24 FEBRUARY 1906, Page 16

FUNDAMENTAL CHRISTIANITY AND RELIGIOUS EDUCATION. [To THE EDITOR OF THE

"SPECTATOR."' SIR,—As a constant reader of the Spectator, I have been much interested in the correspondence on "Fundamental Christianity

and Religious Education." I cannot refrain in that connection from drawing your attention to a passage in a letter of Dr. Arnold's to J. C. Platt, Esq., dated February Sth, 1836. Referring to the then new London University, he writes :—

"There will their probably be brought to issue this great question, whether the people of England have any value whatever for Christianity without sectarianism ; for, as it seems to me, most of those who are above sectarianism are quite as indifferent to Christianity ; while almost all who profess to value Christianity seem, when they are brought to the test, to care only for their own sect. Now it is manifest to me that all our education must be Christian and not be sectarian ; I would ask no questions as to what denomination of Christians any student belonged ; or if I did, I should only do it for the express purpose of avoiding in my examination all those particular points in which I might happen to differ from him."

Surely many of us who are engaged in actual schoolwork to-day are in sympathy with the view of this great school-