THE BAHAMA ISLANDS 517 



new body the clergy of the Anglican and Scotch churches were made mem- 

 bers, and five additional members were appointed by the Governor. The 

 senior members of the Wesleyan and Baptist missions were appointed, together 

 with others who were admittedly favorable to the established church."" This 

 would have perpetuated the control by the established church. The dissent- 

 ers would not submit to it. No pretensions to harmony in the board were 

 made this time. Stormy sessions and acrimonious discussions occurred with 

 heightened ill-feeling."' The dissenters had petitioned against this plan when 

 it was first proposed. It had passed the legislature in spite of them and 

 they were determined that it should not operate as its movers had intended- 

 The life of this new board was but two years in length. 



The people were becoming generally stirred up over the control of their 

 educational system. The board created in 1839 was even less satisfactory 

 than the one before it had been. Agitation for changes in its constitution was- 

 kept up in order to create a demand for a change. Some proposed to make 

 the Governor-in-coimcil a supervisory board. The board of education itself 

 petitioned against this as a supercession of the Council to its functions. Such 

 objection was easily sustained. But a change of some kind had to be made. 

 The old board was able to accomplish little; the Colony having entered into, 

 the educating work was not now to be allowed to leave off, after having 

 gone so far. A board more satisfactory to all classes had become a necessity. 

 The matter was brought into the House of Assembly. A vacant seat in the- 

 House became the occasion of a hard-fought contest at Harbor Island tO' 

 return a member to fill it. Lieutenant Hamilton, a known supporter of the 

 government, was opposed by a leader of the Wesleyan Methodists. The dis- 

 senting congregations joined together in support of the latter, and in strong 

 opposition to the former.'"^ The result of the election was the return of Lieu- 

 tenant Hamilton, but this election marked well the character of the contest 

 that had come. .Public feeling over the education question rose higher than 

 ever. The majority in the legislature were favorably disposed to the estab- 

 lished church. Proposals to it were likely to be such as the dissenters would 

 oppose. They contested every step. The education bill that was finally 

 passed was favorable enough to the established church, but it was very diifer- 



'^ Cockburn to Glenelg, No. 22. , 



"" Loc. cit. Cockburn requested a suspension of the royal confirmation of the 

 act constituting this board. 



■^^ Cockburn to Russell, No. 95. 



