The English Education Bill

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 8, 1906

The English Education Bill

The English Education bill has now reached a most interesting stage. It has commanded attention for months on both sides of the Atlantic. The world has been wondering what the House of Lords would do with the bill. As it had passed the House of Commons with a very strong majority, and as it was known that the House of Lords was strongly opposed to it, interesting times were looked for when the upper house should take action. The bill came before the House of Lords on October 29, and an amendment was offered which practically nullifies the whole intent and purpose of the proposed law. This amendment provides that religious education shall be made compulsory during a part of the daily school hours in all the public elementary schools. The amendment carried by a vote of two hundred and fifty-six to fifty-six. This stand sets the two houses against each other upon the most vital question that has arisen in England for many years. It also sets the House of Lords against the present administration, which is in favor of the passage of the bill. It is stated that when the bill again comes before the Commons, the obnoxious amendment will be stricken out, and the original bill will be passed again. It will then be laid once more before the upper house, and will probably be amended again. It is not possible to predict what course will be taken by the government and the Commons following the final refusal of the upper house to sanction the bill. Some suggest the dissolution of Parliament and an appeal direct to the people. It is even predicted that a bill may be passed by the lower house to abolish the House of Lords. Opposition to the bill has been strong among adherents of the established church and the Catholic Church, and some have even predicted the shedding of blood in the settlement of the matter. For years the English and Welsh non-conformists have been suffering in the matter of the payment of taxes to be used in teaching their children a form of religion in which they did not believe. The sentiment against the continuation of the injustice has been growing stronger during the past few years, and has been organized into a definite movement. Fines and imprisonments have been their portion for refusal to comply with a law which made such a thing possible. The present agitation and bitter feelings are the natural result of an attempt to combine the functions of the church and the state. Such a condition is a survival of medievalism, and is directly opposed to the principles of civil and religious liberty.