RELIGIOUS EDUCATION SYLLABUSES.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPEOTATOR.1
SIR,—Your challenge (p. 657) and my letter of May 19th have reference to the county education authorities called into existence by the Act of 1902. The boroughs, where parties are more evenly balanced, are much saner than the counties, and there are three at least in this neighbourhood which have syllabuses that are quite satisfactory (as far as Cowper-Temple conditions allow).—One of these is Haver- fordwest, whose syllabus is known to me, and of which the Rev. James Phillips is justly proud.—But I asked for a county syllabus from Wales which would satisfy your "man of fairness." As far as Pembrokeshire is concerned, the education authority refused to draw up a syllabus ; and the existence and character of the religious teaching in the provided schools are left to the local managers, with the result that in some schools there is no Bible teaching, in others Bible reading without note or comment. Mr. James Phillips claims to be the inspirer of this action of the County Council ; whatever may have been his " good intentions " as a believer in religious education, he has helped to perpetuate in many schools of the county a system of " Godless educa-
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