,transcribed from the #ahcf ,josiah ,fletcher edition by ,david ,price4 ,,the ,,members ,,of ,,the ,,established ,,church ,vindicated ,,from ,,certain ,,charges1 ,,direct ,,or ,,implied1 ,,in ,a ,,letter ,,addressed ,,to ,,them ,,by ,,the ,,rev4 ,,john ,,alexander1 ,,on ,,the ,,subject ,,of ,,infant ,,education4 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 ,,by ,,william ,,geary4 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 ,,norwich3 ,,printed ,,by ,,josiah ,,fletcher1 ,,upper ,,hay ,,market4 #ahcf4 ,price ,threepence4 ,,the ,,members ,,of ,,the ,,established ,,church ,vindicated4 ,,in times and under circumstances of an ordinary character1 the letter1 to which the following pages refer1 might with safety be left to find its proper place in the public mind4 ,it is characterized by a spirit of mildness and conciliation2 and1 as much of its censure is founded on erroneous impressions1 the consequences would have been but momentary4 ,but1 in the present extraordinary times1 there are not wanting those who would gladly seize upon the occasion1 as a favourable one for widening the differences and perpetuating the antipathies1 which unhappily prevail among ,christians1 and hence it appears desirable that the public should be set right with regard to the course now taken by those who are implicated in the charges4 ,the main charges appear to be3-- ,i4 ,that the parties in question have acted unkindly and disrespectfully1 so far as they have interfered with the arrangements for the exhibition in ,st4 ,andrew's ,hall4 ,,ii4 ,an assumption1 7perfectly groundless17 that the plan of the proposed society would exclude all children except those of parents belonging to the ,established ,church1 and ,,iii4 ,that a society embracing in its direction and operations1 all sects and denominations1 would have worked more for the public good than the one proposed4 ,it should be borne in mind1 that the exhibition1 in ,st4 ,andrew's ,hall1 was ,mr4 ,wilderspin's own speculation4 ,by myself and by some others1 it was however favourably viewed1 under an impression that a feeling would be excited where none had previously existed1 and that it might possibly open the way for an extension of the system4 ,mr4 ,w4 was requested to meet a few gentlemen1 at the ,hall in the ,market1 to explain to them the nature of his system1 and he there again mentioned his intention of assembling the children for examination in ,st4 ,andrew's ,hall4 ,he was distinctly asked whether the directors or the committee of those schools had been consulted1 and he as plainly replied that there would be no difficulty on that head4 ,on the subject of the expenses the way was not so clear1--with his usual liberality he declared that he did not seek remuneration1 but still he thought he ought to be indemnified from loss--and after some loose discussion it was agreed that those present should be responsible for any loss4 ,it was finally arranged that free tickets of admission should be given to the ,sunday school and other teachers4 ,of these1 #cjj were distributed to the various ,,dissenting ,,congregations in the city4 ,the public were admitted at sixpence each person1 and the proceeds went to the erection of the gallery1 the purchase of buns for the children1 and a gratuity to ,mr4 ,wilderspin2 a small contribution being collected from the responsibles to make up this sum4 ,i think1 therefore1 that my reverend friend1 for so ,i beg in sincerity to designate him1 must have been misinformed on some points which drew from him the charge that we had taken unwarrantable liberties either with the money or the schools of others4 ,but another and far more important error is manifest at pages #aj and #ai1 where ,i understand him to mean that it is intended to exclude the children of all except those of the members of the ,established ,church4 ,now this is an impression so utterly at variance with truth and fact1 that ,i cannot conceive what part of the proceedings can have been so distorted1 as to admit of such an interpretation4 ,i have seen the progress of the society in embryo first1 last1 midst1 and throughout all1 without witnessing any symptoms of such a spirit4 ,should it appear1 ,i am prepared to contend with it hand to hand--foot to foot1 and should it unhappily prevail1 ,i should feel bound to quit the society1 however painful it might be to part from one in whose work my almost entire public services and affections are bound up4 ,on entering upon the subject of the union of all denominations in this work of benevolence1 it appears to me1 that my reverend friend has suffered the question of what is practicable completely to merge into that which he considers as most desirable4 ,his affections and his sympathy have been so attractively led by the cases where such an union has been effected1 as has induced him to overlook many whose efficacy is doubtful1 and some1 where the effects have rather hindered than promoted the cause4 ,but while ,i truly sympathise with him in those views and feelings which1 were it practicable1 would suggest such an union1 the cool deliberations of sober judgment are most convincing that the present state of things here in reference to the feelings of various parties1 presents insuperable barriers1 except at the expense of that cause which it is our object mutually to advance4 ,now ,i would fairly meet the question1 ,i4 ,on the ground afforded by experience within our own locality4 ,,ii4 ,on that which is given to us on competent authority from other places4 ,my reverend friend states at page #h1 8that hitherto the labourers in the cause of ,infant education in this city have been principally ,dissenters1 but it is well known that they have always desired and would have gladly received a greater number of their brethren in the establishment as coadjutors40 ,this is fairly coming to the point4 ,there was no want of courtesy--no lack of invitations1 but there was a something about those to whom those invitations were given1 which kept them back4 ,the few from among the members of the ,establishment who have1 as is stated at page #f and #g1 so cordially and charitably joined in the direction and management1 are perhaps nearly all who could1 even by increased exertion1 be drawn into active co-operation with the schools on their present plan2 and had this been tenaciously adhered to1 the result of our united exertions would have added but little to the present means of extending the cause4 ,the whole amount of experience within our own locality so powerfully discourages the attempt to coalesce1 that ,i think no one would be induced to try the experiment1 who was well informed as to those facts which bear upon the question4 ,,ii4 ,of the experience furnished by distant societies1 there doubtless are some1 where the union has been tried to great advantage4 ,my reverend friend cannot feel more intense satisfaction than ,i do1 in thus witnessing the joyful and happy state of brethren dwelling together in unity4 ,if1 however1 ,mr4 ,wilderspin's book be competent authority1 it is to be feared that the cases are few4 ,it more resembles a chronicle of failure than of success--it savours more of antipathies than of harmony1 and leads to discouragement rather than to hope4 ,of the many cases therein mentioned1 ,i will refer to only two1 and only to those because they have been selected by my reverend friend1 as among those where a satisfactory union had been effected4 ,the one is at ,leicester1 and is noticed at page #af--the other at ,taunton1 at page #ag4 ,the case of ,leicester was one1 of all others that have occurred or that can occur1 the most painfully illustrative of the difficulty of effecting an efficient co-operation between parties so uncongenial4 ,mr4 ,wilderspin has given but a partial outline of the case in merely quoting the speech of ,mr4 ,babington4 ,it was my unhappiness to be present at that meeting4 ,the place itself called up sacred recollections of days gone by4 ,it was there where ,robinson the ,episcopalian and ,hall the ,nonconformist had been wont to meet with kindred affection1 and to unite their powerful energies in advocating the cause of religion and benevolence as occasion might offer4 ,it was on this spot1 sacred to ,christian union and charity1 where the sweet yet brilliant eloquence of ,hall had afterwards burst forth into that memorable strain of eulogy on the character of his deceased ,christian brother--that now the ,christian might have wept tears of blood1 on seeing the biographer of ,robinson bearing the rude personal taunts of ,hall's talented1 misguided successor1 followed by another speaker1 equally talented1 whose coarse expressions and personalities were utterly at variance with his ,christian profession1 and backed by the yells and hootings of men of every creed1 and men of no creed at all4 ,the individual on whom all this was lavished was1 by birth and education1 a gentleman--by profession and practice an active1 pious1 indefatigable1 minister1--the brother of ,baron ,vaughan1 and whose only offence was1 that he had stated his opinions 7erroneous as ,i conceive7 in language temperate and respectful4 ,the weak and feeble results of this meeting is told in the words of ,mr4 ,wilderspin1 who says at page #ie1 that 8there are now three schools1 but1 as they are managed by women1 though they do great good1 the full amount of advantage is not secured40 ,the impression upon my own mind is that it is all but a failure4 ,nor is the quotation of the ,taunton case more happy--,mr4 ,wilderspin's account of this at page #aah1 exhibits clearly another instance of the difficulty of such an union1 and that the altercation terminated in the establishment of two schools--one by each party4 ,that there are cases of happy and beneficial union ,i admit1 and ,i rejoice in the fact that there are such2 but that the majority of cases in large towns are so ,i do greatly fear and doubt4 ,my reverend friend quotes the authority of ,mr4 ,wilderspin1 at page #ah1 in a manner which requires qualifying4 ,he says1 8,these quotations abundantly prove that the originator of ,infant schools1 who has visited many of the towns in the three kingdoms1 and who is1 perhaps1 better qualified than any other person to form an opinion as to the best mode of conducting them1 is decidedly opposed to the exclusive system advertised for ,norwich40 ,now ,i do humbly submit to the candid reader of ,mr4 ,wilderspin's book1 that the cases he there notices1 various as they are in character1 do not lead to this conclusion4 ,there may be cases1 and ,i hope there are many1 where 8the union of ,churchmen and ,dissenters is delightful20 but that there are others1 which do but too plainly tell the sad tale of the results of conflicting elements1 cannot be denied4 ,much stress has been laid throughout on the value of the testimony of ,mr4 ,wilderspin1 and some of his statements have been so interpreted1 as to bear strongly in favour of the union1 when1 as ,i have clearly shewn1 they have a directly contrary tendency4 ,his book bears evidence that his object is to promote infant instruction without any distinction of the party who patronises it4 ,he is the willing agent of the ,episcopalian or the ,nonconformist2 and1 however he may rejoice when the state of feeling will admit of an union of all parties in one common bond of ,christian love1 he is too keen an observer of the workings of human prejudices1 not to see that there are circumstances which would1 in many cases1 render an union an occasion rather for widening than diminishing the existing chasm4 ,in conclusion1 ,i cannot help again recurring to a mistake into which my reverend friend has fallen1 and which is throughout implied--in regard to the exclusion of the children of dissent4 ,he may rest assured that nothing is decided with respect to the discipline of the schools1 which can possibly be held to be an impediment with any conscientious ,dissenter1 who desires to place his child there3--no impeding tests or testimonials on entering the school1--no offensive rituals when there4 ',tis one of misfortune's worst mishaps to have a bad name1 and the ,churchman is often slandered unwittingly4 ,in the present case we claim our constitutional privilege of being heard before condemnation2 and1 while we expect not the approbation of the ultra1 either within or without the pale of the ,establishment1 we do expect to meet the cordial sympathy of the good1 the benevolent1 the pious members of every denomination4 ,a word or two on the subject of my reverend friend's closing paragraph4 ,only let whatever is done1 be done in the spirit of love and of duty3 unhappily the field is wide enough1 and too wide for us both4 ,let each1 caring only for the public good1 plant his school1 not to annoy his associate in the benevolent work1 but to select the most destitute district for its operation4 ,to such a school there are1 ,i have no doubt1 ,churchmen who will be happy to contribute1 if conducted on sound principles2 and ,i take my leave of my reverend friend's letter in the spirit which animated the patriarch of old1 when he says1 8,,let ,,there ,,be ,,no ,,strife ,i ,,pray ,,thee ,,between ,,me ,,and ,,thee1 ,,for ,,we ,,are ,,brethren2 ,,is ,,not ,,the ,,whole ,,land ,,before ,,thee8 ,,separate ,,thyself ,i ,,pray ,,thee ,,from ,,me4 ,,if ,,thou ,,wilt ,,take ,,the ,,left ,,hand1 ,,then ,i ,,will ,,go ,,to ,,the ,,right1 ,,or ,,if ,,thou ,,depart ,,to ,,the ,,right ,,hand1 ,,then ,i ,,will ,,go ,,to ,,the ,,left40 ,norwich1 ,april #gth1 #ahcf4 99 99 99 99 99 ,norwich3 ,,printed ,,by ,,josiah ,,fletcher4