chose, and they might cram them full of children. The Act said the State ought not to intermeddle in matters of religion; but yet every ratepayer might be taxed to pay for the teaching of his neighbour's creed."

The second day of the meeting was devoted chiefly to the discussion of the Irish and Scotch systems. The Rev. David Wilson, D.D., of Limerick, a member of the Commission appointed in 1868 to enquire into the condition of primary education in Ireland, described in an elaborate paper the working of the mixed system in Ireland. He impugned the fairness and impartiality of the report presented by the Commissioners. The Rev. John Scott Porter of Belfast, a member of the deputation from the Irish League, pleaded for the maintenance in its integrity of the Irish system, as the only guarantee for the religious freedom of the minority.

Mr. Miall, Mr. Walter Morrison, and Mr. J. H. Burges took part in the discussion. Mr. Morrison cautioned the meeting against the well-known proclivities of some of the Cabinet in favour of a denominational system for Ireland.

Papers were also read by the Rev. Robert Craig, of Glasgow, and by Professor Nichol, from the Scotch Education League, on Education in Scotland; and by Sir Charles Dilke and Mr. Collings on Free Schools. The Rev. William Binns, Birkenhead, Rev. Mr. Gould, Norwich, Mr. Cremer, London, the Rev. J. Haslam, Leeds, Dr. Lunge, South Shields, and the Rev. S. A. Steinthal, continued the discussion. The Chairman announced, at the close of the meeting, a large increase of subscriptions. The proceedings were closed by a Soirée in the Town Hall, given by the Mayor, Mr. G. B. Lloyd, to the members of the League.

A full report of the meeting was widely circulated. The papers and speeches contain an admirable exposition of the lines of the controversy at the period.

The agitation was immediately followed up in all the large towns, and within the next three months a hundred and twenty meetings were held in England and Wales, which were attended by the Officers or deputations from the Executive. These meetings were almost without exception, free and open to the public, and though they were often scenes of great excitement, and sometimes of disorder, they convinced the leaders of the movement that the great preponderance of public feeling was on their side. Amongst the new adherents was Earl Rnssell, who wrote to Mr. Dixon publicly joining the League, and strongly condemning the Government policy.

The beginning of 1872 marks a new period in the growth and direction of the agitation, which may be more conveniently described in a separate chapter.

CHAPTER VII.

PERIOD. FROM THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF 1872 TO THE GENERAL ELECTION, 1874.

THE Government, in bringing in the Education Bill had professed a desire to supplement the denominational system. But the controversies of 1870-71, and a year's administration of the Act, had convinced the most sceptical that their real purpose was to perpetuate, strengthen and extend it. The large increase of annual grants, the thousands of new denominational schools endowed with building grants, the undisguised administration of the Act in the interests of Church schools, admitted of no other interpretation. There was also, in the background, a suspicion, always on the alert, that a similar system would be extended to Scotland and Ireland. These new conditions threw upon the Executive the responsibility of considering how the original scheme of the League could be adapted to the altered circumstances, in such a manner as to secure efficient local control over the public schools, to promote the observance of sound principles in public expenditure, and at the same time to afford to all denominations the fullest opportunity of giving religious instruction to their own scholars, at their own labour and cost.

The step now taken by the League was the sequence of the aggressive coalition between the Ministry, the Clergy, and the Tories. Until the Denominational system had been encouraged to claim fresh privileges, and to usurp new ground, the League had been content that it should be left pretty much alone, to merge by degrees, and as experience should suggest, in a national system. The idea of gradual

extinction was now abandoned for that of active conversion, having regard, of course for just privileges, and the interests. of religion.

At a meeting of the Executive Committee held on the 18th of January, 1872, it was resolved to submit the following recommendations for the approval of the members.

"1.-The compulsory Election of School Boards in all

districts.

"2.-No schools to be recognised as public elementary schools but those under the control of elected School Boards.

"3.--Existing School buildings to be placed by consent under the control of such Boards, for use during the hours of secular instruction, to be given under the direction of School Boards; the buildings to be retained for all other purposes by the denominations with which they are connected.

"4.-Any school in respect to which such control is declined,

to be excluded from participation in the annual Government Grant.

"5.—In all schools provided by School Boards out of local

rates, periods entirely separate and distinct from the time allotted to ordinary school teaching may be set apart for instruction on week days. Such religious instruction to be given by denominations at their own cost, and by their own teachers appointed for that purpose, but no privilege to be given to one denomination over another. In cases of dispute appeal to be made to the Education Department."

Thus by the logic of facts, and in pursuit of elementary principles of justice, the "combined" system was once more placed before the nation. The old accusation of following "godless" and "irreligious" education was raised more

vehemently than ever; but the people were getting a little used to this cry of "wolf." The League had been denounced as godless and irreligious when it advocated Bible reading; and it was now condemned as infidel and atheistic in upholding a system which the Primate and Bishops of the Established Church in Ireland had supported, and which Irish Protestants, without exception, regarded as the chief safeguard of their religious freedom. That which on one side of the Channel was preached as the palladium of liberty, was denounced on the other as an intolerable tyranny, and this by members of the same sect.

The members of the League, almost without exception, adopted the proposals of the Committee, and there was a considerable increase in numbers and subscriptions. The only member of note whose decided views they contravened, was Earl Russell, who had joined on the express ground of his warm approval of Bible reading as part of the ordinary school work. The change, however, did not lessen his interest in the question, or his disposition to advance the work of education; and he became, before his death, a convert to the doctrine of free schools, which twenty years before he had stifled in Parliament.

The great Conference of Nonconformists, held at Manchester early in the year, comprising delegates from nearly two thousand churches, accepted the principle; and it was widely advocated by the liberal press, as the only means by which a complete and efficient system could be brought into general use. The educationists of the old Manchester school especially, felt that they were standing on firm ground again.

At the annual meeting in the autumn, Mr. Collings moved the adoption of the suggestions, and explained the reasons which had led the Executive to recommend them as the only practical solution of the difficulties created by