The Bishop recognises that it will seem hard to some
Churchmen that in what have hitherto been their own schools distinctive religious instruction should henceforth be relegated to out-of-school hours, but contends that that was the inevitable result of the Act of 1902, which transformed Church into citizen schools. Per contra, Nonconformists may object to such aided schools as an excrescence of a sectarian character, but must admit that such schools "will receive no assistance from public funds beyond what all citizens are equally free to claim, and nothing that involves injustice to others or puts a strain on the conscience of the ratepayer.' To both objectors he replies: "We would plead with you so to hold your views or your claims as Churchman or Noncon- formist as not to forget that you are citizens."
Previous page
