226 LIFE OF SIR JOHN LUBBOCK ch. 



He writes in answer to the request that he 

 should undertake the Presidency : 



Dear Sir — I am flattered by the wish of the Com- 

 mittee that I should be nominated for the Presidency 

 of the Moral Instruction League. 



There are, however, two points on which I should like 

 some information : 



(1) Does the League oppose Bible teaching, or only 

 endeavour to secure Moral teaching ? 



(2) What would be expected of the President ? 



I am not so young as I was, and my time is very 

 much taken up. 



Apart from the question of age, he did not 

 find himself in entire sympathy with the aims 

 of the League, and writes finally : 



Dear Sir — I have now carefully considered the 

 papers you have been good enough to send me. 



So far as the importance of Moral Instruction is 

 concerned I am heartily with the League, and might 

 have been ready to accept the Presidency on the under- 

 standing you mention. 



I fully recognise also the difficulty of introducing 

 dogmatic teaching into State supported schools. 



On the other hand, it seems to me a mistake to mix 

 up the two questions. 



The Bishops advocate " Christian " teaching. In my 

 view this does not necessarily imply dogmatic teach- 

 ing, from which the sayings of Christ were singularly 

 free. Dogmatic theology is in the main a subsequent 

 addition. 



However this may be, we weaken, as it seems to 

 me, our effort to secure moral teaching (which by itself 

 would have very wide support) by coupling it with 

 the struggle to exclude Dogmatism. 



Under these circumstances, though I am quite ready 

 to remain a subscriber to the League, I feel that the 

 President ought to be able to support both its principles, 

 and I fear, therefore, I must ask you to excuse me. 



He thought it would be desirable to have a 

 resolution in the House of Lords on the subject 



