gious instruction in them, or in maintaining their efficiency in other respects. The Rev. W. Butler, Wantage Vicarage, Abingdon. CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE NATIONAL SOCIETY. (No. 1.) Memorandum, dated April 11, 1848, communicated to the Lord President of the Council, by His Grace the President of the National Society, accompanied by a Deputation, consisting of the Bishop of Oxford, the Earl of Harrowby, and W. Page Wood, Esq., M.P. 1. THE Committee of the National Society, in requesting his Grace the President to confer with the Lord President of Her Majesty's Council on the subject of the "Management Clauses" to be inserted in the trust deeds of Church of England schools, are earnestly desirous that his Lordship's attention should be specially called to the following statement of the past proceedings and present position of the National Society. 2. The National Society has always abstained as much as possible from interfering with the discretion of the local founders and supporters of schools. Its terms of union were not intended to require any one specific constitution or form of management, but were limited to requiring such provisions as appeared absolutely necessary to give any school a claim to be regarded as a Church of England school. The National Society has acted herein under the conviction that, while effectual provision may be made by proper arrangements in trust deeds for the legal security of the property, the co-operation of the laity will be most effectually secured by imposing as few restrictions as possible on the liberty of local founders and subscribers, in regard to the constitution of their schools. 3. In agreement with these principles, the Committee of the National Society, in their letter of the 12th of May, 1846, on the subject of the management clauses, expressed their desire that the promoters of education throughout the country should have the same liberty of choice as to the constitution of their schools which had been hitherto conceded to them, both by the Committee of Council on Education and by the National Society; while, at the same time, the Committee of the National Society signified that they were prepared to concur with the Committee of Council in recommending the clauses in question to applicants for aid, "it being understood that the appli"cants might select the clause most adapted to their own "case;" and when, in the subsequent letter, signed by his Grace the late President of the Society, dated the 23rd of November, 1846, the Committee of the Society consented to employ their influence in recommending these clauses (with the modification then agreed to), it was coupled with a repetition of the desire which they had before expressed, and of the understanding which they had then specified; which understanding would give to the local founders of the schools, and not to the Secretary of the Committee of Council, the selection of the clause to be inserted in their trust deeds. 4. Since the adoption by the Committee of Council on Education of the existing management clauses, the Committee of the National Society have received strong remonstrances from the clergy and laity in various parts of the country, which convince them that much dissatisfaction has arisen amongst the promoters of Church schools, of such a character as to threaten greatly to interfere with those endeavours for extending education amongst the poorer classes, which have been of late so zealously made, and from which such beneficial results have been obtained. 5. The dissatisfaction which has been expressed appears to have arisen partly from the apprehension which is felt lest the Committee of Council should not only recommend, but proceed absolutely to enforce, in all cases, the adoption of one or other of the present clauses, as a condition in making a grant towards building a school; and partly from objections to the forms themselves. 6. The Committee of the National Society would still desire to see as large an amount of liberty as possible preserved to the local founders of schools, through fear of checking the efforts of many of the friends of education. 7. But dissatisfaction has also arisen from specific provisions in the management clauses. Now, when the clauses were first adopted by the Committee of Council, the Committee of the National Society felt that their attention was called to a subject on which they had not heretofore bestowed sufficient consideration; and being anxious to supply this defect, and to co-operate with the Committee of Council, they were ready as far as possible to acquiesce in the forms suggested, even though they might not contain the exact provisions which the National Society would itself have originated, or embody all that the Society might think desirable. Accordingly, the Committee of the National Society would now proceed to suggest certain alterations, which they believe would make the clauses more generally applicable and more readily accepted. 8. The Committee of the National Society desire, as anxiously as the Committee of Council, to secure the cordial co-operation of the lay members of the Church with the clergy, in the management of Church schools. They do not believe that the dissatisfaction to which they have referred has arisen from any general dislike to this principle, but from a strong objection, which is felt by many of their supporters, to the compulsory adoption of election by the subscribers, as the only mode, in certain cases, of introducing laymen upon school committees. This system has not been so uniformly successful as to afford any satisfactory reason for requiring its adoption as an indispensable condition in making a grant, in cases where it is strongly objected to by those who are ready to subscribe largely to the foundation of a school. The Committee of the National Society would therefore repeat their former suggestion 9. 1st. That a free choice be left to the promoters of schools, amongst the different management clauses. They would ground this recommendation, first, on the great importance of leaving to the founders of schools the largest amount of liberty which is compatible with the safeguards rendered necessary by the application of public money; and, secondly, on their conviction, above expressed, that there are some cases in which it would be inexpedient to require that the Committee should be constituted by the election of subscribers; and other cases, which would be brought by the numbers of the population under Clause A, but to which (from the character of the population, or the circumstances under which the school was founded) one of the other clauses would be more appropriate. Nor do they foresee any probable abuse of this permission, since, whenever zealous laymen in the district assisted in founding schools, it would be as impossible as it would be unwise to exercise the privilege of selecting the clause, so as to exclude them from the management. The Committee of the National Society would suggest― 10. 2ndly. That an appeal, of a safe and easy character, be at once provided, in case of differences arising in the committee of management, upon all other points besides those involving the moral and religious instruction of the scholars, and in particular upon the selection, appointment, and dismissal of the schoolmaster and schoolmistress, and their assistants. They would suggest the following arrangement for this appeal ;-viz., that it be left to the local founders of schools to insert in the trust deed one of the following provisions ;-either that one arbitrator be appointed by the Committee of Council on Education, and another by the Bishop of the diocese, who, in case of disagreement between themselves, shall refer the matter in difference to the Archbishop of the province, whose decision shall be final; or, that one arbitrator be appointed by the Committee of Council on Education, and another by the Committee of the National Society, who, in case of disagreement between themselves, shall fix upon an umpire or referee, whose decision shall be final; or that one arbitrator be appointed by the Committee of Council, and another by the Committee of the National Society, who, in case of disagreement between themselves, shall refer the matter to the Bishop of the diocese, whose decision shall be final. Provided always, that, before an appeal on the aforenamed matters shall lie, it shall be necessary for one-third at least of the members of the committee of managers attending the meeting at which an appeal is proposed to join in demanding such appeal. 11. The Committee of the National Society would suggest― 3rdly. That all members of the managing committee of a school, except ordained ministers of the Church of England, shall qualify for acting on the same, by subscribing a declaration that they are bona fide members of the Church of England, and not joined members or frequenters of the worship of any other religious denomination. 12. They would suggest 4thly. That the right of the parochial clergyman to employ the schoolroom for a Sunday-school be in all cases declared. 13. And they would suggest 5thly. The following detailed alteration in the wording and substance of the Management Clauses. That, whereas one paragraph runs as follows,-"In case any "difference should arise between the said minister or curate " and the committee of management hereinafter mentioned, respecting the religious instruction of the scholars," &c.; this paragraph shall always in future stand thus,-" In case any "difference should arise between the said minister or curate "and the committee of management hereinafter mentioned, "respecting the prayers to be used in the school, the religious "instruction of the scholars," &c. 14. Also, that, whereas in the clauses one paragraph runs as follows," Other persons, members of the Church of England, "residents, or having a beneficial interest to the extent of a life "estate at the least in real property situated in the said the paragraph shall for the future stand thus,-" Other per"sons, members of the Church of England, having a beneficial "interest to the extent of a life estate at the least in real pro"perty situated in the said or residents in the 66 said or in adjoining 15. Also, that, in all the clauses which give to subscribers of one pound, or other sum, the right of voting for members of the committee, a provision be admissible, giving to such subscribers the right of giving one vote for every such pound (or for every such other sum as shall convey the right of voting) as they shall annually subscribe; provided always that no amount of subscription shall entitle any one person to more than six votes. 16. Also, that, the insertion of the churchwardens as ex officio managers be always left optional to the local founders of schools; and that, when inserted, they shall in every case be under all the same conditions of eligibility as the other lay members of the committee. National Society's Office, 11th of April, 1848. (No. 2.) MY LORD ARCHBISHOP, Committee of Council on Education, THE Committee of Council on Education have had under their consideration the memorandum communicated to the Lord President by your Grace and the deputation which accompanied you, relative to their Lordships' Minute, dated June 28, 1847, and the administration of this department, with respect to the management clauses inserted in the trust deeds of Church of England schools. Their Lordships are desirous of bringing to your Grace's recollection that the Committee of Council did not adopt their Minute of June 28, 1847, until after they had introduced the whole question involved in it to the consideration of the local promoters of Church of England schools by a correspondence extending over two years, nor until they had communicated with the National Society on the subject. Prior to this correspondence with the local promoters of schools, no adequate provision had been made in the great majority of recent school deeds for the co-operation of the laity with the clergy in the management of Church of England schools. This fact, together with the nature of the proposals which have been pressed upon the Committee of Council on Education, have led their Lordships to conclude that it is expedient that they should concur with the National Society in the adoption of definite provisions relative to the management of Church of England schools, the insertion of which provisions in school deeds should be regarded as conditions of such assistance. With this view my Lords have given their most attentive consideration to that part of the memorandum communicated by your Grace, which "suggests certain alterations which the National Society believe would make the clauses more generally applicable and more readily accepted." I. The Committee of Council are ready to agree that the adoption of Management Clause A should not be required in those cases in which it is shown to the satisfaction of the Committee of Council that from the character of the population, or other causes, the adoption of this clause is inexpedient. |