The New Zealand Tablet. Fiat Justitia. FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 1878. A FEW INSTRUCTIVE FACTS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume V, Issue 267, 14 June 1878, Page 13

The New Zealand Tablet. Fiat Justitia. FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 1878. A FEW INSTRUCTIVE FACTS.

to encourage the Minister to persevere in his godless scheme. Nor did the doctor's zeal stop here. A meeting of Protestant clergymen of all denominations was held shortly after, in Knox Churcli — the doctor's own church — and over which, if we remember rightly, the doctor himself presided, and atwliich a resolution, in favour of secular education as opposed to denominational, was carried with the approbation, and after the warm advocacy of Dr. Stuart himself. "We think, though, we are not absolutely certain, that the Rev. Dr. Copland, another Dunedin Presbyterian clergyman, strongly supported Dr. Stuart's views. There can be no doubt, however, that the Rev. Mr. Fitchett, Wesleyan clergyman, went in head and shoulders and hips for secular education. He repudiated denominational education almost indignantly. On principle, not at all as a matter of expediency, he and the Baptist clergyman advocated secular education as a right and proper system to be established in a Christian community. At length the godless Bill so strenuously supported by these Christian ministers became law, helped by their advocacy the principle of secularism triumphed, and now, a colony made up for the most part of Christians, possesses an unchristian system of .education. This system has been duly inaugurated ; the machinery for its administration provided, and.it is now in full working '6rder. In many parts of the Province of Otago — we are not yet in a position to speak of other provinces — clergymen of various Protestant denominations have applied for permission to give religious instruction out of school hours in Government schools. In Dunedin, the Rev. Mr. Fitchett obtained permission to do so in the Stafford-street school house, even though at the time selected by him his own Wesleyan Church and Schoolroom are shut up. At Lawrence, too, the Wesleyan clergyman has been granted the use of the Government schoolrooms for the accommodation of a Mutual Improvement Young Men's Society. But the public is told by way of apology that there is nothing sectarian in the teaching of these Wesleyan clergymen in these schools. Cr eclat juilceus non ego. Only fancy the religious teaching of Wesleyans not sectarian. But the Revs. Dr. Stuart and Copland have not heen so fortunate, as their Wesleyan brethren, in their application to the Dunedin School Committee. This committee has refused those gentlemen permission to give religious instruction in Government school rooms on Saturdays, or indeed at any time. Whereupon these gentlemen are highly indignant, and threaten to commence an agitation in favour of denominational education. Denominationalists are avenged thereby, and these rev. gentlemen cut a rather ridiculous figure before the public. * But it may be asked how comes it that the Rev. Mr. Fitchett succeeded in obtaining what has been refused to the Presbyterian rev. doctors ; and the committee will find it rather difficult to give a satisfactory answer to this question. One answer is that given by one of the School Committee at its last meeting, viz : — The Rev. Mr. Fitchett teaches nothing sectarian. This, however, is so absurd that it is undeserving of serious consideration and may be dismissed at once The other is that Mr. Fitchett has some control over the school building in which he gives religious 'instruction. Has the School Committee borrowed this building, or hired it from the clergyman or his friends, which ? We must refuse to believe in the borrowing theory, and look upon it as certain it has been hired. If hired, then it is, for the time being, a Government school building, and should, in reason and consistency, be dealt with as all the other school buildings, so far as permitting religious instruction is concerned. Under whatever point of view, then, the conduct of the Duneddn School Committee is considered it is indefensible. If they acted rightly in refusing the permission sought by Drs. Stuart and Copland, they acted improperly in permitting Mr. Fitchett to give religious instruction in the Staffordstreet school, and vice versa. It is impossible to wriggle out of this dilemma. There are a few more facts in relation to this matter which must not be omitted here. In Dunedin City — that is, within the municipal boundaries — there are five large Presbyterian Churches, to some of which there are attached schoolrooms, and to all of which belong large rooms, which are very well suited for catechetical instructions. There is no resident citizen of Dunedin who could not reach one or other of these churches from his own home in a walk of from five to seven minutes. These churches "then are easily within the reach of every citizen of Dunedin, and quite as near to their homes as the Government schools, all things considered.

In presence of these facts people will be tempted to ask themselves the following questions : — "Were the Protestant ministers and others who so strenulously advocated secular education in earnest in their advocacy ? Were they only playing a part in order to keep Catholics from participating in the educational advantages provided by (xovernment ? Were they under the impression that owing to their number and influence they could so manipulate the school machinery as to make education ostensibly secular, in reality Presbyterian ? And are they now wheeling about because they find themselves checkmated in the attempt to do so ? We, too, have asked ourselves these questions ; but we do not intend to set down here in order the conclusions at which we have arrived; wo do not wish to forestall the public verdict on these recent school proceedings in Dunedin and throughout the Province of Otago. ]Sfor, indeed, is it at all necessary we should do so ; the public, having the facts before them will be enabled to draw as true and just a conclusion as ourselves. Here, then, we have another illustration of the working of this godless system of education, which has been set up as a golden calf in our midst, and before which secularists expect us all to bow down in adoration. Its former enthusiastic admirers threaten to break it into fragments, and no matter what we think of their conduct hitherto, we hope they may, at all events, succeed in removing this evil and this reproach out of the sight of a Christian people. Two wiseacres belonging to the Dunedin School Committee, during the debats on Drs. Stua-rt and Copland's request, insinuated, if indeed they did not openly affirm, -that denominational education had lead to shocking results in South Australia and Victoria. We should like very much to know the details of this shocking state of things, and we now call on Mr, Siieuwisr and Mr. BjEi-Lto make good their statements. Let them tell us what they mean ; we as denominationalists have a right to demand this of the Dunedin School Committeemen.