第34章

Had Mr Whitbread not been trained，as almost all the Members of both Houses of Parliament have been，in delusive theories，devoid of rational foundation，which prevent them from acquiring any extensive practical knowledge of human nature，he would not have committed a plan for the national education of the poor to the sole management and direction of the ministers，churchwardens，and overseers of parishes，whose present interests must have appeared to be opposed to the measure.

He would surely，first，have devised a plan to make it the evident interest of the ministers，churchwardens，and overseers，to co-operate in giving efficacy to the system which he wished to introduce to their superintendence；and also to render them，by previous training，competent to that superintendence for which now they are in general unprepared.For，trained as these individuals have hitherto been，they must be deficient in the practical knowledge necessary to enable them successfully to direct the instruction of others；and had an attempt been made to carry Mr Whitbread's plan into execution，it would have created a scene of confusion over the whole kingdom.

Attention to the subject will make it evident that it never was，and that it never can be，the interest of any sect claiming exclusive privileges on account of professing high and mysterious doctrines，about which the best and most conscientious men may differ in opinion，that the mass of the people should be otherwise instructed than in those doctrines which were and are in unison with its peculiar tenets；and that at this hour a national system of education for the lower orders，on sound political principles，is really dreaded，even by some of the most learned and intelligent members of the Church of England.Such feelings in the members of the national church are those only which ought to be expected；for most men so trained and circumstanced must of necessity acquire these feelings.Why，therefore，should any class of men endeavour to rouse the indignation of the public against them？Their conduct and their motives are equally correct，and therefore，equally good，with those who raise the cry against and oppose the errors of the church.And let it ever be remembered，that an establishment which possesses the power of propagating principles，may be rendered truly valuable when directed to inculcate a system of self-evident truth，unobstructed by inconsistencies and counteractions.

The dignitaries of the church，and their adherents，foresaw that a national system for the education of the poor，unless it were placed under the immediate influence and management of individuals belonging to the church，would effectually and rapidly undermine the errors，not only of their own，but of every other ecclesiastical establishment.In this foresight they evinced the superiority of their penetration over the sectaries by whom the unexclusive system is supported.The heads of the church have wisely discovered that reason and inconsistency cannot long exist together；that the one must inevitably destroy the other，and reign paramount.They have witnessed the regular，and latterly the rapid progress which reason has made；they know that its accumulating strength cannot be much longer resisted；

and，as they now see the contest is hopeless，the unsuccessful attempt to destroy the Lancastrian system of education is the last effort they will ever make to counteract the dissemination of knowledge which is now widely extending itself in every direction.

The establishment of the Rev.Dr Bell's system of initiating the children of the poor in all the tenets of the Church of England，is an attempt to ward off a little longer the yet dreaded period of a change from ignorance to reason，from misery to happiness.

Let us，however，not attempt impossibilities；the task is vain and hopeless；the Church，while it adheres to the defective and injurious parts of its system，cannot be induced to act cordially in opposition to its apparent interests.

The principles here advocated will not admit the application of any deception to any class of men；they countenance no proceedings in practice，but of unlimited sincerity and candour.

They give rise to no one sentiment which is not in unison with the happiness of the human race；and they impart knowledge，which renders it evident that such happiness can never be acquired until every particle of falsehood and deception shall be eradicated from the instructions which the old force upon the young.

Let us then in this spirit openly declare to the Church，that a national unexclusive plan of education for the poor will，without the shadow of doubt，destroy all the errors which are attached to the various systems；and that，when this plan shall be fully established，not one of the tenets which is in opposition to facts can long be upheld.

This unexclusive system for the education of the poor has gone forth，and，having found a resting place in the minds of its supporters，it will never more return even to the control of its projectors；but it will be speedily so improved，that by rapidly increasing strides it will firmly establish the reign of reason and happiness.

Seeing and knowing this，let us also make it equally evident to the Church warn it of its actual state -cordially and sincerely assist its members quietly to withdraw those inconsistencies from the system，which now create its weakness and its danger；that it may retain those rational principles alone which can be successfully defended against attack，or which rather will prevent any attack from being attempted，or even meditated.

The wise and prudent，then，of all parties，instead of wishing to destroy national establishments，will use their utmost exertions to render them so consistent and reasonable in all their parts，that every well-disposed mind may be induced to give them their hearty and willing support.