150

THE

EXAMINER.

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1 the Reporter. I reject, as wholly unworthy,

agreed to without amendment. The report of the committee | a week to Quagmire ; but since then they have been carried twice’ by him an : les of the

Was received and the Act ordered to be engrossed, ja week instead of once. If, however, this circumstance had his perverted and garbled extracts from the rules 0 ; Le

lion. Col. Secretary presented a pertion from Lawrence, been mentioned to the Government, they would, no doubt, have | svation of the Index, roduced without date or autho- yy I congreg

Warren, painter, praying for an Act to naturalize him, and moved that the same be referred to a Special Committee.

Hon. Mr. PALMER.— Asked if the petitioner did not reside in Coarlottetown 2? Ov being answered m the affirmative, he proceeded to say, that it was only last session a petition of a similar natire was presented, when this Liouse passed a bill ia accordance with the request of the petition; but the petitioner cefused to avail biasell of the Act so passed, and it might be the same in the case under consideration. He thought, in view of this fact, there was no necessity for such action as the present petitioner prays for. If his memory did not deceive him, a short time ago, at an election held in Char- lottetown, the petitioner tock an oath that he was qualified to vote under the election franchise. ‘This, he (hon, Mr. Palmer) thougtt could not be denied ; sud of Mr. Warren was not then

walified to vote, he had taken « false oath.

Hon. COL, SECRETARY.—While a resident of New Brunswick, Mr. Warren enjoyed all the privileges of e:tizeaship ; but when he came to this Is'and, a few yeare ago, he was denied a like privilege. Finding he was refused the nght of voting, he has taken this method of becominy a citizen, as he intends to settle in this Colony, and purchase property. In the case of Mr. Mano, alluded to by the hon. membder, Mr. Palmer, it is well known that Mr. Mano has, since the passage of the Act in his favor, sold property in this Island. In fact, itseems that any person, a resident here having to comply with all our laws should be considered as entitied to ciuuzenship. While he is a resident of the Island he tsa citizen; and if he should go back to the United States he will have to conform to the laws of that country and will be virtually a citizen. I[t is nothing but just that the prayer of Mr. Warren should be complied with. There have been hints thrown out that it would be well to pass a general naturalization bill ; but the propriety of such a measure is questionable. Still it is nothing but an act of justice, when a foreigner lives eight years among us, and and sufficiently demoustrates his intention of becoming a citizen, to take his case into consideration, and accede to the prayer of his petition.

Hon. Mr. PALMER.—Mr. Warren said he wasn native of Nova Scotia, and that his father was a native of Germany. If that be the case, he is not a foreigner, and hos no need of a naturalizition Act to enable him to become a citizen.

Hou. Mr. MOONEY.—'The reason I have for supporting this measure is, that it will assist in removing a doubt that is in the minds of many hon. members about this matter. But the hon. member (Mr. Palmer) thinks, as the petitioner has heretofore exercised the elective franchise without being qualified, he should always persist in doing so. But, sir, two wrongs will not make one right. Tis true, Mr. Mann applied to this House for bill of naturalization, and it was granted to him ; and if be did not avail himself of the permission the Bill gave him to dispose of lis property, he had every right to do so. ‘Therefore, to remove al! doubts respecting Mr. Warren, I am prepared to support the measure.

Hon, COL. SECRETARY.—believed Mr. Warren was born in Nova. Scotia ; but at an early age, removed with his father to Sweden, of which country, a long residence made him a citizen.

Mr. CLARK.—If I understand the matter rightly, there is a doubt as to his citizenship involved, which Mr. Warren wants to be removed and cleared up,

Mr. YEO.— Would like to know who would bear the expense of the drawing up such a bill. The reason he asked the question was that Jast year, when Mr. Mann caused a bill of naturalization to be drawn up, he neglected to pay for it. He thought the present petitioner shou!d deposit the money before the Howse acted upon the matter.

The petition was referred to a special committee. Hons. Col. Secretary and Mr. Whelan were appointed the said com- mittee,

By Mr Mooney, a petition of Dennis Carrol! praying for an allowance as a Teacher at Township 66 ; referred to committee on teacers petitions.

Adjourned for one hour. T. Kinwan, Rep.

AFTERNOON SITTING. PETITIONS PRESENTED.

Mr. Yeo presented tothe House a petition of John McIntosh, Lot 14, Prince County, mai! carrier, praying remuneration for extra services performed by him in that capacity, and moved that it be referred to Supply.

Hon COL. SECRET ARY.--Let this petition be sent to the Government, and let them mike inquiries respecting it, and settle about it. When the new post offices, alluded to im the petition, were established, it ¥as understood that no additional expenses would be required ; the carrier would leave the mails as lie passed along. If the claims of the petition were well fuunded, and it came befure the Government, they would authorize payment to be made.

Mr. YZO.—It makes no difference to the petitioner where hia petition is carried to, whether to the Government or to the House of Assembly. tle applied to the House last year, and was recompensed for similar services. My hon. colleague, Mr. Perry, and all hon. members from that pirt of the Island, know that he had to travel a considerable distance farther than was mentioned in his contract.

Mr. COOPER.—The only question appears to be, has the person applied to the proper quarter? The objection to the petition appears to be, that the person should have applied to | the Government, as indeed he ought to have done.

Hoa. COL. TREASUREK.—1L wish to make a few remarks | on the peti‘ion. I know that the carrying of the mails to the | Quagmire is more than the petitioner contracted to do, and that the post office at Barruw’s mill is out of his way ; but | wish | myself that some inquiries should be made, because last year| after the grant was aade,! learned that some of the people there were sorry that it had been made, because he did not perform his duty in carrying the mails to Kildare. I wish en-| quiries were made, because | know that the Ion. Col. Secre- | tary, a8 one member of the Government, would not refuse to | graot a sum of money to any carrier who was required to per- form extra work. | think it would be very well tu allow the | petition to lie on the table, and to inquire if the allegations con- | tained in it are correct ; and if not, 1 would not grant bien | anything. j

lon, COL. SECRETARY.—I think that the remedy is. elsewhere. A petition of this nature comes to the Heuse ; and

| i

‘given him a sum sufficient to remunerate him. But the reason Lf wish an inquiry instituted is, that some of my constituents }have complained of his taking a short way, and | wish to know if this is the fact or not. | Mr, YSO.—I believe he did this ; but employed some one to ‘deliver the mails at the proper place. The journey is very ‘jong, and as the roads have been very bad some times, one | horse could scarcely accomplish it. | Mr. COOPER.—The person certainly made a contract with ‘the Government, and not with this House. If he contracted ‘with them, he ought to call upon them to pay him ; and if they refuse to do so, then he may come here for redress. | Hon. Mr. LONGWORTH. —Last year, the Post Office com- mittee recommended something extra to this person, and he is | just doing the same as he did then in making his application. As he petitioned the House Jast year and his petition was referred to the Post Office committee, let the same be done this year.

Hon. Mr. MOONEY.—It is only wasting the time of the House to discuss the subject in this manner; for it Is manifest if application had been made to the Government, there is not a

‘member of it who would have opposed the payment of a just ‘debt. If the petitioner was under the necessity of performing 'more labor than was expected, the Government would pay him ‘for it. I never heard one member of the Government object to | paying a lawful demand ; it is time enough for him to come here, when the Government say they~ will not hear his petition.

Petition referred to the Post Office committee.

By Mr. Douse, a petition of inhabitants of Orwell, Point Prim, Pinette, Newton, Flat River, Wood Islands, and Belle Creek, praying for the transmission of the mails semi-weekly to those Districts ; referred to the Post Office Committee.

By Mr. Laird, from inhabitants of Corbett’s Woods Settle- ment, and others, praying aid to improve their road com- munications ; laid on the table.

By Hon. Mr. Mooney, from James Macleod, Township 48, praying for a similar object as the preceding petition ; laid on the tabie.

By Hon. Mr. Wightman, from inhabitants of the interior settlement of Township 64; from inhabitants of Baldwin’s Road ; from inhabitants of ‘Townships 38 and 51; also from settlers on Brudenel Road and others, al] praying aid to improve their road communications, and laid on the table. :

By Mr. Muirhead, from inhabitants of Margate and its vicinity, praying aid to improve their roac communications ; laid on the table.

By Mr. Douse, from inhabitants of Townships 48 and 49, praying a grant in aid of individual subscription towards the erection of a wharf at Burhoe’s Island ; from inhabitants of Townships 49 and others, praying a grant to extend the wharf at Pownal Bay; also from inhabitants of Township 50 and others, praying a grant for the removal of the wharf at China Point, and for rebuilding it on a better site ; all laid on the table

By Hon. Mr. Whelan, from inhabitants of ‘Township 38 ; also from inhabitants south side of Grand River; both laid on the table.

By Mr. Munro, from inhabitants of the Fork’s Settlement, Township 50; from inhabitants of Beech Hil) Township 49, also from inhabitants East side of ‘Township 49 (in aid of individual subscription) ; all praying aid to improve their roac communications, and Jaid on the table. From inhabitants of Bone Creek Settlement and its vicinity, praying for the opening of a new line of road ; referred toa committee cn new roads ; also from Murduch Mackenzie, praying an allowance for his services as a teacher at Murray tlarbor Road; referred to the committee on teachers, petitions.

By Mr. Douse, from Jane Green, praying an allowance for her services as ateacher at ‘l‘ownship 37 for a period of one year and seven mouths ; referred tu the committee on teachers, petitions.

Mr. DOUSE held in his hand several petitions sent to him, one signed by about 400 persons, another by about 600, and another by about 50 persons. It was his duty to present those | petitions, and to act in accordance with the wishes of the petitioners. Ife saw it was a delicate subject, and he regretted that a resolution adopted by the Board of Education relating to the use of the Bible in Schools, had not been published more extensively in the newspapers than it had been. ‘lhe subject had caused more agitation in the country than he had been aware. The petitions were as follows ; viz.; from imhabitants.of Belfast and contiguous Districts, praying—that as the Education Act is sbout to expire, especially if it be the intention of the House to frame any new law, or to alter or amend the present Act—that they will direct the Holy Scriptures to be placed on the list of bowks now in use in the Public Schools, and that they be introduced into the Academy and Normal School, and that the children of those parents who desi do nat object to their use, shall have the privilege of ing a portion of Scripture as the first exercise of the day, after the opening of the School with prayer to Almighty God, and of bemg taugtt therein by such Teachers as the parents or guardians approve of; from inhabitants of Township 49; also from Alexander Munro, Minister, and others Protestant inhabitants of Brown’s Creek and avjacent Settlements, both praying for a similar object ;—all referred to the committee of the whole House on the consideration of the Bull to continue and amend the Free Education Law,

PAPERS PRESENTED.

Hon. Col. Secretary presented to the House the following Message :—

‘The Lieutenant Governor transmits the accompanying Cor- respondence for the informaion of the House of Assembly, and for such careful consideration as he feels assured the very im- portant subject of the more perfect lighting of the coasts of this Island will receive.

‘* He also invites the early attention of the House of Assem- bly to that portion of the correspondence which has reference to Cape Race Light.

** Copies of Despatches from the Secretary of State :

** No. 26, of the 23rd July, 1856. No. 35, of the 15th October, 1856, No. 42, of the 13th November, 1856.

‘Copy of Despatch to the Secretary of State, from the Lieutenant Governor. No, 37, of the 23rd August, 1856,”’

Hon. COL. SECRETARY .—It appears by the last Despatch that an Address from the House oF leienhie to ler Majesty, raying the levying of a tax for the support of Cape Race ight-house, is all that will be required. I think that will be

see the trouble it gives this House to write to the postmaster |% preferable course ; for we can then bring the subject in re-

relating to w; but ifsent tothe Government they could endeavor | to have the matter settled afier proper inquiries ; whereas here |

ference to establishing Light-houses at the North Cape and East Point of this Island, before Her Majesty’s Government

the House is voting away money in the dark. One person , 20d the other Colonies, which is all that should be done, till it

applies for the sum of £5, another for £10; and this swells |

up the items in the public accounts. If this person hag per- matter; and by that time we may

formed additional work, let him send his account to the Uo-. vernment for extra service, and then the Postmaster General, who knows that route, would write to the postmaster there and | learn the truth of the case; but now the Postmaster General | can hardly tell whether the statements made in the petition are | correct or not. Such applications for money should come through the proper channel—the Government, who are | responsib'e for the expenditure, and responsible tor the pay ment of the contracts they enter into. If the Government re- fuse to make those payments, then | have no objection that | parties having contracis with the Government, send petitions to the Legislature ; but | think the Government would not re- fuse to pay just demands,

Hon. Mr. MON TGOMERY.—We have had several petitions of this mature before us; and perhaps it would be better to refer this petition, since it has come before us, to the com mittee On petitions relating to post offices.

Mr. MACIN TOSH.—1 think the proper course is, that such | petitions come through the Government ; because when they ate presented to the House, which supplies the Government with money to carry on the public service by means of contracts, the members of the House do not know what contracts the

is seen what the neighbouring Provinces will do in the

see what they wil] do for Lights in general. The Government applied to the Home Go- vernment some years ago in reference to the ereetion of the Light-houses in question, as well as to the other Provinces ;

but I believe they declined to contribute towards them ; but

by this clause in the Shipping Act, they will be obliged to contribute towards them. I, therefore, move that the De- spatches be referred to a Special Committee to report thereon by Bill or otherwise. 4

Committee—Hons. Messrs. Wightman, Longworth and Montgomery, Messrs. Macdonald, Cooper and Yeo, and Hon. T. H. Haviland. Jlouse adjourned.

EEE Correspondence.

R. Lain, Reporter.

LETTER FROM THE REV. JAMES McDONALD, Pp. P., IN REPLY TO THE REV. R. 8. PATTER- SON, ON THE BIBLE QUESTION.

To rue Eprror or tue Examtner. Sin,—Having, by mere accident, seen the Protector con-

Government have made with parties, and so cannot decide on their claime, his only when the Government refuse to pay them that they should epply to the House of Assembly.

Mr, YRO.—The mail carrier does pot know what to do, whether to apply tothe Government or to the House of Assembly. He pays 3+. per week to carry the mails in one direction, and piso pays a person for performing a like service in another direction, so that he is out of pocket. | think he should be fairly remunerated for the service which he has performed.

IJon. COL, TREASURER.—There is no doubt but ad- ditional service has been required of this person. What Mr. Yeo says is pretty correct ; for he has to do much orore than wag required by his original cout ec’. At the time tins contract

Was advistecd for, it was cnly iequired to take the imajls once of the correctness of bis published speech, must be decided |

taining the letter of the Rev. Mr. Patterson, addressed to | me, I beg to make one or two remarks in reference to it. | He labours hard but ineffectually to r concile the practice of ‘his life in teaching school without the Bible, with his promi- ‘nent position in the present agitation. The defence of his conduct is unsatisfactory in ove case or the other, and bis ilogie bad. He now denies having stated that the Catholic Clergy of this Island did not read thé Bible. A denial of the statement appears his only resource in his present per- plexity. But why did he not deny it when his speech was published? The accusation is withdrawn, and the question

‘rity, and his puerile comments thereon. His quotations from Popes, Archbishops and Bishops, are quite irrelevant and betide the question; they relate to * corrupt ” and “ schismatic ” Bibles, and, of course, no Bishop could sanc- tionthe distribution of these Bibles in their dioceses, nor could Catholies receive or read them. With what assurance did the Rev. Mr, Patterson come before the public and say that the Catholic Clergy take the Bible from the people, when he knows, and every Catholic knows, that they read it for them and recommend them to read it. And is it not an Incon= trovertible fact that Catholic Bibles are sold by the hundred and by the thousand by merchants and booksellers, in various sections of the Island, without let or hindrance from Bishop or Priets ¢ But, Sir, read the following beautiful sentence, characteristic of the powerful reasoning of this eminent lo- gician ; he says :—‘“ When, therefore, a respectable female « informs we that a Roman Catholic woman having received “ « Bible from a colporteur, stated to her that although she “highly prized it, she was compelled by the Priest to burn « it.” The Rev. gentleman certainly appears to have an overweening predilection for women’s tales, But why does he not complete the pleasing little history, and give us the name of the respectable family and the Catholic woman, the colporteur, the Priest, the country and place where the Bible was burnt, and the date of the transaction? He speaks of all his Roman Catholic servants, and has the hardihood to proclaim the intermeddling propensities of his family, in tampering with the religious convictions of servants—of course, females. Since he attempts, oddly enough, to deduce an overwhelming argument in favour of his thesis from the practice of his Catholic servants, he should have stated their exact number, especially as report has it, that he had three in the course of the last ten or fourteen years, one of whom could not read. And I have yet to learn that it is the duty and custom of poor Catholic servants to carry a Bible when they sally out on their lonely mission in search of employment. If the Rev. Mr. Patterson sincerely desires to commence the fulfilment of his long neglected duty of disseminating the Bible among Catholics, I will freely accord him all the as- sistance in my power for the furtherance of his cherished project. I pledge my word that if he and his friends and admirers, if he has many, procure for me Catholic Bibles which I may select, I will distribute them to every Catholic in my several missions. If he refuse to accept this offer, I hope he will cease for ever to annoy Protestants and Catho- lics about Priests keeping the Bibles from the people. Will not this slight touch of our ‘system of cruelty” have the happy effect of inducing the Rev gentleman to confine him- self to truth, at least in public? I now proceed to quote an authoritative document recommending the reading of the Holy Scriptures. It is the letter of Pope Pius the Sixth. to the Archbishop of Flerence, and is prefixed to our Bibles :—

Beloved Son, — Health and Apostolic benediction. “At a time when a vast numbec of bad books which “most grossly attack the Catholic religion, are circulated “even among the unlearned, to the great destruction of “ souls, you judge exceedingly well that the faithful should “ be excited to the reading of the Holy Scriptures, for these “are the most abundant sources which ought to be left open “ to every one, to choose from them purity of morals and « of doctrine, to eradicate the errors which are widely dis- “ seminated in these corrupt times. This you have seasona- « bly effected, as you declare, by publishing the sacred writ- “ings in the language of your country, suitable to every one’s capacity, especially when you show and set forth that “ you have added explanatory notes, which, being «xtracted “ from the Holy Fathers, preclude every possible danger of “ abuse. Thus, you bave not swerve! either from the laws of “ the congregation of the Index, or from the constitution pub- “ Jished on this subject by Benedict 14, that immortal Pope, “ our predecessor in the Pontificate ; and formerly when we “ held a place near his person, our excellent master in ee- « glesiastical learning, cireamstances which we mention as * honourable to us. We therefore applaud your eminent “ learning, joined with your extraordinary pigty, avd we re- “turn you our due acknowledgments for the book you have “transmitted to us, and which, when convenient, we wil! «“ yead over. In ‘he meantime, as a token of our Pontifical “ benevolence, receive our Apostolic benediction, which, to “ you, beloved son, we very affectionately impart. Given “at Rome, on the Kalends of April, 1778, the fourth year ‘‘ of our Pontificate.

“ Purtre Buonamicr, Latin Secretary.”

I now proceed to shew that there were almost innumerable versions of the Scriptures, not only in manuscript, but priut- ed, in the short interval between the invention of Printing and the rise of Protestantism, for dissemination, and, of course, for reading amoug Catholics ; and that the opinion that the Scriptures were first translated by the Reformers and Protestants, is altogether erroneous. I transcribe from a lecture of Cardinal Wiseman, delivered in 1836; he says :

« In Germany, for instance, that author whose name I be- fore quoted, Mr. Horne, speaks of the version of the Scriptures in German, as having begun with Luther, whose version was commenced in 15238, but was not com- leted till eleven years after. Now, we have in the first place, a copy existing of a printed version so old as not to have a date, because, you should be aware, that the very earliest books printed had no date, and no place or name upon them. In the second place, we have a German Catho- lic version of the Scriptures, printed by Faust, in 1470, nearly sixty years before the version of Luther. We have a third in 1467, and a fourth in 1473. I speak not of editions but of independent versions. A fifth at Nuremburg, in 1477, which was reprinted three times before Luther's ap- peared; a sixth in the same year at Augsburg, of which eight editions were printed before Luther's; a seventh by Coburger ; a magnificent one published at Kominseck, in 1483, and reprinted in 1488; an eighth at Augsburg ; and a new version printed in 1518 and 1824, that is about the time of the Reformation, about the time when Luther was going on with his; and down to the present time they are almost innumerable. Now, [ come to other countries—to Spain. A version of the Scriptures was published in 1478, about the same period as others, that is, as soon as printing would allow the publication, and long before Luther’s ap- peared, almost before he was born; and there are, besides, many other versions of particular parts of Scripture. In Italy, a country most particularly under the sway of Popish bigotry, and under the dominion of the tyranny of the See of Rome, in 1741, a version of the Scriptures in the Italian was published by Maleimi at Venice, and this was republish- ed seventeen times before the conclusion of the century, that is, twenty-three years before Luther’s appeared. Another version of parts of the Scriptures appeared in 1472 ; another at Rome in 1471; another by Brucciolo, at Venice, in 1532; and a correction of it by Marmochinis, in 1538, just two years after Luther completed his; and every one of these editions remain, not only with the approbation of the authorities, but of the Inquisition, approved by it, and spread as much as possible among the people. In France, as in every other country, it is precisely the same, 1484, and 4534 and 1537; these, however, may be rather called his- tories of the Bible than the whole of the text. Then, again, there was one at Stockholm in 1512, cousequentl y ten years before Luther’s. A Belgie Catholie edition was be- gun in 1475, of which there were two editions in tusr years and a third edition in 1518. A Bohemian Catholic OK on

ther’s. ‘There are Polish versions and others, printed and published long before the time of Luther. In our own coun- try it is well known that versions were made long before 'Tyndale’s. Sir Thomas More answers the difficulty by ob. serving that it is well known that pious, learned gentlemen read the Scriptures in their own tongue long before Tyndale published his version. It may be said it was not disseminat- ed it could not be ; first, because of the want of Printing, and secondly, on account of that which was connected with it, the want of the general diffusion of education.”

This, Sir, I presume, is new and startling intelligence for many of your readers. Let those who, while they eo un- relentingly assail the Catholie Chureh, and declaim so furi- ously against its intolerance in depriving the faithful of the Scriptures, pay some little attention to the foregoing state- ments, and since these statements are incontrovertible, let them cease to display before the world their profound j rance of the Catholic Church and her doctrines. It was the Catholic Church that caught up and preserved the scattered fragments of Scripture as they fell from the pens of the im- spired writers; it was the Catholic Church tbat cherished, and collected, and venerated them during long centuries of trial and persecution ; it was the Catholic Church that em- ployed hundreds and thousands of men, century afier century, in transcribing the Holy Scriptures in letters of gold, and thus was the means, under God, of preserving them, and disseminating them throughout the universe. And yet, for- sooth, there are some Protestants, whose religion changes like the hues of the rainbow, who are unscrupulous enough to rob that ancient Church of the honor, which, despite their malice, history will accord, of haviog preserved the Inspired Writings, for the benefit of all Christians, in the face cf most trying vicissitudes and barbarian incursions. With this his- torical fact in view, we can well afford to smile at the accu- sation that the Catholic Church hates the Scriptures.

I hope I shall never see another issue of The Protector, but if accident should cast one in my way, I will consign its contents to the mild treatment of silent contempt.

I remain Sir, your’s very respectfully, - JAMES McDONALD, P. P. Indian River, March 19, 1857.

(fon THE EXAMINER.]

OBJECTIONS TO THE BIBLE AS A SCHOOL BOOK.

In the course of the present discussion of the st of introducing the Bible into all schools attended by any Pro- testant children, it appears to me that both the Catholie Bishop and the Protestant Ministers have manifested mutch groundiess alarm. The Bishop says that the Catholics wiil never be satisfied as long as Bibles will be used in any of the mixed schools ; and the Ministers insist that they shal/ be used in all schools attended by Protestant children, though likewise at- tended by Catholic children. Now, 1! shail take for granted that the Bishop is fully aware that the Bible, especially the New Testament, has been more commonly used in schools where many Catholic children attended, than any other book ; and has the result been the proselyting of such children? If so, Ido not wonder at his Lordship’s alarm ; but if otherwise, where is the ground for alarm, now that Bibles and Testaments have been so generally superseded by our complete series of Nationa! School Readers? And why should the Ministers be alarmed because the Bishop insists that the Bible be excluded from mixed schools, when they are aware that, with rare ex- ceptions, it is excluded from such schools now? Do they regard its exclusion from such schools as tantamount to its exclusion from their families, or to their being deprived of ne possession altogether? Do they expect them ehildren and their teachers to make a greater exhibiuion of their religeon than themselves? If they will insist on having religious instruction, of a character repugnant to their schoolmates, imparted to their children ; if they insist on havmg a mode of worshop in their school, in whieh some of the pypile cannot conscientiously join, why, for the suke of consistency.do they not impart similar instruction, and introduce their pecaliar mode of worship into mixed audiences at lectures, public meetings and the halls of legislation? The reason ts obvious. Becanse: they know it cannot be done with unanimity. The inevitable con- sequence of such a practice would be the instituting of as many places for hearing lectures, speeches, &r. as there would be sects among the audiences; and such will be the imevitable consequence of enforcing the peculiar religrous standards or modes of worship of any sect on our mixed schools: as many separate echools will soon be called for us there will be sects ina district. Now, any person capable of the least reflection, imay easily foresee that such a course wil! soon render many a district incapable of supporting any schvol at ell. But pres bably our clerical advocates of sectarian education, behevmg that a little learning is a dangerous thing,”’ and that ** 1g- norance is the mother of devotion,’’ would prefer such a staia of things to our present liberal practice. [| would recommend to their serious attention the foliowing pertinent remarks from Le Pays,a Lower Canada French paper. quoted mthe Montreal Witness of the IIth June last: —* Our old Preneh Canadian people are very devout, good sons of the Church, and very well instructed in their religion; this no one will deny. Well, they have not learned religion at school, for they never had any; and suppose the people begin now to go to mixed and unsectarian schouls, what in the world is to prevent their con tinuing to learn their religion, as heretofore, without the schoo! ?”

Having pointed out the worst consequence of forcing the Bible into our mixed schools, viz: the subdivision of schools, I shall now proceed to point out briefly some objections to its introduction, even into schools that are net mixed.

My first objection is that itis superfluous. The introduction: of the ample and comprehensive series of National School Readers has rendered any additional ones quite unnecessary and obstructive. In this connection, | would humbly suggest to the Board of Education, when ordering the next supply of schoo! books, to introduce the remainder of the series, viz :— “Sequel to the Second Book,’’ “ History & Geography,” and ** Elocution.”’

My second objection is that it is obsolete in style. This, no doubt, has been observed by every critical reader of the English Bible and standard modern authors. To euch readers it is scarcely necessary to point out such obsolete terms as “ mine”’ for my, “thine” for thy or your, “ which’? for who, “ let” for hinder, and “conversation” for behavior. This objection should be sufficient to induce every unprejudicec parent to have his children first taugit from standard, accurate English books, before they will have acquired an obsolete style from the perusal of antiquated and inaccurate records,

The third objection is that it is utterly deficient in the technical terms so frequently employed in works treating of the Arts, Sciences and Professions, so that a child who has been taught to read the Bible fluently may fail in reading the first newspaper or magazine which he may chance to pick up, or in comprehending the first lecture which he may attend at the Mechanics’ or any other Institute. é

The last and most serious objection, which I shall offer on this occasion, is, that using the Bible as a school-book is ca culated to render children ind:fferent to its perusal when out of school. ‘This is notoriously their treatment of other school books, and why should school Bibles form an exception ? Thus if the object of the Bible-introducers be to render youth interested in the contents of the sacred volume, their course tends to defeat that object; for such an interest is not to be excited, as Mr. Stark observes,“ by fingering and thumbing the Bible on their knees, spelling their way from verse to verse.” But I may be asked, “ would you have no moral or religious instruction imparted to children at school?” 1 would humbly propose to our mixed schools a similar course to what Mr. Palmer, in his prize essay on education, proposes to the mixed schools of Massachusetts : ** That as all parents of all Sects are anxious to have good and virtuous children, even when unmoral themseives, there should be a Jist of virtues and vices,

accepted as such among mankind generally, hung up in a con- | Spicuous part of the schvol-room, to be explained and inculcaied {ty the teacher from ume to ume, somewhat in the following order:

Derinirion OF Justice.—Justice is

VIRTUES. VICES. Fe Justice, Injustice giving to every one his due, not only by | Kindness Cruelty ’ ppaying all that we owe him, but also Truth, Lying,&e. | 2%! him full eredit for all his good

qualities and actions, &c.

appeared in 1488, and was reprinted thyce times before Lu-|

A PROTESTANT TEACHER, Charlotetown, March 21, 1857,

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