FREEDOM OF RELIGION SOCIETY.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XII, Issue 836, 3 July 1855, Page 3

FREEDOM OF RELIGION SOCIETY.

In accordance with an advertisement published by the Committee of the above society, a public meeting was held in the Odd Fellow's Hall, Queen-street, on the evening of Monday the 25th June. W. C. Daldy, Esq., one of the Secretaries of the Society having been appointed Chairman proceeded (after reading letters from seveial gentlemen, excusing their attendance) at once to read the following memorial to the House of Representatives, which the meeting would he asked in one, of the tesolutions to sanction. To the Honorable the Members of the Legislative Council and House of Representatives of New Zealand. The Memorial of the undersigned Humbly Sheweth, — That as citizens and electors of the Province of Auckland, your petitioners are deeply interested in the educational status and advancement of their own families, and of the families of all who, like themselves, aie, or may become entitled "to the privileges conferred by the British Constitution on this Colony. Your petitioners are aware that, while by far the majority of the entire population are not only able, but willing to provide for the education of their children, yet it must be allowed that some, either from inability or indifference, remain uneducated, and it is that this exigency may be met, that your memorialists now address your Honorable House. That your memorialists would premise, and as being vital to the whole question, that they are conscientiously and resolutely opposed to all State grants for the support of religion in any degree or form, or for religioub or denominational education. That, without entering into the details of the question, your memorialists would beseech sour Honourable House to set apart funds from existing endowments, or from grants made for educational purpose*, or the erection of school-houses, or for rs listing in local efforts for the same, and for affording some mcas are of support to a superior order of teachers, till each of the schools becomes self-sustaining ; the schools in all cases to be conducted on commercial, scientific, and unacctarian pi inciples, and managed by elective local boards. That your memorialists pray your Honourable House that funds may be set apart for the above purposes, connected with such appointed agencies, with principles for their guidance as will be, m the judgment ot your Honourable House, most likely to bring those children under educational training who at present, either from inability or indifference, are not making use of the existing means of education. And your petitioners will ever pray, &c Mr. (r.'Va'ile then rose to propose the first re-solution.—-'That this meeting being of opinion that education ii the birthright of every human being, desires, without infringing on the rights of conscience or private enterprise, to see a good general education imparted to every child and young person in the Province of Auckland, as being the best safeguard of liberty, morality, and inateiial prosperity.' Mr. J. Gyrrie having seconded the resolution, it was carried unanimously Mr. J. C. Fivth moved the second resolution. —"That, while in the estimation of this meeting, a great majority of the children of the Province of Auckland are placed under an educational training which, under the circumstances, couhl not be expected to be better, and for which all reflecting minds must be thankful, yet it cannot have escaped the notice of careful observers, that there are to be found in every district, children whose education is unprovided for, and for whom, in the judgement of this meeting, Government, aid should be specially solicited, and should be applied in such a mauner as not to interfere with the educational machinery at present in operation, as far as can be avoided " Mr. \V. Rattery seconded the resolution which was agreed to. The Rev T. Hamer rose to move the third resolution, which was as follows — "That, in the opinion of this Meeting, it is not only inconsistent with the constitution and functions of Government, to render assistance by Grants for religious or denominational education, but undesirable as the whole community, which equally provides the State Funds, is divided in religious sentiment and views, (as are all free conrnunities) and consequently, this Meeting is convinced, that so long as a very large and infl jiential portion of the community, on conscientious grounds, refuses government aid for religious purposes, and on the same {.round, feels equally bound to re&i?t such Grants being made to denominational bodies of the same community, it is the settled opinion of this Meeting, that all State Grants for the education of the people should be solicited and appropriated for a purely commercial, scientific, and un^ectarian education." The resolution having been seconded by Mr R. B. Shalders Rev. Mr. Reid, Wegleyau Minister, moved the following ameudment "That in order to secure the co-op<rati<>n of the members of the diffei ent Churches ia Auckland in carrying out this schemo, this meeting be adjourned that time may be given for fuller deliberation and thought by all classes of the community." Mr. Win Rowe seconded the amendment, which was carried and the meeting adjourned.

The adjourned Meeting takes place on Friday evening next, intlie Odd Fellow's Hall