27 SEPTEMBER 1902, Page 12

[TO THE EDITOR OP THE * SPEOTATO6:1 Srn,—With your Nonconformist correspondent's

plea in the Spectator of September 20th that the opponents of the Educa- tion Bill should be given the credit of being sincere all fair'

minded men will agree. Cannot he and his friends see to it that the same credit be given to Church people ? It becomes somewhat difficult for us to show a proper spirit of Christian friendship towards men who describe us as the foes of educa- tion. and in town and country alike are busily engaged in trying to persuade people that we are not sincere in the matter of education. The Education Bill is at the present time being actively opposed by four different classes of men,—the extreme High Churchmen, the extreme Low Churchmen, the Noncon- formists, and those who hate and detest religion. Does not this point to the fact that whilst the opposition to the Educa- tion Bill may be perfectly sincere, yet at the same time it is factious and petty ? After all, the task of fault-finding is a comparatively easy one.-1 am, Sir, &c.,