The April• number of the Hibbert Journal (Williams and Norgate)
contains an article by the Bishop of Carlisle, entitled "Mr. Birrell's Choice," to which we desire to draw the special attention of our readers. It is in effect an appeal to Parliament to give us a national settle- ment of the question of religious education, and to found our system, not on secularism, but on Christianity. In Mr. Birrell's path stands, he tells us, the lion of denomi- nationalism. "It is a strong and loud lion ; it is also a lion not without nobleness of mien and courage ; but even at its best denominationalism is departmental and not universal religion. In its essence it is sectarian and not catholic Christianity." After pointing out that none of the Churches are free from distinctive denominationalisme, and mentioning one of the special points of doctrine which belong to the Church of England, and asserting also his determina- tion to teach this doctrine on all rightful occasions, "through books, in sermons, at Bible classes, in lessons in Sunday Schools," he goes on to say he will not ask permission to teach it in the day schools of the nation, because to do so would lead inevitably to secularism.
Previous page
