others, not excepting-; our common readingbooks, our geography,' astronomy, history, etc. Will we be so selfish as to withold thia book from our childrenLand allow* * ministers, preachers, or anyone else' to give their own interpretations, and so create a Babel of minds. Let our children read it and study it for themselves, it will develope moral unity so essential to the welfare and power of a state. Does mere reading and writing constitute education ? , Compare a man of such a standard with one who has received his education from the Bible, thereby knowing his duty to God and fellow creatures, and say candidly— Who is preferable. Human nature is prone enough to find fault and pull down without previously having found proper materials .wherewith to rebuild. * Of course, we can always avail ourselves of Dr Combe's. views on phrenology but I should recommend it only as a dernier resort. Then again the Committee recommend that any person or interloper who chooses to give religious instruction shall have access to our schools with its books, apparatus, &c. To which sect are the Committees to give preference, and are the Latterday Saints included ? Many other questions and inconveniences will arise which it would be idle here to mention. If the privilege? granted by the Act which endear it so much to to all unbiassed minds he taken away from the Local Committees, I feel confident 1 that no body of sensible men will be' found willing to work under such curtailed cir- y cumstahces, and if no Committee be forthcoming; what about the Central Board ? • ".'■:' lam &c, i A Committee Man. For continuation of news see fourth page.