BISHOP REDWOOD ON EDUCATION.

Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 108, 22 April 1876, Page 2

BISHOP REDWOOD ON EDUCATION.

In bis Lenfcn Pastoral fur 187G, the Bishop of Wellington makes a powerful appeal on bahaif of denominational education. The following extract will convey an idea of bis Lordship's views on this important question. Speaking for the members of bis church, ho says : —“We ask no favor, we only claim ‘ fail- play.’ We know that in a land such as tins, where religions nnily is split into so many factions, Government has no course, in justice, but to make grants ot public money for eiliu :aimj ~n irvjual conditions, TO all its subjects. We are told Unit the public money ought to be given, in on,- present divided state, only to (lie secular pal of education. We ask no more; but let not that he in purely secular, or We want our fair share in the pub ie funds contributed by ns according to our means and numbers, lo tin; secular instruction, which will be impaired in cur own schools, and which will be open lo Government tests and ins eetion. If professed seenlaris's demand, in Urn name of freedom of conscience, purely secular schools, hj t them have them if they choose, provided they contrive to support them with only their share of the public funds, and we Denominationalists will have ours on the same principle ; lint is is flag-rant violation of liberty of conscience to force secular schools upon all denominations contrary to their honest conscientious convictions. To attempt to set up an uniform, universal, compulsory, and secular education for New Zealand, would be the inauguration of a period of the worst despotism the consciences of a yet Christian people. But a set of men, active, confident, and selfasserting, have conceived that design and thirst for its execution.”