TESTS IN THE SCOTCH UNIVERSITIES.
Facau the Glasgow papers of Thursday we learn, that the meeting of the Senatus Academicus of Glasgow University, which we had occasion to mention a fortnight ago, was held on Tuesday; and a series of resolutions, condemning the imposition of religious tests on lay Professors, adopted by a majority of 11 to 7. A peti- tion to the Legislature is to be prepared, and a correspondence with the other Universities of Scotland opened. It is deeply to be wished that the imposition of religious tests on Professors in the lay faculties of the Scotch Universities may be dis- continued, for the interest not only of those bodies and of scien- tific education in Scotland, but for the sake of the empire at large, both Mother-country and Colonies. If the objectionable test of conformity to the Established Kirk is to be rigidly enforced, the character and usefulness of the Scotch Universities must be materially injured. The range of choice of teachers will be limited. An opposition University will be opened by the Presbyterian sects who dissent from the Establishment, the emoluments of the present chairs be diminished, and these appoint- ments abandoned to an inferior class of candidates. Besides that the useful emulation of the Universities would be damped by such an event, a narrow sectarian spirit would be generated through- out Scotland. At present, the aspirants to the ministry of all sects in Scotland receive their literary education in the same Universities ; and young men looking forward to the secular learned professions, whatever their church, are educated to. gether. A healthy spirit of tolerance is the result. If the young men of different sects must in future be educated in sectarian seminaries, they will grow up under the influence of sectarian pre- judice. Unless the laws imposing religious tests upon Scotch Pro- fessors are abrogated, the standard of scientific acquirements in that country will be materially lowered, and a misbhievous spirit of narrow sectarianism developed.
It is not to Scotland alone that the evil consequences will be confined. A decision adverse to the liberal and tolerant principles advocated by the Senatus Academicus of Glasgow will be a pre- cedent for a continued refusal to admit Dissenters to academic honours at Oxford and Cambridge ; and will embolden the zealots who are endeavouring to impress a sectarian character on the Colonial Colleges. The Scotch Universities are become the battle- field of religious liberty.
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