THE LIBERAL-IRISH ALLIANCE.
[To ma EDITOR OP THE " SPECTATOR:] Sin,—As a careful listener to the speeches of Dr. Berry an& Mr. Hirst Hollowell at the Congregational Union, will you allow me to add a word of explanation ? Neither Mr. Hollowell nor any Congregationalist would refuse State-aid to any Roman Catholic school for the sound and good secular education it may give. But if Roman Catholics are not satisfied with the Bible teaching that has been given in Board-schools, or with the voluntary schools, pro- tected as their children are in them by the conscience clause, if they require in the common, public, elementary, schools the teaching of their children in the distinctive dogmas of the Roman faith, then we demur. We say Roman Catholics should have fall liberty to teach their. children the elements of the Catholic faith, even Roman opinion about the status and apostolicity of other Churches, claiming to be Catholic. But we object to this teaching being given in elementary schools and out of public funds.
It should be given in Catholic schools and in Catholic homes. Farther, we object to the children of Wesleyan and other Nonconformist parents being compelled to attend, as they are, Roman Catholic schools, which in some cases are the only schools accessible. During the Home-rule agitation the leaders of English Nonconformity advocated leaving Irish education under the control of the proposed Irish Legislature. English Nonconformists have suffered too much from intolerance and persecution not to feel the deepest sympathy with the rights of the Catholic conscience. They stand firmly by the Roman Catholic Church in its splendid protest against the usurpation of the State, and for the autonomy of the Church. Though Anglican Catholics may not discern it, the time will come when they will acknow- ledge that the struggle of the free Churches of England for the autonomy of the spiritual life, and for religious education by parents and Churches free from State regulation, is essentially the contest of primitive Christianity, and will result in benefit to the one universal Church. At the same time we accept and stand by the compromise of 1870, as giving the best available results for the greatest number.
Dr. Berry's statement on the future relations of Noncon- formists and Irish Nationalists has been misunderstood. It simply amounted to this :—" We do not repudiate Home-rule, 'but if Irish Nationalists repudiate Home-rule in education for England, if they reject the provisions of Mr. Gladstone's Bill which united Home-rule with liberty of conscience, we claim that these principles shall not be dissevered, and affirm that England shall be ruled by English ideas, and that English progress and national righteousness are with us of paramount authority ; and Irish Home-rule of subordinate importance." We protested against denominational educa- tion in 1889 when the Irish party, led by Mr. Parnell, were tempted to favour it. And we utter a similar protest to-day.
am, Sir, &c..
[We know of no proposal to pay denominational teachers out of State funds. What is proposed is to allow the children of parents who wish for distinct denominational teaching for their children, to be taught by their own religious teachers. That is a proposal in the interests of true liberty, and to that liberty Mr. Hollowell and Mr. Matthews are opposed.—En. ,Spectator.]
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