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Most certainly, otherwise it could not continue to exist, If a kingdom be divided against itself, how shall that king- dom stand?" this, if I mistake not, is a principle; then why inveigh against our Church, for doing only what every mere secular, or commercial corporation claims and exer- cises the right to do ?
"The Hon member, who seems desirons of great achie verments upon the education question, appears to my mind to be singularly unfortunate in the selection of his premi- sos. He says, " If anything in the world is conducive to the welfare of man, it is education." And again "Religiou will follow education." These premises are so fraught with error and misconception that I might dare to say there is no christian minister of any denomination in long- kong who would be found to defend them....
"As well might the Hon. Gentleman tell us that the cart will follow the horse if the connection be sundered." At the annual examination and distribution of prizes held at the Central School by Sir Arthur Kennedy, His Excellency after having eulogized Mr. Stewart, in whom he had all coufidence, and the School, said: Of course there will be various opinions about it, as there are on the subject of education as to the system etc. I am not going into that. It is a much discussed question and will be discussed to the end of time. I have thought, I have read of the matter, and I have heard it discussed here and clse- where, and I still remain of the same opinion. After having advocated secular instruction His Excellency said: The only thing I shonid be sorry to see here would be that the school should be deserted by Europeans, because in that case we should see the strange anonly of the Chi- nese portion of the population receiving a better education than the European. That is my own private opinion His Excellency after having dwelt on the equality imparted to all in that no attempt was made to interfere with any body's conscience concludes bis arguments by saying: "As I said before that is a debatcable point and I dont want to
(Press.) go into it,"
His Excellency having distributed the prizes spoke of the necessity for a new building which he hoped would be carried out very shortly.
The Daily Dress in a leading article compared St. Sa- viour's School with the Central in favour of the last and the Hongkong Times dwelled on the good coming from hav- ing the European mixed with Chinese in the same school.
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A correspondence appeared in the Hongkong, Times Janu- ary 22nd, in which wo read: During the present week, the Daily Press made a comparison between the Central School and a certain denominational School which was most unjust; but on this point, it is unnecessary to dwell, as Mr. Stewart detected the error and very kindly corree- ted it.
Now how can the Central School, tie primary ob- ject of which is to train Chinese, be fairly compared with the other schools in the Colony; It is said to be the best school in the Colony, until it is proved to be such, people cannot believe it" With regard to St. Saviour's School the correspondent says: there is nothing in the past his tory of St. Saviour's School to be ashamed of, and I hosi- tate not to say there is a bright future in store for it, I know many young men holding honorable positions in the world who were educated in that school. Within the last twelve months oleven of its scholars have been sent out to fight the battle of life, and are succeeding admirably.' After having spoken of the arrival of the Christian Bro- thors aud of the increase of scholars at St. Saviour's School since they took up the management of it, the writer says:
"The Portuguese have nothing to lose by sending their children to Catholic Schools, ou the contrary, they have much to gain; the standard of secular instruction in them is not second to that of the Central School; in them every power of the child's soul, every faculty intellectual moral, and spiritual, is brought forth into full bloom. These young minds are formed to know and love their Creator- to embrace what is good, and to avoid what is evil.
To return to the Central School, I have often asked myself, "Why is there so much noise made about this School, year after year; Do its patrons fully believe in its utility and principle? If they do, I think this hubbub night be dispensed with. Why are they so troubled for a few boys turning their backs on tint school seeking else. where that which is denied them there-viz., a religious education?
Finally, it is stated that the commingling of Europe- ans and Chinese boys is productive of much good-that they are in this way induced to look upon each other as equals; fatal delusion. As long as the sublime principles of Christianity are withheld from the Chinese mind, so long will they detest Europeans, and the morals of the lat- ter will be in no wise improved by intercourse with, and the society of the former.
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