THE WEEKLY LETTER.

Oxford Observer, Volume V, Issue V, 23 June 1894, Page 3

THE WEEKLY LETTER.

• Longdale, June 19th. It is not unlikely there will be an attempt, shortly after the opening of Parliament to get an alteration made 1 in the Education Act by which Religious Teaching may be introduced into our schools, by the system adopted by the London School Board. The usual stock- phrases and platitudes will be trotted out in support of it, and the result will be that things will remain as at present; ' It is scarcely reasonable to expect the State, which is composed of all sorts and conditions of men to introduce religious teaching, as at present understood, into the schools. Religious teaching and training are personal t affairs aud should devolve on the parents of the children, and when they neglect that duty, it is surely not an unreasonable thing to expect the ministers of the varions churches to undertake the work. It is essentially theirs and so long as they neglect it, they need not complain- that .young people are not regular attendants at church. For .if the ministers will do nothing, for the children how can it be expected tbat the children when they grow up will do anything for them. The truth is, the young people do not know the ministers thea feel no sympathy from them ; and have little interest in them and so have no desire to meet them at church. . So long as the various ministers do nothing but talk, the:'r professed concern for spiritual welfare of the young will be accepted with a grait of salt. Most chuaches have difficult work to provide the salaries of their ministers, and all sorts of means and contrivances are, adopted to raise them. Let the ministers do a little more work and the probabilities are that they will get their salaries easier. What is done in the Oxford- district in respect of this matter ? There are sii schools and three resident ministers. : Five of these schools are.visited once a week, when convenient, by one of the ministers. What are the other ministers doing? Don't they believe in the work, or don't they care to undertake it? . Paul Fleming.