Wanganui Herald. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) MONDAY NOVEMBER 5, 1883. THE JEWS AND EDUCATION.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 5207, 6 November 1883, Page 2

Wanganui Herald. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) MONDA Y NO VEMBER 5, 1 883. THE JEWS AND EDUCATION.

The Jews are as a rule very strict in maintaining their ancient faith, to which, amidst the terrible persecutions for 3000 years, they have remained steadfastly loyal. It may be that this loyalty is largely due to the very persecutions to which they have been subjected from the earliest times. They have been called v a stiff-necked generation," and it is not a little strange that in modern times they have only deserved the epithet by their attachment to the religion of their fathers and their fortitude in suffering. The opinions of the Jews therefore on the education system of the colony are of some importance at the present moment, when the heads of other sects are denouncing it as godless and immoral. Do the represenlative men of the Hebrew persuasion look on that system as tending to deprive them of their faith. The evidence of Mr Shrimski, M.H.R., is the best answer to the question. We may say that Mr Shrimski is one of the most earnest, conscientious, and intelligent men in the Assembly, which the clear and straightforward nature of his evidence before the Committee on Education would at once establish for itself. We give the questions and answers : — , Hon. the Chairman. — You are aware there has been a large number of petitions to Parliament this session in referenca to the subject of education. You know generally the subject of those petitions? — Yes. You are a member of the Hebrew persuasion ? — I am . How many Jews are there in New Zealand? — According to the last census 1,535, I believe. Do your people take advantage of the State system of education ? — They do. They have no conscientious objection to their children attending the State schools ? — Not the slightest. Do you believe in secular education ?—? — We do. Then, are you opposed to the Bible being read in the State schools ? — We are. Would your people forego sending their children to get the advantages of education in the State schools if the Bible was read in them ? — To a great extent. Our object is to have our children educated with the rest of the population, so as to grow one family. (If you bring the Bible into the school you create a bar and an ill-feeling among the children which you can never erase from their memory. So we strongly object to Bible-reading in the State schools. Have you any schools solely your own ?—? — Only Sunday-schools. Who conducts them? — The rabbi in each place, and volunteers. Do you not think the non-reading of the Bible tends to crime ? — I do not think so. I mean as far as Bible-reading ia concerned. With us it is read at home and in the Sun-day-schools. Are you aware that the Catholics have a conscientious otjection to their children attending the State schools? — From their statement I believe they have. Do you know they have schools at their own expense ? — I believe they have. Do you believe in denominational education throughout the country ? — I do not. Why ? — First, it has on the Continent of Europe created a great deal of bitter feeling between classes : this has been shown dearly up to the present day. Then, as far as we are concerned, we have been misunderstood, that we are keeping to ourselves, and do not' associate with our neighbours, whereas our desire "is quite the reverse. Our object is that our children should assooiate with those of the general population, and that all should grow up educationally as one race. Then, you approve thoroughly of State education ?— I do. Would you suggest any means for removing the grievance of the Catholics ? — I cannot do so. Hon. Mr Holmes. — Do you think the Catholics or Episcopalians who object to the present system have an equitable claim to grants for separate schools out of the Consolidated Fund? — That I cannot go into. I confine myself now to the views of our own people. ' Hon. Mr Reynolds. — Did the Jew 3 ever object to send their children to the Otago schools when the Bible was read in them ? No. They are a peaceable, quiet, community, and they did not wish to make any complaints, but at the same time they felt that it was hurtful to themselves and their children. They never complain. Even under the tyranny which has existed in Russia they put up with it. Hon. Mr Holmes. — Do not the Jews accept the Old Testament the same as we do ? — Yes ; they do, and that is read in their Sunday-schoola. Hon Mr Barnicoat — Do you think any great evil would arise to the State system if those who object to it were allowed a separate grant for their own schools — a grant proportionate to the number of scholars in their schools, which should be open to all children, with a conscious clause? — Yes. That system marks off children as belonging to a different denomination, and they are at once taunted with it. Do you speak from experience ? — Yes. I was brought up in such schools, and I have seen the same thing in the colony. Are you aware of any New Zealand school established on that system ? — Yes. I have heard complaints. Where have you seen such schools?— ln Otago. They did not work satisfactorily ? — Yes ;

but still there was a great deal of ill-feeling among the children. Do you know anything about the Nelson provincial system I—l1 — I have heard it was similar to that of Otago. Have you any reason to believe that while a separate grant was made to the Catholics in Nelson, the system was endangered thereby ? — I cannot say ; I was not there. Mr Barrou — Do the Jews attach importance to religious instruction ? — They do. Is it considered of the first importance ?— Decidedly. How is religious instruction imparted to the children ?— After they leave the day schools, they go once or twice a week to the school at the synagogue, and they go there on Saturday and Sunday. That is purely for the purpose oF religions instruction ? — Solely. They keep it distinctly apart from instruction in general knowledge ? — Yes. As a matter of fact, different classes of teachers would be required to give instructions in general knowledge and in religion ?—? — Just so. Have you ever found the moral tone of your children lowered, or their religious convictions disturbed, by their being educated at the State schools ?--Not at all. Has your form of religion been in existence long? — I think it has, long before any form of religion known to us now. Longer than the English or Catholic Chur«h ? — From history I believe it has. Do your co-religionists ever try to convert others to your form of faith ? — We never do. Do you know how many Jewish children have been sent to the industrial schools ?—? — As far as I know, none. From the above it will be seen that the Jews do not want State assistance to give their children religious education, a duty they do for themselves. They recognise that a denominational [ system would at least be unjust to them, and would not work to the advantage oi the community. They take their stand on the sound principle that the State should not interfere i with religion or sects, but allow all 1 perfect freedom in their own way to instil whatever doctrines they please. The State 'is composed of all the citizens, and its duty ends in seeing that all are brought up to understand their civil duties.

The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the Borough Council will be held this evening at 7 o'clock. We would again draw the attention of our readers to the lecture to be given this evening by the Rev. Mr Treadwell in connection with the local Orange Lodges on the subject of the "Reformation in Scotland." As no charge will be made for admission, and the subject ia interesting, we anticipate a good attendance. The annual meeting of the Young Men's Christian Association will be held on Monday next at 7.30 p.m. at the Institute. The annual report and balance sheet will be sub* mitted, and the officers and Board of Management elected for the ensuing year. At the cose of the formal business, a few short addresses will be delivered, and the choir will sing some sacred music. A full attendance of the members is requested. It is rumored that the magnates of Printing House Square have resolved on bringing out a duplicate copy of the Times every morning at a penny. It has been long considered, but it is now almost ripe for putting into execution, experiments having been made for some time past to test it's possibility as far as the printing g- es There will be something decidedly singular in a paper published at two prices — a penny and threepence. At a time when a reaction seems to have set in in favor of dairying we may mention that Mr Ellis's pateut churn, which obtained honorable mention at the Agricultural and Pastoral Society's Show, there beicg no other competitor, is a first-class appliance for use in dairy factories, and may be worked by steam or water-power. The awards already allotted to this churn in previous competitions testify to its efficiency for dairy purposes. The council of the Naval Brigade held a meeting last evening, when it was decided to hold a daylight parade of the company on the foreshore at 5 o'clock on Friday morning next. It has been decided that the company's launch, the Raumai, shall be launched and' manned, and arrangements will be made to have the Brigade photographed by Mr Huff. The fine launch, with it 3 complement of blue jackets, should make a good study for a photograph, and we have no doubt each member will be pleased to possess a copy afterwards. It is to be hoped there will be a big attendance. A friend of ours, says an exchange, who suffered severe pains from neuralgia, hearing of a noted physician in Germany, who invariably cured the disease, crossed the ocean and visited Germany for treatment. He was permanently cured after a short sojourn, and the physician freely gave him the simple remedy, which waa nothing but a poultice and tea made from our common thistle. The leaves are macerated and ased on the part affected as a pou'tioe, with a small quantity of the leaves boiled down to the proportion of a quart to a pint and a small decoction is drunk before each meal. Our friend saya he has never known it to fail of relief, while in almost every case it has effected a cure. The motion of which Mr McLean gave notice at the last meeting of the directors of the West Coast Meat Preserving Company, that two of the directors should proceed to the South Island to make inquiries as to the working of the refrigerating companies there, is a valuable one, and we hope to see it carried. Ifc is only by inspecting the various works in Wellington, Christchurcb, and Dunedin, and making minute enquiries as to the experience of the managers of the respective works, that the directors can ascertain the means best suited to the requirements of the place, and be the better able to control the working of their own establishment, while they will thus gain the experience of the companies already in operation as to the best way of developing a successful business. The Taranaki News has the following able criticism :— " Pretty cool. — The Wanganui Herald has unearthed a genius in the shape ,pf a New Plymouth correspondent, and places his contributions under the heading ' Country News !' This is about the richest joke we have heard for a long time. A stranger to both places seeing the Herald would naturally imagine that Wanganui was the great metropolis of the West Coast, and > that New Plymouth was some village in the wilderness. Of course there' are some places that would be nowhere if they did not arrogate something to themselves, so we can be merciful and forgive our contemporary. We don't intend to devote any remarks to the contribution of the genius referred to beyond saying that it is the most remarkable specimen of literary veracity andint°lligence that we ever did see." It is strange the News has not sooner recognised the metropolitan importance of Wanganui We fear the breakwater has slightly affected the equilibrium of our weekly contemporary. It is on the boards, we are informed, that rather an interesting case will probably occupy the attention of the R.M. shortly, arising out of an unfortunate contretemps, which occurred yesterday. A certain lady (apparently inheriting her desire for the flowing bowl from the maternal side) yesterday bowed rather low at the shrine of Bacchus, with the result that her equilibrium was not all that it should be. A lady friend who met her wished her to come home, but lady No. 1 objected till they had had a drink together. Consequently, they adjourned to an hotel, and afterwards to another, where they stopped till the shades of evening fell, when the husband of No. 1 casually dropping into the same house, found the faithful partner of hia joys, and woes with her friend, what would, in nautical terms, be considered more than " half seas over." Whether his righteous indignation waa too strong, or that he was displea ed 'ra^being seen at the house by his wife does nojKappear, but he immediately set too and **' pasted " her (as our informant has it), afterwards transferring his attention to her companion, and both ladies now bear the marks of their castigation. The second lady, it is said, objects to the sort of thing, and will seek healing, for her wounds in a magistrate's decision.

A Melbourne paper states that Mrs Warren, wife of Dr Warren, late of Wanganui and Patea, has taken to the stage, and appears in Melbourne. The Blue Ribbon of the Australian tuvf — the Melbourne Cvp — will be run for to-day, and as usual great interest centres in the sporting event of tho year in the colonies. The race is not generally run in time for publication before we go to press, but telegrama conveying the result of therace will be posted up at the office of this journal immediately on receipt. We understand that the local lodge of Druids have agreed to co-operate with the other lodges in regard to the great Fiiendly Societies' Gathering, to take place on New Year's Day, and are agreeable to pay their share of the balance required. The Committee from the whole of the societies meet to-night to discuss 1 matters, when the delegates from the Druids will also be present. Before the rising of the Supreme Court this morning, Mr Travers said in reference to the case Petera and others v Piercy that he did not appear as counsel having handed over his brief, but he had no doubb Mr Chapman would be pleasi d to make arrangements for the argument in the case to suit the convenience of hi-i Honor on his return to Wellington in banco. His Honor pointed out this waa doubtless a case requiring immediate attention, but he was going over to Napier. Eventually after some discussion it was decided to leave the matter over till his Honor's return to Wellington, a date to be fixed as soon as possible. This was the last business of the session, which then closed. This session of the Supreme Court has been one of the longest and most remarkable we have ever had in Wanganui, several important and interesting cases having been heard, and doubtless many will regret that the proceedings in the case McGregor v. Boyd, which came to such an abrupt termination this morning, have not been further prolonged, as the case had proved very interesting and even romantic in some particulars. The session opened just a fortnight ago to-day, and is therefore about the longest ever held here. His Homr left for the South by this afternoon's train. The sense of the ludicrous in the listener often seems to arrise from the absence of the sense of the humorous in the speaker. For such stories as the following we are indebted not merely to Scotchmen, but to Scotch divines. Thus we read of a minister who improved the subject of the repentance of Peter as he was arrested by the crowing of the cock. " Brethren, that cock was a messenger to Peter, and Peter afterwards became a kind of cock, or solemn messenger of warning, to others." The preacher then proceeded to enumerate, in what he evidently thought was a strain of eloquence, others of the Apostles and early Christians whom he thought wovthy of that high designation, and then came the c'imax when, at the highest pitch of his voice, and throwing out his hands, he exclaimed, "And brethren, I, too, am a cock !" And he went on to give warnings and solemn messages accordingly. Absence of mind, however, sometimes produces results as awkward as absence of humour. The Rev Mr Imlack, of Murroe", was an able man, but a very absent-minded one, and once, in a public service of considerable importance, he spoke of all ranks and degrees of persons " from the king on the dunghill tO'the beggar on the throne ;" but, suspecting rather than percieving the mistake, be proceeded instantly to amend his error by saying, "No, my friends, I mean from the beggar on the throne to the king on the dunghill." — Rev Paxton Hood's " Scottish Characteristics."