The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 1902. THE NONCONFORMIST CONSCIENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIV, Issue 129, 4 June 1902, Page 2

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 1902. THE NONCONFORMIST CONSCIENCE.

Never since the grett educational battle of 1870 has the Noncomformist body been so stirred a-* by the Education Bill before the British Parliament In a recent isme wo gave u summary of this Bill, and papers to band by th s last English mail show tint notwithstanding the Parliamentary maj » ity in favour ef the measure, it is meeting with much bitter opposition outside the House. This is accounted for by the fact as stated in the British Weekly that although the Noncomformis's were never £0 strong in the country as they are bow, they were never bo weak in Parliament. Whatever may be the faults of our colonial system, its purely secular character csrtainly enableß all denominations to meet on common ground, and prevents the strife and bitterness engendered by the contest now being waged at Heme. The British Weekly in an article strongly opposing the Bill says: " The Bill deals the deadliest blow to the v«ry existence and future of Noacointormity, and will practically hand over the children to the clergy of the Churches of England and Rome. The clauses giving power to erect un lenominational I schools are null and void; where |the power is needed it cannot be | exercised. On the other hand, whoreaver new schools are leaded, the Church of England can come in and use the subscriptions which the rates have rendered unnecessary in several districts for the purpose of laying hold of others. The Church of England is fighting for the complete situration of the schools with her own peculiar tenets. Not what is common to Christendom, but what belongs to herself—the most isolated church in Christendom -is what she seeks to teach." Another paper, the Guardian,

Lsays: —There is no way in which Nonconfirmists can use the schools for religious instruct ion. They are entirely shut out of them ; they have no voice in any matter In short, over a large part of England the ADglican clergy are to be practically the sole education au'hority with unlimited power of rating," The British Wee/chj, commenting on this, sav* : " Thiriy years ago, no one would hava believed that such a proposal could have been seriously made. It would not have been beleved that in the year 1902 it should actually be pro posed to rate Nonconformists for a kind of teaching against which their whole existence has been a protest." In thn columns of the London Times the Rev, Fugh Price strong protest against the Bill in a very leg and able latter. Jn the coutse of this letter he says: "Up to now it has been acknowledged on all side? that if feetirian educa<i~>n is to bo maintained, the sects that demand it muse at least bear the cost, and in no c»so *ha!l the ratepayers be compelled to support sectarian education. Kus if that fondampntal principle of English education is to be cast to the winds, conscientious Dins enters are confront dby a tenihli alternative What d"e- it mean? It means >h<>t in 8000 pushes which lo not mod and cmnot mmn'.ain moie :han onn s:hoo! no N"oiic>nfTmi<t boy or girl can ever bo framed for the teaching profflfsiop, no Nonconformist teacher can r:vpr have an •'ducational a[ pnintmesit, and we shall b ■ cmte'led t" as'-i't in supporting ft cehoil in wlioh our children are coinP'l'e! to dc>pi-e th«? convicti"ns the chuich ot their parents, . .

The uu.-t.cfc.i!'iitu schools ao in we Leach our distinctive beliefs than they teach the distinctive b.diufc of Anglicans. In the uc sectarian schools we meet; oo terms of absolu e iquality. Nothing I hostile to Anglicism cm ever be 'taught there. Anglicans, like ourI selves, sin supplement the unsectarian school by distinctive Anglican coaching in their confirmation classes, .Sunday schools, guilds, and churches. The offer of a costly and unnecessary litcio scho'o'l where we can produce .Noncoßforaristis only adds iusulc to injury. There is not tun least probability that any local educational authority would prsvide that extravagance out of rates. Alas! if this Bill is forced through in its prismt ronn ww mu«t bid a long farewell to the kindlier filings which are springing up hsre and thi re between Anglicans and the of tho Christian public." In vi<iw of the, efforts made from ttma to Mine to introduce into this colony a inodifhd form of sectarian education the above remarks by the Kov. Price Hughes ai e very significant, and <show bow quickly sectarian bhternoss would spring up. Whit will be the outcomu of the strong oppoiitun of tiie Nonconformists it is hard to say. Judging by the large ranjjrity for the Bill on its second rcsading its pwsing saems tissurid. If so, there s ems every likelihood of a j>ui d tie-il of bitter feeling being engendered.