frequently declared that they could not make people sober by Act of Parliament; how, then, could they make them religious by Act of Parliament? He hoped that they would not be forced to a division upon this matter. MR. NEWDEGATE said, that the hon. and learned Gentleman (Sir William Harcourt) had described the clause proposed by his Colleague the Member for the City of Oxford, as contemplating an impossibility, because his Colleague proposed to extend the Conscience Clause, now that the attendance of children in some schools or other was rendered compulsory, in the sense of giving the parents a right to demand Scriptural education for their children, if they so thought fit, as part of the teaching they were to be forced to accept; but the hon. and learned Gentleman had admitted that the present system of elementary education had superseded a rational system of religious education. How, then, could the far more moderate proposal of his Colleague contemplate or involve an impossibility? The noble Lord the Vice President of the Council had said that since 1870 the question of religious teaching in_a national sense had not been stirred. He (Mr. Newdegate) thought that the noble Lord's memory had failed him, for in 1872 he remembered voting in a majority of that House with the noble Lord, whereby the House declared that the system of Scriptural education, according to " use and wont," should be retained in the elementary schools of Scotland. It was quite true that the then Government managed afterwards to rescind that vote by a small majority; still, it could scarcely be said that the House at that time did not entertain the subject of religious education, or that it had not been stirred. The noble Lord had also expressed a serious apprehension that the system now adopted would impair the earnestness of the school teachers in imparting religious instruction, and that it would even tend to shake their religious convictions. The noble Lord was perfectly right; his apprehensions were founded upon the teaching of history and experience. For some years previous to 1848 religious teaching had been discouraged in the German schools, especially in those of Prussia; the teachers either were or became irreligious, and in 1848 and 1849, it was found that Sir William Harcourt these schoolmasters had become the leaders of the revolutionary movement among the people. Irreligious men were apt to be revolutionists. It had been strange to hear in that debate Member after Member rise and declare that the value which the people of this country attached to religious education was so strong that they had forced the school boards to adopt religious teaching; and yet those very Members of an Assembly which opened its proceedings each day with prayer, protested that it would be inconsistent in the House of Commons to give effect to the religious convictions of the people in elementary schools, supported by public money. He (Mr. Newdegate), felt compelled to ask himself "Was that House really a representative Assembly?" But the truth was that in that House, upon this subject, there was a sad want of earnestness and of moral courage. The House lacked the courage necessary to their genuinely representing the religious convictions of the people. It had been insinuated that the hon. Members near him were not sincere in their convictions. To that there could be but one answer given, and that answer would be found in the hon. Member for the City of Oxford enabling them to record their votes by pressing his clause to a division, and that he (Mr. Newdegate) hoped the hon. Member would do without delay. Mr. HALL explained that his proposal was not to force religious instruction, but simply to provide that it should be given where the parents desired it; or, in other words, it would give a Conscience Clause which would cut both ways. His hon. and learned Friend wanted to know how unwilling school boards could be compelled to teach religion? Now he (Mr. Hall) in proposing his Amendment, thought more of the parents than of the school boards. No doubt, the school boards found great difficulty in dealing with the question of religious teaching, and by way of getting rid of the difficulty they wanted to avoid the question of religious teaching altogether. Question put. The Committee divided:-Ayes 96; Noes 190: Majority 94. Committee report Progress; to sit again To-morrow, at Two of the clock. BISHOPRIC OF TRURO BILL. (Mr. Assheton Cross, Sir Henry Selwin-Ibbetson.) [BILL 185.] COMMITTEE. [Progress 26th July.] Bill considered in Committee. (In the Committee.) Clause 6 (Appointment of Bishop of Truro). MR. DILLWYN proposed, as an Amendment, words to the effect that, in the case of subsequent appointments to the Bishopric, the election should be made without reference to the congé d'elire by the Dean and Chapter, and that the nomination of the Crown should be definitive. Amendment proposed, in page 3, line 9, to leave out the words "So long as there is not a Dean and Chapter of Truro."-(Mr. Dillwyn.) Question again proposed, "That the words proposed to be left out stand part of the Clause." Question put. the like advice, at any time before the expiration of the order, to make an order renewing same for any period not exceeding three months, and so from time to time to renew the order so long as he shall think it necessary to continue same; and so long as it shall be so renewed the original order shall be deemed to be and continue in force: "All appointments made under and by virtue of such order shall absolutely cease and determine so soon as such order shall cease to be in force."-(Mr. Biggar.) He said, the object of his Amendment was to prevent a staff of officials after the requisition of their services had ceased. SIR MICHAEL HICKS - BEACH pointed out that the officials were only to be kept where required. He thought it would be very unwise to fetter the discretion of the Executive, and the addition of the clause would be a serious impediment in the way of the Privy Council. MR. O'SHAUGHNESSY said, it was how long disease might exist in a possible for the Privy Council to know particular district, and for that reason he thought it was better that the officials The Committee divided:-Ayes 135; should only be appointed for a stated Noes 67: Majority 68. Clause agreed to. Remaining Clauses agreed to. House resumed. Bill reported; as amended, to be considered To-morrow, at Two of the clock. CATTLE DISEASES (IRELAND) BILL. (Sir Michael Hicks-Beach, Mr. Solicitor General for Ireland.) [BILL 94.] CONSIDERATION. Further consideration, as amended, resumed. Bill considered. MR. BIGGAR moved In page 2, line 26, after the word "Funds," at the end of the previous Amendment, to add the words "Provided always, That in every order so made a time shall be specified, not exceeding three months, during which period and no longer such order shall be in force; but it shall be lawful for the Lord Lieutenant, with time. The course would prevent the creation of vested interests. CAPTAIN NOLAN supported the Amendment, and hoped the Government would give way on this point. MR. WHITWELL also supported the Amendment. INDEX ΤΟ HANSARD'S PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES, VOLUME CCXXX. FOURTH VOLUME OF SESSION 1876. EXPLANATION OF THE ABBREVIATIONS. In Bills, Read 1o, 2o, 3o, or 1a, 2a, 3a, Read the First, Second, or Third Time.-In Speeches, 1R., 2R., 3R., Speech delivered on the First, Second, or Third Reading.-Amendt., Amendment. Res., Resolution.-Comm., Committee.-Re-Comm., Re-Committal.-Rep., Report.Consid., Consideration.-Adj., Adjournment or Adjourned.-cl., Clause.--add. cl., Additional Clause.-neg., Negatived.-M. Q., Main Question.-O. Q., Original Question.-O. M., Original Motion.-P. Q., Previous Question.-R. P., Report Progress.-A., Ayes.-N., Noes.-M., Majority.-1st. Div., 2nd. Div., First or Second Division.—l., Lords.—c., Commons. When in this Index a is added to the Reading of a Bill, it indicates that no Debate took place upon that stage of the measure. When in the Text or in the Index a Speech is marked thus *, it indicates that the Speech is reprinted from a Pamphlet or some authorized Report. When in the Index a t is prefixed to a Name or an Office (the Member having accepted or vacated office during the Session) and to Subjects of Debate thereunder, it indicates that the Speeches on those Subjects were delivered in the speaker's private or official character, as the case may be. Some subjects of debate have been classified under the following "General Headings:"ARMY-NAVY-INDIA-IRELAND SCOTLAND - PARLIAMENT - POOR LAW-POST OFFICEMETROPOLIS-CHURCH OF ENGLAND · EDUCATION- CRIMINAL LAW-LAW AND JUSTICETAXATION, under WAYS AND MEANS. ABERDARE, Lord Bankers Books Evidence, 2R. 1470 Commons, Comm. cl. 30, 1432; Report, cl. 30, Amendt. 1518 Intemperance, Motion for a Select Committee, 733 Local Government Board's Provisional Orders Confirmation (Birmingham, &c.), Comm. 1520 Poor Law Amendment, 2R. 1277 Prevention of Crimes Act Amendment, 2R. 485 c. Order read, for taking into Consideration the Moved, "That this House doth agree with the Question again proposed; Moved, "That the Original Question put, and agreed to; subse- All Saints, Moss, Bill [H.L.] (The Lord Archbishop of York) 1. Royal Assent June 27 [39 & 40 Vict. c. 44] Ancient Monuments Bill (Sir John Lubbock, Mr. Beresford Hope, Mr. ANDERSON, Mr. G., Glasgow H.M.S. "Thunderer," 1888, 1971 Parliament-Order-Balloting for Motions, Public Business, Arrangement of, 1640 Sale of Intoxicating Liquors on Sunday (Ire- Turkey-Bulgaria, Alleged Atrocities in, 1184 |