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Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XIII, 24 June 1854, Page 6

cine" as looking over •• Culpeper" or " Graham's Domestic" would give : clearly you have the good fortune to be only an amateur. I have contented myself with merely skimming over your remarks, for I do not consider it requisite to enter elaborately into the defence of modern physicians whom you attack, nor the pages of a lay periodical a fit place for a medical discussion. Further, your want of knowledge of the history of medicine — a most progressive one — is so trensparent, that you would require some years' study, and a visit to Europe, before you could be qualified to write on the points you broach. In conclusion, I suggest that you have made the mistake of confounding the doings of modern physicians with the doings of those who do not fall under that name, and with whom, therefore, I have nothing to do. " Many plough, but the many are not ploughmen." Yours, A Physician. WESLEYAN SCHOOL ANNIVERSARY. Sir — If the demands on your space are not too heavy, I wish to beg a corner in Saturday's paper, for the purpose of obliging some friends of mine who were present at the Anniversary Meeting of the Wesleyan Sabbath and Day Schools, on the sth instant, and who are anxious to have a more full report of my address on that occasion, than you were able to give last week. The following is the substance of what I said, or purposed to say, according to a rough copy of pencil notes which I jotted down for the purpose while sitting at the meeting: — " I am unwilling to pledge the meeting to adopt my views on the subject of Education, especially as I have around me esteemed friends from whom I differ on the question. My remarks I give to you as my own individual opinion, and you may take them for all that they are worth. I think I have acquired a sort of right to speak on the question, as I have now been engaged for many years, not only thinking and talking, but endea vouring to do something in the way of education. My statements are not all theory, but in great measure the result of practical effort. ' I cannot conceal the pleasure and satisfaction I felt while listening to the statements and illustrations of my friend the Rev. Mr. Dolamore, and other speakers, in proof of the necessity that edit cation, in order to be beneficial, must be religious. Nothing need be added in proof of that important point. But from this point lam led further than some of my friends are willing to go. Let this be assumed, that education must .necessarily be religious, then, as I take it, it must be denominational, or sectarian, if you will patdon the term. There -eems to be a good deal of colloquy attached, ignorantly I think, to what is called sectarianism. Why, we are all sectarians, more or less. Every one who holds religious opinions at all is a sectarian, i.e., he belongs to one or other of the sects into which the religious iWorld is divided. Let us keep free.from bigotry, 'while we are, and must be, sectarian. " Religious education will be based upon the Bible. We all hold with Chillingworth, 'The Bible, the Bible alone, is the religion of Protestants.' |But how can a person teach the Bible, without teaching what is called sectarianism ? I freely confess I cannot. Every one holds his own views as to the meaning of the Bible; and if he holds those views honestly and conscientiously, he will teach accordingly. Let me give an example in illustration of my meaning. A class is furnished with St. John, chapter i., to read. Now, as I understand it, the first four verses teach explicitly and fully, the Godhead of Jesus Christ, his equality, in substance, power, and eternity ' with the Father — and Iso explain it. Verse 14th teaches, as plainly, the incarnation of the Son of God — that he, the true God, ,' was made flesh, and dwelt among us ' — and Iso teach. Verse 29 sets forth the great doctrine of atonement made by Jesus Christ, which may be regarded as the key stone in the great arch of Christian truth, involving as it does many equally important doctrines. But if I teach these things I teach sectarianism. Many good and estimable men so regard them, and would object to their children being taught them. Objections like these would be fatal, I think, to any general, comprehensive scheme of Religious Education, which is not Denominational. Such a comprehensive scheme would not, I am persuaded, work well. It may look well in theory, sound well upon a platform, but, if honestly carried out, would soon be discovered impracticable. The only alternatives then, are, a purely secular system, the evils of which have been bo thoroughly exposed, and a denominational one, each church educating its own, and the State aiding each in proportion to the numbers taught, and the quality of the educat on given. Many persons object to the public money being given in aid of schools. ' Why should they be called upon to pay for other people's children being taught ?' Unfortunately, there are parents to be found who are too ignorant, or too selfish, to attend to this duty ; and therefore, were it not for the philanthropic exertions of others, their children would grow up in unrestrained ignorance and vice. Now, if Government ought to punish crime, they ought equally to assist in its prevention. It will be found more economical to do this than the other. If drainage and other sanatory regulations depended on the voluntary contributions of the people, there would be few works of the kind undertaken, and in the crowded populations of our cities and towns, cholera, typhus, &c, &c, would have it their own way. But the public authorities carry out their schemes, and levy ratet for the purpose upon the people, notwithstanding the ' ignorant impatience of taxation ' which some members of the community may exhibit. So musl we deal with the moral miasma around vi, which without our perseverance in combating with it would loon spread widely and fearfully. " But some of our friends tell us that denomina iional schools must not receive assistance 1 from tht public funds. They have no claim to thai assistance It will be granted, I suppose, that the manager) and supporters of these institutions, and theparenti of children taught in them, bear their full share o the public burdens. If, therefore, any asiistanci is given to tchools, they have & righteous claim' ti a fair proportion of that aid. V if the State determines that education shall b< voluntary, the managers of these schools- agree t< it. Let the schools' of the community be nl

V if the State determines that education shall be voluntary, the managers of these schools agree to it. Let the schools' of the community be all

placed on the same footing/arid we hare no reason ' ' to complain, nor will we. But we shall complain, and I think reasonably, if, besides supporting our own "establishments, we are called upon to' pay outf ' quota 'towards 'other schools from- which neither* we nor our children derive any benefit.- The injustice which, for renturies, the Nonconformists and Dissenters of England have suffered in having ' toassist in the silpport J of a State Church, has at' 1 length made itSelf felt, and is being removed. Let'not our friends be parties to the infliction 1 of a similar injustice here." Apologizing for the length to which I have" gone, and reiterating what I stated at the meeting,?' that' I am unwilling to make others responsible for what are my own individual opinions, I am, sir, &c, Samuel Ironside.