CLJki1,11...A L TE RAT URE.
THE INDEPENDENT REVIEW.
In the Independent Review for December "A Liberal" writes of the possibilities of "an educational Concordat." He divides religions education in schools into two parts, which he calls " Book " and " Creed " religion, the former being the teaching of the Bible, and the latter the Church Catechism. Of course Church teaching really includes both. The write; of the paper quite clearly realises that to make religious teaching optional with parents is in the greater number of cases to abandon it altogether. In fact, the result would be practically the same as a purely secular educational system. The pressure of parents who wish to make use of their children's labour is too strong, as is shown by the necessity of compulsory secular education. The writer seems to think that a compromise might be arrived at by making religious education compulsory, but by its being given by voluntary teachers appointed by the Church to which the parents of the children belong. Any children kept from this teaching, by the Conscience Clause being put into force by their parents, would be instructed in general morality and citizenship during the time set apart for religious teaching. This plan is designed to meet the difficulty that the Nonconformist will allow of no inquiry into the capacity of a school teacher to give religious Instruction. Provision is to be made for the schools of those bodies which stand out and insist on a religious atmosphere. These are to be subsidised to the extent of their secular teaching.
The article which relates the adventures of two ladies travelling alone in Armenia and Kurdistan, by Miss Victoria Buxton, is both picturesque in description and moderate in
view. The writer explains the terrible state of unrest in Mesopotamia to have arisen because the Sultan, finding the Kurds difficult to control, now lets them control him. The Hamidiyeh or Kurd cavalry were organised for the express purpose of slaughtering out the Armenian Christians. Given this outlet for their energies, the Sultan hoped that the Kurds would be subservient to him in the future. Turkish officers led the Hamidiyeh. After the massacres this cavalry did not prove obedient, and now pillage and murder Turk and Armenian alike. Of the Turkish soldiers who formed her escort Miss Buxton gives a good account. They seem never to receive pay, but get not unwilling hospitality from the villagers. But in spite of good qualities in individuals, the Turks remain savage and incapable of resisting the infamy of their Government.
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