THE UNIVERSITIES AND THE DISSENTERS. 



before, merely a letter of recommendation ; and till we are convinced 

 that Oxford and Cambridge are the only institutions whose intro- 

 duction is to be attended to, we shall be of opinion that the same 

 liberty ought to be generally extended. The world will soon attach 

 its proper value to each distinction ; and nothing is more easy than 

 for each graduate to append to his title to the name of the university 

 or college of which it was granted. 



But are the universities jealous of the uninitiated ? Are they afraid 

 to enter into a comparison with the learning and talent of the Dis- 

 senters? Would they exclude others from advantages they enjoy ? 

 This has been hinted ; but, as a member of the university, we indig- 

 nantly repel the insinuation. We believe that the universities would 

 accept with delight any challenge to so honourable a contest. We 

 believe that no mean jealousy has actuated them in the course they 

 have pursued, either towards the London University, or in their op- 

 position to the admission of dissenters to their institutions. But let 

 Mr. Sewell speak for his class : 



ft Nothing would more rejoice the heart of any one interested in the 

 welfare of this country, but most of all in its religion, than to find the 

 dissenting body united in a rivalry of learning with the Church of England. 

 And let the rivalry be open and decided. The colours different the 

 course the same. It is a manly and a noble emulation, in which we should 

 contend as friends, and rejoice in each other's victories. We want no mo- 

 uopoly of learning God forbid ! God forbid that we should not rejoice at 

 the names, which dissenters can produce stamped with the honours of 

 knowledge !" 



We could have written much on the subject of the admission to the 

 universities, but prefer quoting the following passages. We perfectly 

 agree with the sentiments expressed there the spirit they breathe 

 is equally worthy of the philosopher and Christian : 



f( And if improvement is still to be made, it must be made not by an 

 abandonment of the formal part of our system, but by an encouragement 

 and extension of its spirit. We must cherish, not destroy. But (it 

 is the point to which I have been leading) the admission into our body of 

 dissenters from the established church must prove its immediate destruction. 

 It must be so for this reason : The University of Oxford is happily not an 

 enlightened body. It sprung and received its support from a strong and 

 earnest spirit of devotion. All its early statutes and foundations were most 

 deeply imbued with religion. Its motto is, f The Lord our light.' And> 

 thank God, this has not yet been changed for the present generation." 



" We are, thank God, a religious body and by his blessing will con- 

 tinue the same. For in addition to such habits of thought as many may 

 deem to be prejudice, we have certain other principles and reasons for de- 

 siring to constitute religion a most vital and prominent part in our system 

 of moral education. You have lamented the unenlightened state of our 

 minds in this enlightened age. And one light has fallen, not from Heaven, 

 upon the eyes of the present generation, which to us is total darkness. We 

 do not think it possible, we could not even attempt to make men good 

 without endeavouring to make them Christians. We cannot understand a 

 scheme of moral control, or moral perfection, in which religion, fixed, 

 definite, positive religion, is left out." 



Such would be also our answer to any one who purpose to aVo'.ish 

 the religious character of an university education. But it is proposed 

 M.M.102. 4P 



