The London Welshman

NORTH WALES METHODISTS AND THE EDUCATION CONTROVERSY. The Education Bill of Mr. Birrell was dis- cussed at the quarterly Association of the North Wales Calvinistic Methodists, held last week at Ruthin On behalf of the Committee appointed to consider the position of the Association in relation to the Bill, the Rev. Aethwy Jones (Liverpool) moved a resolution heartily approv- ing the Bill because it aimed at securing public control of public elementary schools and the abolition of tests for teachers. "We also rejoice that the Bill provides that the Bible is to be taught in all the elementary schools without distinction, with an adequate conscience clause, and we urge all members of our Connexion to give their most hearty, loyal, and strenuous support to the Government in carrying this Bill into law. We, however, consider it most urgent that an amendment should be made in the Bill securing public control of and abolishing tests in all training colleges maintained by public funds, so as to remove the serious grievance which is now felt in connection with these colleges." Attitude of Churchmen. The mover expressed his surprise at the ex- treme attitude assumed by Churchmen and Roman Catholics in opposition to the Bill. They applied to the Bill what he could only describe as barefaced misrepresentations, the true import of which would at no distant date be revealed. The fact was that the majority of the bishops and clergy were High Churchmen, and they would rather have secular education in the elementary schools than the teaching of God's Word. Fortunately, however, Mr. Birrell had found that the majority of the people of this country were Protestants. The Rev. Daniel Rowlands seconded the resolution. The Rev. Evan Jones, Carnarvon, had a strong objection to the provision in the Bill for applying a million of money towards repairing and paying rates on Voluntary schools. He moved as an addition to the resolution an ex- pression of opinion that it would be preferable that the million pounds should be devoted to the erection of new buildings more suitable for educational purposes, which would be the sole property of the State. A Generous View. Mr. J. E. Powell, Wrexham, said that he must dissent. They could not shut their eyes to the fact that half the children of the United King- dom were at present receiving their education in schools which in part had been built by the Church, and practically one-half the inhabitants of the country took that view of the matter. It was notorious how much injustice Noncon- formists had suffered in the past, and now that things had changed he did not want to give their opponents an opportunity of turning upon them and saying, In the days of your strength you are unjust to us." He would have no ob- jection to the money being applied to the pur- chase of the Voluntary schools. The resolution underwent several modifica- tions, and ultimately it was agreed to, after the following additional words had been incorpo- rated While we feel that some of the provisions of the Bill go further than we should like in granting the demands of the advocates of sectarian education, we are willing that these concessions should be made in the hope of insuring a peaceful settlement. Further, we are of opinion that the extra grant from the Ex- chequer of one million pounds towards the additional expense incurred by the Bill in the way of repairing the fabric and renting the non- provided schools that will be taken over by the local authority ought to be expended either in purchasing the schools or in building new schools which would be wholly in the possession of the State itself."

THE MEMBER FOR MONTGOMERY- SHIRE ON WELSH QUESTIONS. At the annual meetings of the Montgomery- shire Central Liberal Association held last week at Newtown, Mr. David Davies, M.P., delivered an address, in the course of which he said that after a somewhat short experience of Parlia- mentary life he was in some respects dis- appointed. He had thought that the House of Commons was rather a more business-like assembly than he found it. He believed that the present Government were more in earnest about carrying through legislation than any Parliament had been for a number of years, and he hoped that before long they should see the fruit of their labours. Of the various ques- tions which had come before them, the most important was the Education Bill. They in Montgomeryshire must congratulate themselves that the Bill was exactly in accordance with the principles which they had always advocated. The two great principles underlying the Bill were public control and freedom from religious tests. There were other clauses which were in the nature of a compromise with the Church party, and rightly so, but he thought the Denominational party ought to be very pleased that they had been treated with so much liberality. Most of the criticism so far had come from, the bishops, but he thought the rank and file of the Church would see that they would gain by the Bill. He hoped the Act would not be wrecked by extremists. There was another question which they were rather in the dark about, namely, Disestablish- ment. He thought the Welsh Members, having the unanimous opinion of the country behind them, should press that a measure should be brought in without delay. If they could not get Disestablishment now, it seemed to him that there was a very poor chance of getting it in their lifetime. He was of opinion that the Welsh Members should protest unless the question was brought forward in the next session or two.

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