To the Editor of the Nelson Evening Mail

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 101, 28 April 1873, Page 2

To the Editor of the Nelson Evening Mail

Sir,—ln your issue of Saturday last, an " Old Member of the Board" would make the public believe that the Catholic tody, together with others of a different cast, exert an undue influence over the Board of Education to the detriment of the public at large. This statement is a mere gratuitous assertion not borne out by facts, The Catholic body is represented by one member only. That member has never, either directly or indirectly proposed or supported any step ■which should tend to the prejudice of the majority. He has expressed his own views freely and independently, leaving respectfully the' same liberty to every other member of the Board. The Catholic body is thankful to the Board of Education for the justice done to them, but it never has and never will ask for favors. What they have obtained any other denomination can obtain; for, tie clause iv the Education Act of which they have availed themselves may he applied to all oihers; it reads thus : "Whenever any school shall have been established in any educational district, and any number of- ratepayers resident in such district", contributing not less than £25 per annum," &c. So, by this clause any denomination, by contributing not less thin .£25 per annum, building a proper school at tiieir own expense, &c, can enjoy that " liberty which has been so readily and liberally corpeded to the Roman Catholics." And, when an" Old Member of the Board" states that the Provincial Legislature has provided for the "entire management" of their schools being secured tothem, I beg to differ with him; for, if the CathoScs bad the " entire management" of their schools, they would be at liberty to use their own religious books, read their own Bible,—in fact to teach their own religion in their schools; none of which they can do. As to the question of the Bible and the subject of History proposed for the next examination for the Provincial Scholarships, if "An Old Member of the Board" is a Protertant.he would not have the candidates study the Catholic version of the Bible, neither would he have a Catholic History of the Reformation; hmqe for the sake of reciprocal justice to the,, Catholics he must not ask them to study Protesftnt History, or the Protestant version of the Bible. In ending his remarks, "An Old Member of the Board " expresses his fears that if the Bible be excluded by an alteration of the Act, the Provincial Council should insult either the principles or even the prejudices of the great bulk of the Province by giving their sanction to propositions in themselves unfair and unreasonable, and of a character whally subversive of the popular constitution of our educational system, but, for my own part, I should say: if you wish to preserve our system of education from the subversion which already threatens it, exclude the Bible and all subjects in connection with, religion from school hours, and let them be taught, not'by ieachers, but by the respective ministers of religion. I am, &c, Catholicfs. Nelson, April 28,1873. ■■-• ■ For remainder of news, see fourth page: