The University Tests' Bill passed through committee on Monday night,
Lord E. Fitzmaurice delaying, at the Prime Minister's request, till the report, the discussion of the question whether the Heads of houses should be excepted from its operations or not. Mr. Stevenson's proposal to extend the exemption from tests to divinity degrees was negatived on what seem to us very insufficient grounds, by a majority of 161 (262 to 101). The chief ground was that a degree "is supposed to indicate the capacity to teach," and that a man can't teach that which he does not believe, even though he knows all the arguments for and against it. But by whom is the degree supposed to indicate the capacity to teach ? Certainly not by any sensible man, who always distinguishes between the capacity to learn and the capacity to teach. Why should not a theologian who rejects a doctrine be allowed to prove by his theological degree that he has not rejected it blindly, and without studying the grounds alleged in favour of it ?
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