(From the Christchurch Press.") TO THE EDITOR.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume X, Issue 510, 19 January 1883, Page 11

(From the Christchurch Press.") TO THE EDITOR.

Sib, — Your article upon the education question and Dr. Moran's address will be read with greater interest than most leading articles by many Anglicans as well as Roman Catholics. You state the case fairly, but it is impossible to agree with the conclusion at which you arrive. If the Church of England could be true to herself for a little while, there would be no education question left. The more large-hearted dissenters would be glad of an opportunity to join a general protest against godlessness, though they cannot at present protest without appearing to follow the lead of the Roman Catholics. The Church of England may rally yet. She has no discipline certainly, and the majority of her members might as well be oysters for this purpose, in fact far better, for they have up to the present given a sort of lazy party vote against Christianity. But this will not always be the case ; it simply could not last. Does any thinking Churchman suppose that we are always going to live in a sorb of fool's paradise, decorating churches, importing big organs, and ignoring our obligations to the young, whose most prominent accomplishments at present are smoking tobacco and swearing at their parents ? Upon this question the Church has to face the why and the wherefore of her existence. It will be quite impossible for her to dally with it much longer. Nor is she inclined to do so. Her bishops and clergy at all events are, on the whole, as anxious to do their duty as Bishop Moran is. But, if the truth must be told, they have been tied and bound by the most degrading thraldom. They cannot move without the laity, and the creed of a large proportion of the laity is merely negative — " arti-Roman," nothing more. The Roman Catholics were the first to do battle for Christian education, consequently, we must do battle against it. This is the very contemptible sum total of the whole " question" ! Now this cannot last. lam not minimising the differences between Roman and Anglican teaching. I feel them acutely ; but if I am ordered by the beery breath of a mob to take the side of the devil because Roman Catholics happen to have taken the side of God, I must decline. My logic will not be popular, but I cannot help that. " Dog-in-the-manger" tactics have not paid. Bishop Moran points north, east, south and west to his schools. They are maintained by submitting to " double taxation"; they represent self -denial, but there is only a very grim sort of satisfaction in this. Protestants also claim to represent the religion of self-sacrifice. How have they illustrated it ? They have sacrificed everything they are supposed to regard as indispensable, to prevent the establishment of these very schools 111 I must refuse to regard this in its essence as a Roman Catholic question. It is only political dodgery trying to make capital out of traditional hatreds, which has given that turn to it. Ido not undervalue the secular instruction itself imparted at£he State schools. The teachers are not only better than the system they administer, but ■ (thanks to the Church) very many of them take a higher interest in the children than the system either desires or deserves. I think it would be a bard thing if the clergy should be dragged into politics ; but they will be— they cannot help it much longer. Bishop Moran is fighting for his schools directly, but indirectly for all those who believe in God. The denominational system never broke down here, for it was never tried except on a ridiculous scale. Mr. Mundella does not think that it has broken down in England, nor indeed is it likely to. For myself, I have so time or skill for general politics, but at the next general election, if any candidate comes forward who believes in God, and has the courage to say so, and take the consequences, I will do all that I can for his return. I will promise to stand by him at the hustings, and if necessary put up with as many dead kittens and sodawater bottles as he will.— Yours, &c, R. A. Mortimer, Curate, St, Albans,