14T
هران
Ι
are not; but would be glad to see every boy here fully and well instructed in his own religion. But I for one deprecate meddling with any lad's religion in the school. I think a gahool is the wrong place to touch religion, and ! the schoolmaster is not the right man. I think religion is a matter which ought to be looked after by the parents, and that religious educa- tion ought to be carried out by persons in whom they have confidence, and to whom they delegate that duty. But to carry ont religions instruction hero in this school would be simply insanity, and I am satisfied it would defeat the very object which many bave in view in ad- vocating it. I for one will certainly never be a party to it; and I am happy to think that the Superintendent of the school, whose experience is mature in these matters, entirely concurs with me. We will by every means facilitate the attendange these boys anywhore the parents like to send them, but bere it cannot with propriety be given. As I bave already said. I regard the school as the wrong place for religious instruction, and the schoolmaster not the right man. Mixing up theology with lessons in arithmetic or anything else gives boys a distaste for the most import. ant study that could be pat before theui. would be sorry to think that the boys should . receive no religions intruction elsewhere, but with that we cannot medile. We have adopted a system here which has given great satisfaction, and it is the only practicable one we can adopt, with the various nationalities we have around us, and that is the system of paying by results. We give every denomination fair play and pay them according to the work they do. We bold periodical examinations, and we know what they are doing, not in any religions subjects; bot the Superintendent, and those who act with bim, are quite ready to examine any boys in Scripture history or the like if any of the schouls desire them to do so. If the boys are not examined it is the fault of the manager of the school. We are quite ready to do it on the part of the Govern. ment if the manager of the school desire it, but we do not wish to force it. I think that is about all I have to say. I hope to see many of you here another year at this time. I wish all of you now a very happy holiday, and I hope you will go away with a feeling of respect and thankfulness for those placed over you, and, with a desire to return to your work when you! holidays are over. (Applause). I see thore are some gentlemen present who might address the boys to great advantage. Dr. Eitel takes a great interest in this sebool, and I am sure the boys will listen with respect to anything be bas to say.
Dr. ETEL then said: After what your Ex- cellency has said on the most important ques. tion connected with this school, it would be quite out of place for me to make any remarks respecting it. There is however, one thing connected with the same subject, which I may be permitted to allude to. You saw, a few minutes ago, a prize given away, which, as you have no doubt been told privately when the ag amination began, consists of $60, and is tenable for three years. It is given to the boy who receives the greatest number of marks in all the subjects taught in the school.
The prize is called the Morrison Scholar. ship. Possibly some of the elder lads here may have heard of a discussion which took place some time aga respecting it, and I way state now, not only for their benefit, but for the information of the ladies and gentlemen present, what the conditions of the scholarship
are.
H
As His Excellency has stated, religion is not taught in this school; it is left to the prea. chers of different churches, and not to the schoolmasters. This scholarship has now been catablished and the first prize has been given away. It is named after a Christian gentle- E 13. scholar, and H míssi mary-Dr. Robert Morrison. It has been received by one boy this year, will be open to two next, and three the
one following and every year afterwards, and will be given away with out any reference whatever to religion-to creed or individual religious belief. It will be given away simply and solely
on the basis of the usual examinations which take place here at the end of each school year, and gon will not confound the name of it with any. thing sectarias or denominational as some might suppose. The man whose memory it commemorates laboured for the benefit of China, and I hope it will encourage many of i yon to persevere in your studies, and acquire knowledge. Knowledge is power, and I trust that when you leave this school you will not only become useful men in contributing to the success of this Colony, but that you will do someting towards the restoration of China's ancient grandeur. Applause.)
Mr. STEWART then thanked the ladies and gentlemen present for their kind patronage, He had still the old complaint to make about the school accommodation being so deficient. At the examination last year, he hoped by this time to have a new building in course of con. struction; but the typhoon had perhaps kept it back. He could only express the same hope again, and trusted that before another year Came round something practical would be done towards the providing of adequate school ac. commodation (applause).
His EXCELLENOT then announced the boli- daya, and the proceedings terminated.
72