Page:The Conscience Clause (Oakley, 1866).djvu/17

5 But in the case of schools in union with the National Society,the question was always a very little way below the surface, and gradually came clearly into view. The terms of union with that society, so far as they relate to this point, are as follows—

"1. The children are to be instructed in the Holy Scriptures, and in the Liturgy and Catechism of the Established Church.

2. With respect to such instruction, the schools are to be subject to the superintendence of the parochial clergyman.

The children are to be regularly assembled for the purpose of attending divine service in the parish church or other place of worship under the Establishment, unless such reason be assigned for their non-attendance as is satisfactory to the managers of the school."

The form of trust deed for schools in union with the National Society contains the following provision, and no other, upon the subject:—"Such schools shall always be in union with and conducted according to the principles, and in furtherance of the ends and designs, of the National Society for promoting the education of the poor in the principles of the Established Church &hellip; in manner following; that is to say, the principal officiating minister for the time being of the said parish &hellip; shall have the superintendence of the religious and moral instruction of all the scholars attending such school."

It will be seen that these forms make no direct provision for such exemption of the children of Nonconformists from the religious teaching of the Church as is provided for by the trust deed already quoted. But it is contended that such exemption is habitually practised, and is indeed notoriously so, as a matter of discretion; and a minor ground of the society's rejection of the clause is that it fetters the discretion of the managers, as