Page:The "Conscience Clause" (Denison, 1866).djvu/12

8 come to the "Management Clauses," which some seven years later superseded the Trust Deed Forms of 1840, all trace of such attempt has disappeared; probably because it had been found that no Parish School, or Church of England School not being a Parish School, would have anything to say to it. The Management Clauses for Church of England Schools are for all such schools, whether in union with the National Society or not, whether Parish Schools or other, and there is no trace in them of a "Conscience Clause" Further conclusive evidence of the purpose of establishing a State system will be supplied as I proceed.

The denominational principle then, strictly construed, has been the only principle upon which it has been proposed to extend public aid to the schools of the Church up to the year 1856, save only in the case of the two obsolete Forms of Trust Deed to which I have referred, as it is the only legitimate principle upon which the Church can accept aid to her schools from the Civil Power. The few last unhappy years have seen a great change—a change which amounts to a revolution—in the system, and is full of all manner of evil issues, without one counterbalancing advantage fit to be taken into account. In these years, beginning with 1856, the proposal for comprehension has taken the shape, not of a suggestion, but of a penalty. Before 1856 it was free for founders of a parish or other school of the Church of England to accept, or not to accept, the suggestion of what is called the "liberal" basis without forfeiture; though, indeed, the construction of the Management Clauses had exempted them from having it put before them even in the shape of a suggestion. Since 1856 it is not free. The "liberal" principle in this, as in other things, has reached its natural issue, a one-sided freedom. Be free, as we please, say the Committee of Council, and you shall be helped. Be free, not after our rule, but agreeably to the principles of the Church, which we ourselves once accepted and recognised as the basis of our arrangements with the ministers and people of the Church, and you shall not be helped. Well,