THE NATIONAL SOCIETY.

HC Deb 08 June 1849 vol 105 cc1283-4

MR. W. MILES

said, that seeing the right hon. Gentleman the Secretary of State for the Home Department in his place, he wished to know whether his attention had been called to the report of the annual meeting the other day of the National Society, at which the management clauses came under discussion? The Arch-bishop of Canterbury presided, and, after eight hours' debate, certain resolutions, upon which he would found a question, had been almost unanimously adopted. It was moved by Archdeacon Manning— That this meeting acknowledges the care and attention of the committee in conducting the correspondence pending with the Committee of the Privy Council on Education, and regrets to find that a satisfactory conclusion has not yet been attained. Secondly, that while this meeting desires fully to co-oporate with the State in promoting the education of the people, it is under the necessity of declaring that no terms of co-operation can be satisfactory which shall not allow to the clergy and laity full freedom to constitute schools upon such principles and models as are both sanctioned and recommended by the order and the practice of the Church of England. Thirdly, that in particular they should desire to put the management of their schools solely in the hands of the clergy and bishops of the diocese. Now, his question was this, whether these resolutions having been carried by a society which must he supposed to represent exclusively the Established Church, the right hon. Baronet was prepared to accede to propositions so distinctly enunciated, and carried almost unanimously?

SIR G. GREY

said, that he had received no information whatever of the proceedings of the late meeting of the National Society, except what was derived from the reports in the newspapers and from private sources of information. The hon. Member had given notice for the production of all the correspondence which had taken place on the subject, and as that would be laid upon the table on an early day, it would satisfactorily explain the positions occupied by the National Society and the Committee of the Privy Council on Education.

In reply to a further question from Mr. W. Miles,

SIR G. GREY

said, that the questions had not yet come officially or otherwise before the Committee in Council, and that therefore he could not say what course the Committee in Council would take respecting any resolutions that might be transmitted to them by the Archbishop of Canterbury, as Chairman of the Committee of the National Society.

Subject dropped.