In the Report stage of the Education Bill on Tuesday
Lord Hugh Cecil brought forward his "right of entry" proposals in a striking and impressive speech. Under his suggested clause, parents would have the right to take their children out of any public elementary school during the hours for religious instruction, in order that they might be taught the religion which they approved elsewhere, while the local authority could direct the managers of a school to allow special religious in- struction to be given when a reasonable number of parents desired that such instruction should be given. Mr. Bryce, after paying the mover a high compliment for his earnestness and conciliatory tone, contended that distinctive dogmatic teaching could not be advantageously given to young children, and insisted on the practical difficulties in the way of carrying out the clause. In the course of the subsequent debate Mr. Middlemore condemned the proposal as a " system of Christianity by compartments." and Sir Henry Campbell- Bannerman and Sir William Harcoart supported Mr. Bryce. Mr. Balfour, in an interesting speech, explained that on principle he could not vote against the clause, but that he held it highly inexpedient to introduce so very controversial a change at the Report stage, and in consequence, would not vote at all. The clause was ultimately rejected by 243 votes to 57.
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