The London Welshman

Notes of the Week. The Education Bilt- There was clear evidence in the House of Commons and the precincts thereof on Monday afternoon that the interest in the Education Bill which Mr. Birrell intro- duced that day is deep and intense. The public were apparently more anxious than Members of the House to know how the intricate problem was to be dealt with. Every order for the galleries had been disposed of fully a week previous, and even such leaders as Dr. Clifford, for instance, could only get a seat in the back row of the Strangers' Gallery. As to the Bill itself, we find that there is some' difference of opinion as to what really its pro- visions are, and we must wait until we see it in print before passing a final judgment upon it. But as far as we can gather from Mr. Birrell's statement it is in its main provisions a bold measure, a statesmanlike attempt to effect a settlement. There is to be public control, of course, of all schools receiving State aid either from the Treasury or from the rates, and the foundation manager" is to exist no longer. The appointment of all teachers is to be in the hands of the Education Authority, and is to be free from all religious tests. Religious instruc- tion, or rather, Biblical instruction, is to be given on five days a week, but whether it may be given within school hours or not was not made quite clear. Denominational schools are to be leased or rented, but in cases where the owners refuse to do either, the Education Authority is to provide other school buildings. In cases where there are trust deeds directing that specific religious instruction must be given, facilities are to be afforded for that purpose on two mornings a week, from 9 to 9.30, but it must be given at the expense of the trustees, and the services of the regular teachers cannot be utilized, even when they are willing to act. If four-fifths of the parents of the children attending any school demand dogmatic religious teaching they arc to have it, but whether during or before regular school hours, that is, from 9 to 9.30, is another point not made quite clear. About one million additional grants will be pro- vided by the Treasury. And a clause is put into the Bill establishing a National Educational Council for Wales. Such are the main pro- visions of this complica ed measure. It will not satisfy everybody, and that was not to be ex- pected. We do not say that we are satisfied with it ourselves. We do not like the "undenomina- tional Biblical instruction. Nor do we like the four-fifths" clause. And we would rather buy out the non-provided schools at once by means of a sinking fund. Still, we admit that, unless we misunderstand it greatly, the Bill will be accepted by all who desire a settlement of the controversy. But we reserve the liberty to modify our opinion if the printed Bill does not bear out our interpretation of it. Preparing for Disestablishment.-According to the South Wales Daily Neivs the Govern ment is about to appoint a commission to inquire into the position of the Church in Wales with a view to the preparation of the Disestab- lishment Bill it is pledged to introduce at the earliest possible opportunity. That commission is to be presided over by one of the most distinguished occupants of the Judicial Bench. The duty of the Commission, or Committee, will be to undertake locally a thorough investiga- tion as to the endowments of the Churcboth in their origin and application also as to the manner in which all the denominations have made provision for meeting the demands of the people in respect of spiritual instruction, the number of adherents of each denomination, the amount of property held for religious uses, and as to other cognate matters. It will, when dealing with Church revenue, distinguish care- fully between those ancient endowments which are national in character and those of more modern times which must be considered as really denominational. Though the announce- ment was made unexpectedly, everybody agrees that it is the proper thing, inasmuch as the relationship between Church and State in the Principality is to be dealt with. Both Church- men and Dissenters will welcome inquiry if they have faith in the justice and righteousness of their case. Should either party object it will show that its case is weak. But the inquiry to be of value must be thorough, and to make a thorough and fair investigation into some of the matters mentioned is most difficult. There is the matter of the relative strength of the denominations for instance. There are, on the one hand, many people who call themselves Church or Dissent, who never darken the doors of any place of worship from New Year's Day to Christmas. Are they to be reckoned ? Or suppose that a census of attendants on a particular Sunday be taken. Unless it be done as the Dailv News' census of worshippers in London was taken, it will be totally unreliable.' We hope the members of the Commission, whoever they be, will be able to conduct the investigation in a manner that will give neither party no caase to complain of unfairness. ;¡ A Welsh Clergyman on the State of the Church.—The Vicar of Llanyblodwel, in Mont- gomeryshire, has just read a Paper on Church Reform at a meeting of the Church of England's Men's Society, which must cause many of his brethren to rub their eyes in astonishment. His indictment of the Church to which he