THE BISHOP OF MELBOURNE ON EDUCATION.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2322, 26 August 1880, Page 2

THE BISHOP OF MELBOURNE ON EDUCATION.

SECOND EDITION

The Right Rev. the Bishop of Melbourne’s address to the honorary readers at St. Paul's Church, said —The Governor had observed a few weeks ago that by and by Melbourne would be known as a city of town-halls, the meaning being that every building which would hereafter be regarded as worthy of note, would be a secular building. That was a significant fact, showing that the energy of this community was being directed into secular channels, and that whatever buildings were to be devoted to religious purposes would have to bo provided by individual efforts, and that the advancement of the Kingdom of God depends upon individual energy and enthusiasm to a degree which was absolutely uuknovvu and unthought in England. Why was this the case ? Partly, he had uo doubt owing to the spread of sceptical opinions, but to a great extent also, ho feared, because there was a number of religious men who expended not a little of energy in opposing and denouncing their fellow Christians. The sectarian feeling and jealousy had attained so great a bitterness of rancour that he had lieai’J men proclaim with almost incredible cynicism that they had gratified that feeling even at the cost of depriving their children of biblical instructions. What was the result ! J A state ot things existed which made and would continue to make the spread of the Gospel far more dependent on the energy of individuals than it was ever known to be, he might almost say, in the history of Christianity. What were they to do ? They could not ignore the spread of scepticism, but they should seek to counteract it, and to extend the kingdom of Christ, preaching Christ, at whatever cost. This must bo their endeavor, to serve him with all their mind and soul and strength, and to do it with a devotion absolutely illimitable. To do that they must come more closely together. It was a great thing that they r had been able to establish the institution of lay helpers, but that was not enough—they must have mutual sympathy and a closer cohesion. It was not for him to say what the future would bring forth, but be thought the time was coming, and that in a very little while, when some of them might be asked to sell all that they bad in order to gain treasure in heaven. lie did not know what might come, but the Government of Victoria not only refused to allow the Bible to be taught in schools, but refused oven to give permission to Chris! ian men to religiously educate the children of Christ. If that were so, then assuredly the man who had wealth and belonged to the Courch of England would be asked to give of his means to Avkat some might regard as a fanatical amount ; and those who had youth and strength would be called upon to give their strength to the Church, for the love of souls and for the love of Christ, They had schools—thank God they had not given up them—and they might be required to conic forward and use them, and God grant that they might then be full of love and enthusiasm, and prepared to “ sell all,” to make real sacrifices, in order to provide for the education of the young. Was he to suppose that the Church of England was unequal to such sacrifices when necessary ? Were it so, why the very Pagans would shame them. They should wait for what the future might bring forth, ready for any sacrifices, and imbued by the consciousness that, Christ strengthening them, they could do all things, and ready to cheerfully respond when the Lord shall say to His people—“ Sell all that yc have, and give it to feed my lambs that ye may have treasure in Heaven.”