15 OCTOBER 1927, Page 2

Preaching to the American Legion at, St. Margaret's, Westminster, last

Sunday, the -Bishop of London spoke about the teaching of history in American schools, and said : " I have been assured by young men with whom I have conversed that they have been taught to hate this country." We cannot help remarking that these words were unfortunate, aid are more likely to defeat than to help the cause which the Bishop notori- ously has at heart. We have all heard of those history books in American schools which paint in too dark colours the policy of George III. and Lord North ; but we also know that there has been in recent years a remarkable tendency to teach history more generously. Besides, some of the younger school of American his- torians have been discovering even more justifications for British policy than are generally accepted as such in this country. In these circumstances an acknowledg- ment of the good that is being done, rather than a con- demnation of the bad, would have been more appro- priate. The pulpit is not the place to make the least mistake, as the congregation cannot answer back. The answers, alas ! come later.