[To THII EDITOR 0/1 , N SPROTILTOR.1 SIE, — .YOR are labouring splendidly to
bring about a moderate settlement of the religious controversy, and it is lamentable that, to all appearance, you are going to fail in achieving a final settlement. The reason of failure I believe to be that the Churches (both National and Nonconformist) have stooped from their high altitude of having a direct mandate of teaching religion. to the making of bargains with political parties in the State who, for services rendered (i.e., votes), will commit them- selves to legislation agreeable to them. So long as this con- tinues we shall have a succession of 1902 and.1906 Bills, until, in despair, we adopt the only logical, but objectionable, solution of secular teaching in all our national schools. When that comes we shall have plenty of recriminations between the Churches on the lines of " I told you so," &c. Your corre- spondent, Mr. F. Daustini Cremer, in your issue of May 19th, strikes thA highest note that has yet been sounded. Unless there is born soon a Christian chhritableness so great as to compel a'voluntary agreement, emanating frem the combined denominations, the power of the Churches will be seriously impaired. No Church can attach itself to any party in the State without tarnishing itself. Churches that accept political aid are monstrosities, and it is the desire shown byeboth factions to be in the ascendency (which is quite fbreign to the Divine Founder's plan) that has begotten the religious trouble in the schools. The laity are going to settle this if the clergy cannot; and the right of the latter, should they fail, to speak afterwards on charity will be gone.—I am, Sir, &c.,
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