SECULAR EDUCATION.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XII, Issue 9288, 2 December 1878, Page 2

SECULAR EDUCATION.

TO THE EDITOR,

Sir,— Kindly allow me space for a few remarks relative to your leaderette of Friday evening last. To those who understand Catholicity, the quotation from Mr Baldwin's report on the secular system in Victoria, referring to the conduct of Catholic parents, will be valued at its proper worth ; thank God tho old calumny about I the slavery of the members of the Church of Christ is long ago exploded. The success of the Intidcl Schools in Victoria — except in as far as they are novitiates for the training of Atheists— seems, to say the least of it, very doubtful. It is true the sum of money expended, since the outset in January JB73— about two millions two hundred thousand pounds I believe — has been very large, the accommodation provided for pupils of the best kind, aud the enticements held out attempting as oould !be well devised. What are the results : the cost per head of children in average attendance in 1873 is stated to have been £ 3 12s 2id per annum ; and in the last year 1877 it has increased to £1 X2s 3d per annum. Now, whilst iv 1873 there were on an average 105 children to eaoh school, of whom 90 were in average attendance, in the last year there were only 128 children to each school, of whom only 78 were in average attendance ; and this, let it be remembered, notwithstanding the large increase of population of something like 20,000 children |!1 This does not seem to me an evidence of the success of the wonderful system amongst the people, notwithstanding that it is oompulsory and free. If Secularism is a success in Victoria, why the present attitude of Episcopalians there, who now begin to see the infidel tendency of these schools— even Mr Baldwin has to admit this tendency, according to your clipping— and testify to th°ir admiration of the way in which Catholics have shewn what they freely prefer for the education of their children, notwithstanding its effect upon their pockets, and cry out for Bible teaching and fair play to their Catholic brethren, Iv ftne that the system in Victoria is not a supcess is evident from the dissatisfaction it

gives, not only to' Catholics, and members of the Church of England, but even to Presbyterians, who in the words of their motuhpiece, the "Presbyterian Beview," " cannot and will not submit to the ram- " part Secularism with which we are " threatened. Compared with the evil of " that, the evil of giving a separate prant "to Catholics is nothing ; and, consequently "we deliberately take our stand by the " Bishop on this point also." - / 3fours Ac. ■ A — C. H.KiRK. The Presbytery, Nor 30th. 1878.