The Government suffered a curious defeat on Monday night. Mr.
Gordon moved an instruction to the Committee on the Scotch Education Bill, directing them to embody in it provisions con- tinuing "the law and practice" of existing Scotch schools in relation to religious education, for the State schools of the future. It was explained that what this meant was that Scotch school- masters should be compelled to teach religion as they do now, i.e., in conformity with the assumption of the divine authority of the Scriptures and of the Shorter Catechism. It was admitted that at present secular schools in Scotland would be legal, though they might not, under the old Orders of the Privy Council, receive any annual grant. But it was maintained that the Scotch people value religion so much, that they would not like to be trusted with the power of deciding for themselves in each case what to teach and when to teach it ! Mr. Gordon's resolution was carried by a majority of 7 (216 to 209), only twelve Scotch Members voting for it, while 39 voted against it,—a happy beginning of what Mr. Orr-Ewing, who supported Mr. Gordon, called the beneficial side of Home Rule for Scotland. We should hope the instruction will be either disregarded or repealed. If it is to be carried out in Committee, the Government will certainly withdraw the Bill.
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