Page:The Conscience Clause (Oakley, 1866).djvu/30

18 the promoters of Church Schools; but in those cases where the suggestion has been offered, it has been offered with reference to local circumstances which rendered a National School, or a National School of the size proposed, unsuitable to the religious denomination of the families relied upon for supplying scholars. (Article 22).

The question has in each instance been, whether, instead of simply refusing the application, my Lords could agree with the promoters upon such a modification of it as would enable the Committee of Council to entertain it.

My Lords have already stated that, with the exception of increased strictness in examining the preliminary statement of each case, they have not changed the principles upon which their grants for building schools are administered. They have nowhere bound themselves to make grants to build National Schools for children whose parents are not members of the Established Church, and they must leave the Committee of the National Society to consider how the society's present terms of union, as elucidated by this correspondence, affect the establishment of Church Schools in those many parishes where one school only can be maintained, and where a part of the labouring population consists of Dissenters. To help with public money to build a National School large enough for the whole population of such a parish leaves the Dissenters exposed to a violation of their religious rights, and to help to build such a school large enough for the Church people only of such a parish leaves the Dissenters without education. A Church School, with a Conscience Clause, escapes both horns of the dilemma, but my Lords regret to learn that it is held to be inconsistent with the charter of the National Society and the terms of union.

I have the honour to be, &c,

(Signed)

The Reverend the Secretary, National School Society."