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such instruction, it is essentially defective as regards those whom it permits to refuse it.

"The Committee are well aware that the Scriptures may, according to the present regulations of the Board, be read in the National Schools at specified times; but this cannot be done during school hours, or whilst the School is assembled as such. It is only allowed where the condition is observed, of giving notice to those children to withdraw whose parents objecta condition which the Committee cannot reconcile with their convictions of their duty, inasmuch as the principle on which such objections rest involves a practical indignity to the word of God. And they cannot feel themselves justified in sanctioning such an indignity, where the nature of the case forbids them to rebuke it. Nor can they consent, in their capacity of Patrons and Managers of Schools, to enforce and carry into effect the discipline of the Church of Rome in restricting the use of the inspired writings.

"The Committee are also aware that some volumes of Scripture lessons have been compiled and published by the Board for use in its Schools; but the Committee cannot better convey ther opinion respecting the character of these volumes, than in the language which in anticipating such a publication, the Bishops of the Church employed in 1832.-They state, that 'they cannot too strongly express their conviction, that no selection of Scripture will be agreed to by the Roman Catholic Hierarchy which will exhibit to the youthful mind a correct standard of faith and practice and set forth the right of every man to possess, and inculcate the duty of every man devoutly to read and examine the Scriptures-not indeed to the superseding of pastoral instruction, but in despite of the usurped authority of ecclesiastical rulers. The Committee fully believe that this anticipation has been more than realized the Scripture extracts being in truth not merely defective as a standard of faith and practice, but evincing throughout a manifest leaning on the part of the compilers, to the peculiar errors of the Romish Church. Such as they are, however, it is not incumbent on the patrons of the Schools supported by the Board, to use them. Nor are the patrons permitted to require all the children to read them; the use of the Scripture Lessons being now placed [See sixth Report of the Commissioners, section 25.] under the same restrictions as the use of the sacred volume itself.

"The Committee cannot co-operate with the National Board, because they believe that, even if they could lay aside their other objections to it, it is, in its practical working, calculated to widen the breach already existing between the several orders of religion in the country. The system of Education adopted by the Board, does not even profess to effect an union of the children of different religious denominations in its Schools, in the sense in which such an union would be chiefly desirable, namely, in receiving religious instruction. The principle on which the system is founded, is to combine them in receiving secular instruction, separating them where religion is concerned-thus making more apparent than ever, the diversity of religious belief, and impressing the minds of the children with the idea, that however they may look upon each other as fellow citizens, they cannot regard each other as fellow Christians, who hold in common any principles of revealed truth.

"Even such an union as the Board does profess to aim at, it has failed in attaining. It has not succeeded in procuring the attendance of the children of the Church (as is exemplified in the Diocese of Cork, where, in all the Schools connected with the Board, there are not more than eight Church children), and though considerable numbers of Roman Catholic and Presbyterian children are in its Schools, yet, these different denominations are not to be found to any extent in the same Schools. Separate Schools are established for each, in many cases in the same parishes, throughout the

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country. In this way the Board is enabled to take credit for having established a system of Education, which the various religious bodies have approved-while in truth the children of these various bodies are divided more effectually than ever, and a system of separate Education is virtually

carried on."

Meanwhile, we are glad to hear that the members of the Church are working as well as protesting, and that

"Hitherto, notwithstanding every discouragement with which the Society has had to contend, its labours have been greatly blessed. Diocesan Societies have been established in the Dioceses of Ardagh-Armagh— Cashel and Emly-Clogher-Clonfert and Kilmacduagh-Cork, Cloyne, and Ross-Derry-Down and Connor and Dromore-Elphin-FernsGlandelagh-Kildare-Killalla and Achonry-Killaloe and KilfenoraKilmore--Leighlin-Limerick-Lismore-Ossory-Raphoe, and Tuam. Connected with these branches, and with the Society, there are now 1219 Schools, attended by 69,643 children, of whom a proportion of more than one-third consists of the children of Roman Catholic and Dissenting parents. These children receive a really united education-an education in which no essential principle is sacrificed to secure the union-in which, on the contrary, religion is itself the bond of union, and the Bible recognised as the source of the best and most enduring knowledge."

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Here we have in one parish alone a decrease in the number of baptisms to the extent of 771 in three years, or 257 ayear, although the parish has increased in population about 10,000 since 1835.

Crime and Education. — From statistics collected by us during the past year, it appears that at the various assizes and sessions for this county and city, held in the year, 476 prisoners have been placed on the calendar for trial. Of these there were but two of superior education, while no less than 204 could neither read nor write! Of those who could read and write well, there were but 20, and read well 5; whilst 121

could read but imperfectly, and 121 read and write imperfectly. The remaining three did not appear. Surely these facts bear witness, far more efficiently than any laboured argument, to the necessity of educating-morally and religiously educating-the lower orders, as the only practicable remedy for that fearful amount of crime which now stalks through the land-unchecked by police or other stringencies-punished, but not prevented, by the rigors of the prison-house.-Worcester Herald.

Crime and Confirmation.—For the following statement we are indebted to a very interesting Sketch of the Norwood Schools, by the Rev. J. Brown, who has taken the trouble to make inquiries of the chaplains of various gaols and penitentiaries respecting the proportion of their inmates who have been confirmed. The result, indeed, is most striking, especially with regard to the females. It should be premised, that the whole number of prisoners in the gaol is not here given, but only of those of whom the point was ascertained. The chaplains of Newgate, Horsemonger Lane, the Penitentiary (Millbank, the Parkhurst prison (Isle of Wight), and of the gaols of Ilches

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Exeter Diocesan Board of Education.-A general meeting of the Board was held at the Chapter-house, on Tuesday week, the Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of the diocese in the Chair. Among the noblemen and gentlemen present were Lord Clinton, Lord Courtenay, M.P., the Very Rev. the Dean of Exeter, the Venerable Archdeacon Moore Stevens, the Venerable Archdeacon Barnes, the Rev. Chancellor Martin, the Rev. Canon Bartholemew, the Rev. Canon Rogers, Mr. Serjeant Goulburn, Rev. Prebendaries Hole, Medley, and Luney, and most of the clergy of the city and its immediate neighbourhood. Lord Courtenay read an elaborate and interesting report of the proceedings of the Committee during the past year, which was approved and unanimously adopted. Mr. Serjeant Goulburn was elected Vice-President of the Board, on the motion of the Very Rev. the Dean of Exeter, seconded by Archdeacon Stevens. Mr. Goulburn acknowledged the honour conferred on him in appropriate terms, remarking that his own experience in courts of justice, which was of some duration, had convinced him, that in exact proportion to the amount of Christian instruction imparted to any individual, would be the soundness of his principles and the honesty and morality of his life. The attention of the meeting was specially directed by the Lord Bishop to the noble author of the report. His Lordship observed, that every one would agree that the society was deeply indebted to Lord Courtenay for his uniform attention to its concerns-an attention the more valuable, in consideration of the many important duties by which his time was taken up. Thanks were voted at the conclusion to the Lord Bishop by acclamation.

Winchester Diocesan Board. · The Quarterly Meeting was held on Thursday the 5th ult. in the Chapter House. A report was read of the examination of the Southampton Diocesan Church School, drawn up by the Rev. J. Keble and the Rev. W. Orger, by which it appeared that they had examined the pupils separately, in the Scriptures, the Church Catechism, Latin (Cicero de Senectute), first book of Euclid, Arithmetic, and English History. The report concludes with the following important remark:"Our impressions on the whole were

most favourable both from the matter and manner of the boys in general and we consider the result of our inspection very satisfactory as an instance of the well working of these Diocesan Church Schools, especially in that one great object proposed by them-instruction in biblical knowledge." A report was also read of the examination, undertaken at the request of the proprietor, Mr. H. Mace, of the Fareham Commercial School, which is in union with the Diocesan Board, and which was conducted by the Venerable Archdeacon Hoare and the Rev. Wm. Nicholson, assisted by the Rev. Sir H. Thompson, Bart. Between £500 and £600 have now been voted by the Diocesan Board since it first came into operation (two years ago) for the purpose of promoting the building of parochial schools-a very small part of the designs contemplated by the Board. In regard to the inspection of parochial schools, we are informed there is every probability of the Diocesan Board being able to secure the services of the Inspector of the National Society in the course of the ensuing summer.

Liverpool Collegiate Institution.-This Institution, of which we gave a short account in our last number, was opened on the 7th ult. in a manner worthy of the occasion, and under circumstances which cannot fail to impart the highest gratification to all who value the blessings of sound Scriptural education, combined with useful learning. The foundation-stone was laid about two years since by Lord Stanley; and for beauty of form and elegance of design the structure reflects the highest credit on all who have taken part in its erection. The fact is, moreover, worthy of record, that the munificent sum of £24,000 was liberally subscribed by the inhabitants; and that although £4,000 were granted by the late radical corporation towards the founding of the Mechanics' Institution, the Collegiate Institution has brought to its completion without any public grant whatever. On the platform were seated large numbers of the clergy and gentry of the town. About halfpast one o'clock the Mayor entered, accompanied by the Lord Bishop of the diocese, the Rev. the Rectors of the parish, the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone, M. P., Sir Howard Douglas, M. P., Mr. J. W. Patten, M. P., and many other

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