HC Deb 02 June 1845 vol 80 cc1232-5
Mr. Blackstone

wished to take an opportunity of saying a few words on behalf of a learned body representing the College of Christ Church, Oxford, who conceived that the right hon. Baronet the Home Secretary had attacked them unjustly in some observations which had escaped him on a previous evening. The right hon. Baronet had stated during the debate on Friday that he was not allowed to attend divinity lectures. ["No."] Well, then, if not allowed, not obliged or compelled to attend such lectures, or called upon to receive any religious instruction during his residence at Christ Church, Oxford. On hearing the right hon. Baronet's statement, he had written down to the Censor of the College in question, being anxious to put the House in possession of the facts with respect to the system of education enforced towards the pupils there at as early a period as possible. He had done this, considering that the character of the collegiate body of Christ Church, as well as that of the University of Oxford at large, was at stake. The following was the answer which he had received from the rev. gentleman to whom he had addressed this inquiry:— Christ Church, June 1. Dear Sir,—The first form of examination statute, departing from the provisions of the Laudian Code, is dated May 21, 1800; it contains the following clause;—'Porro in omni examinatione nunquam non adjiciantur rudimenta religionis et doctrinæ articuliin Synodo Londini anno 1562 editi; in quibus, juxta academiæ statuta, a tutoribus instituendi sunt omnes qui illorum tutelæ committuntur.'—Tit. ix., 2. 2. The allusion here made has regard to a clause in the Laudian statute, which is still in force:—'Tutor vero scholares tutelæ et regimini suo commissos probis moribus imbuat, et in probatis autoribus instituat; et maxime in rudimentis religionis, et doctrinæ articulis in Synodo Londini anno 1562 editis; ac pro virili suo disciplinæ in ecclesia Anglicana publice receptæ eos conformes præstabit. Quod siquis in aliquo prædictorum deliquerit, arbitrio Cancellarii vel Vice-Cancellarii coer-ceatur.' The public provision made for this in Christ Church is by a lecture delivered on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays during term, immediately after morning chapel, and made compulsory on all classes during their third year, with an examination at collections in the subject of the term's lecture. I came to Christ Church in 1822, and I found the practice existing of tutors devoting the Saturday, or sometimes a part of Sunday, to familiar catechetical lectures with such of their pupils as were not included in the public course. The intercourse on this occasion was more friendly, the obligation of attendance less strict, and no account of it was rendered at collections. This practice you remember, and it has continued with such differences as each individual has thought convenient. The requisitions of the present examination statute are more particular on the subject of religion than that quoted, as you know. The statute is dated the 23rd of November, 1830. Each person avails himself at his pleasure of the opportunity of attending the University sermon. I propose to send a copy of this to Sir J. Graham, as he did me the honour to call on me lately, on bringing a young man up to Christ Church, who is now my pupil. I am, dear Sir, faithfully yours, J. LEY. W. I. Blackstone, Esq., 28, Albemarle-street. Such was the explanation given to him by the rev. the Censor of Christ's Church. With regard to the enforcement of the rule, all he could add was, that the first examination of the pupil always included divinity, and if it did not prove satisfactory he could not pass.

Sir J. Graham

said, that lest it should be supposed he had said anything either harsh or unjust towards a College for which he entertained very sincere and cordial feelings, he begged to make a few observations. The rev. gentleman referred to by the hon. Member had been so obliging as to send him a copy of the letter which the House had just heard read; but with reference to the point upon which its contents touched, the rev. writer was so much his junior at the College as not to be able to speak upon his own knowledge of the practice of the College under his control at the period when he (Sir J. Graham) was a student there. What he had stated was, that during the years 1810 to 1812, those being the two years in which he resided at Christ Church—he did not say that he was not allowed—but that he was not obliged—not compelled to attend theological or divinity lectures; although on his first or preliminary examination the Greek Testament did certainly form part of the preparation which he had to make. But he asserted, and he did so advisedly, that during the whole period of his stay at Christ Church, he had received no assistance whatever to prepare him for such examination, nor was he obliged to attend divinity lectures, nor did he hear one University sermon whilst he was at Oxford. In the third year of their stay, it was true, the graduates were called upon to attend an hour during three days in the week to a divinity or theological lecture; that practice commenced in 1810, and it still continued. He should be sorry to be supposed to have said anything to disparage the College in question; and he was very glad to find that the observations which he had made had had the effect of eliciting the fact that the neglect which had prevailed in his time was not now carried so far.