§ MR. SEXTONasked the President of the Local Government Board, Whether his attention has been drawn to the proceedings at a recent meeting of the Bath Board of Guardians (reported in the Liverpool Catholic Times of the 28th ult.), with reference to a request of the Rev. J. G. Davis that two gentlemen whom he named should be allowed to instruct the Catholic children in the workhouse in their religious duties; whether the Board refused the request, and, at the meeting above referred to, the Rev. W. Acworth, Chairman of the School Committee, spoke of Catholic doctrines as "pernicious; blasphemous fables; dangerous deceits; "referred to The Catechism of Christian Doctrine, supplied to the children by the Catholic clergyman, in terms described as unfit for publication; said the schoolmistress reported to him that one Catholic girl had declared "that Roman Catholics were wicked," and another that "they broke the Second Commandment, by worshipping images and praying to saints;" avowed himself "thankful to have schoolmasters and schoolmistresses to teach these truths;" and moved a resolution to place the Catholic children under the teaching of the Protestant chaplain, unless when they requested other teaching; and, what steps will be taken to secure the due discharge of the duties of the guardians of the poor, and to protect the faith and consciences of 1354 Catholic children of tender years, who are inmates of the Bath Workhouse?
MR. GEORGE RUSSELLSir, the Guardians state that they declined to grant permission for the two gentlemen to assist the Rev. Mr. Davis, as they considered that one priest could give all the necessary instruction to the 11 Roman Catholic children in the workhouse, and as they had previously declined to allow the wife and daughter of a clergyman of the Church of England to visit the inmates. We are further informed that Mr. Acworth appears to have been correctly reported, but that his remarks must not be considered as expressing the opinions of the Board of Guardians. We must record our regret that Mr. Acworth should have chosen a meeting of the Guardians as the occasion for giving expression to his peculiar opinions.