THE NATIONAL SOCIETY AND THE EDUCATION BILL. [To THE Enema
Or THE " SPEOUTOR."1 Sla,—I ;shall be very glad if you con find room for the resolutions adopted on the Education Question at a numerously attendel meeting of the National Society's Consultative Committee held on October 25th. That body is by its conetitution in a high degree representative of Church opinion, and very specially of Church educational opinion, throughout the country. The fol- lowing resolution was carried unanimously :—
" (I) That this meeting, while reaffirming the unchanged opinion of the National Society that adequate religious Matra, tion must form an essential part of the curriculum in all schools and training college., cordially welcomes the great educational proposals contained in the Education Bill now before Parliament. and, subject to its amendment in certain administrative and other details, is ready to give it its hearty support. The meeting recognizes with thankfulness Mr. Fisher's express recognition on the port of the Government of the inlportance of the 'epiritual aspects of education,' and trusts with the President of tho Board of Education that a satisfactory settlement of the denominational issue may be reached in the near future."
The following resolution was carried nem. can.:- " (2) That this meeting, recognieing with thankfulness a growing desire for agreement among all denominations on the subject of the essential place of Religions Instruction in any system of National Education, believes that the time is opportune for steps to be taken to find a basis of agreement, and trusts that a Bill incorporating an agreed scheme for such religious instruc- tion, involving no sacrifice of principle on the part of any of the denominations, may be introduced in the near future."
Other questions in regard to specific amendments in the Bin, and also to the provision by the Church of religious instruction for adolescents, were referred to the National Society's Standing Committee.
The following additional resolution was carried nem. con.:—
"That the Consultative Committee urges that the Secondary School Regulations he so amended that secondary schools which are on the list of those recognised ax efficient by the Board of Education, and which in other respects conforni to the Board's regulations, should no longer be debarred from obtaining Government grants by reason of their preserving the definitely religious character prescribed by their trusts."
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