3S4 THE SCHOOL BOARDS xv 



under section 14 (2) of the Act. I asked whether the words 

 * which is distinctive,' etc., taken graininatically as limiting 

 the prohibition of any religious formulary, might be con- 

 strued as allowing (subject, however, to the other provisions 

 of the Act) any religious formulary common to any two 

 denominations anywhere in P]ngland to be taught in such 

 schools; and if practically the limit could not be so ex- 

 tended, but would have to be fixed according to the special 

 circumstances of each district, then what degree of general 

 acceptance in a district would exempt such a formulary 

 from the prohibition f The answer to this was as follows; 

 — ' It was understood, when clause 14 of the Education Act 

 was discussed in the House of Commons, that, according to 

 a well-known rule of interpreting Acts of Parliament, "de- 

 nomination" must be held to include "denominations." 

 When any dispute is referred to the Education Department, 

 under the last paragraph of section IG, it will be dealt with 

 according to the circumstances of the case.' 



" Upon my asking further if I might hence infer that 

 the lawfulness of teaching any religious formulary in a rate 

 school would thus dei)end exclusively on local circumstances, 

 and would accordingly be so decided by the Education De- 

 partment in case of dispute, I was informed in explanation 

 that 'their lordships" letter was intended to convey to me 

 that no general rule, beyond that stated in the first para- 

 graph of their letter, could at present be laid down by 

 them ; and that their decision in each particular case must 

 depend on the special circumstances accompanying it. 



" I think it would appear from this that it may yet be in 

 many cases both lawful and expedient to teach religious 

 formularies in rate schools. H. I. 



" Steyning, Xovemher 5, 1870." 



Of course I do not mean to suggest that the 

 editor of the Guardian is bound by the opinions 

 of his correspondent; but I cannot help tliinking 



