THE EDUCATION QUESTION.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 199, 23 November 1871, Page 5

THE EDUCATION QUESTION.

(To the Editor.)

Sir, — May I ask the Rev. Mr. Menzies to believe that in the following remarks upon his letter of last week I am writing in all good faith, neither sarcastically, nor with any meaning but that which the words plainly bear? 1 shall comment upon his letter piece by piece as it is written.

First, I do not think my letter can be fairly taxed with exaggerations. Mr. Menzies does not define whereabouts these exaggerations occur, so that I am in the dark in defending myself ; but in representing the position which what are idly enough called secularists take up, I was studiously careful to represent their position fairly. I did so in these words :—: — " They say religion should not be taught by the schoolmaster ; " and Ido not think that Mr. Menzies would object to that way of stating their position, or call it an exaggeration. Mr. Menzies then, I think, seeks to fix on me a charge of inconsistency. He seems to infer that the belief which I expressed about State education and State churches was one which had grown up since I came to Otago. I can assure him -that this is not the case. I have all my life opposed State churchisms of all kinds. Undoubtedly lamin a minority among the clergy of the Establishment at home, th(»u,h, I think, in a large minority. I inveighed as eagerly against the iniquitous system of church rates as against the injustice of the education system here. Cannot Mr. Menzies understand that there are many who love the Church r.f Knsiland not because she is a State Church but because she is, as they believe, the purest and most Scriptural of churches ? My new-born zeal, as he terms it, is not solely on behalf of the Roman Catholics, but on behalf of all who cannot use the present system of education conscientious! v. 1 confess I- do not see how the modified denominationalism I advocated would " render religious convictions a marketable commodity." That no system that can be invented will satisfy everyone is perfectly obvious ; and this is one reason I gave for the State ceasing to' educate. But I still think that a denominational superstructure added to the

present system, well worked, would as nearly satisfy everyone as is possible. J have not really the least idea what Mr. Menzies means by his sentence abmt oppression and debauchery. T shall be very glad to say what I can if he will put his question a little more plainly. As regards his remarks about the opinions of twentyfive years ago, I am no more bound by them than Mr. Menzies is. I quite agree that it is absurd to say that "voluntary churches are nearer infidelity than State churches ; " but I fail to see the analogy between imaginary consequences once predicted and Mr. Huxley's plain words I quoted a living man, and made no prophecy, that I know of. If I was melodramatic, and if to be melodramatic is wrong, I can truly say I a,ni sorry for having been melodramatic. T daresay my delivery was bad ; 1 know Very well I am no orator, — I never professed to be ; still, I think as I created Mr. Secularist for the moment, I had a right to station him wherever I liked, whether it were on the wall, the windows, or on the top of the Athenaeum. No one can agree more heartily than I do with Mr. Menzies in thinking that the religion learnt from the jwmits is far superior in value to any that a schoolmaster can ever give. I find that I was unfortunate in expressing myself on this point. The quantity of religious instruction that any parent can find time to give in ttie intervals of his work requires, I believe, imperatively to be supplemented by the schoolmaster. That will, I think, clear up any misapprehensions as to my view of the matter. . Mr. Menzies will agree that the religion taught by the parents requires some additional aid, or why support Sunday schools 1 How Mr. Menzies can suppose that a system- which sets aside creeds would prove the only satisfactory one I cannot conceive : it would content the Secularists and no one else. The true alternative is, either religious education or none at all.

I do not much care to answer " Secularist," as he fights behind the sfone wall of an anonymous signature. T may as well remark, however, that I never said I had studied my subject intently, or anything that could be construed into such an idea, though at the same time I have no objection to say so now. Nor uitl i call the Government servants loafers. I said men, meaning political orators, often called them so, as, in fact, they do ; so it is, of course, quite true to say that clergymen are often called loafers.

1 would suggest to both my critics that their comments upon my mode of delivering my lecture, whether with musical yells or melodramatic action, while they are very good fun, do but serve to show the weakness of the case which requires to be defended by personalities. — I am, &c, R. L. Stanford.