THE GHOST OF DENOMINATIONALISM.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2996, 2 November 1882, Page 3

THE GHOST OF DENOMINATIONALISM.

The reception that the sanguine anticipations of some members of the Church of England Assembly on the subjects of a return to denominational education and to a system of state aid are likely to meet with from the other sects interested, is indicated by what has been said on the matter at the meeting of the Congregational Union. The president of the Union, the Eev. Joseph Walker, spoke strongly on the subject in his annual address. Mr Walker reminded his hearers how great a S failure religious education had proved under the old denominational system. Bishop Moorhouse, he mentioned, had commented on the large proportion of children who, after being educated in the Sunday schools, on leaving them never enter the school or the churches again. “If,” observed Mr Walker, “"that was theresult of instruction given with all the hallowed .associations and advantages of the Sunday school, he must have a lively imagination and strong faith who would expect any result from a perfunctory reading of the Bible in state schools," The_ subjeot came again before the Union’s a day or two later, when the Eev A. Gosman moved a resolution expressiye of the satisfaction of the Union with the Education Act, and its entire disapproval of any system of grants to any denomination for religious purposes, and at the same time its desire to see Bible reading introduced. To (his the Eev D. J. Hamer moved an amendment, condemning any system of giving religious instruction by the State. Mr Hamer contended that “ the introduction of the Bible into the State schools would be a trespass on the rights of conscience.” Mr Gosman’s motion was carried by a small majority, but as there appears to have been some misapprehension in the voting, it would seem that the Union was about equally divided on the bare question of having the Bible read in schools. Such facts as these, showing the state of opinion of an important section of the religious world, serve to indicate how small is the chance of the agitation to bring about a reaction in favour of denominationalism in education.—“Australasian.’