EDUCATION 667 in this grant. There can be little doubt that all award degrees and distinctions, such as may have a recogthese modern developments of academic life and use- nized value in the learned world. In the discharge of fulness have supplemented the activity of the ancient this duty it is urged that theological considerations should Universities in a remarkably effective way. The pro- have no place; and the establishment of a University vincial colleges are yearly adding to the number of their under the management, and charged with the interests, of students. Their freedom from traditional restrictions a particular Church would be a reactionary step of very has enabled them to adapt their courses of study to the serious import in a nation which has deliberately divested industrial requirements of the several communities in all its Universities of their exclusive sectarian privileges, which they are placed; and hence practical and experi- and in which there is not, in fact, an Anglican, a Presbymental science in its special bearing on the manufacturing terian, or a Wesleyan University. Accordingly, a very interests of the district has taken a conspicuous place in general opinion has been expressed that, while providing some of the programmes of the local colleges. Yet in amply to meet the reasonable desire of Roman Catholics all of them ample provision is made for the teaching of to maintain teaching institutions adapted to their own language, history, and philosophy, and generally for the needs, the University which is to possess the degree-con“humanities,” as the basis of a liberal education. ISTor ferring power should be governed by persons distinguished would it be right to overlook their indirect effect on the for learning and science only, and not necessarily identified social and intellectual life of the great industrial centres, with a theological creed. It yet remains to be seen how for this has been scarcely less valuable than the actual far a compromise on these lines can be arrived at in view teaching given in the colleges themselves. It has long not merely of political exigencies, but also of the higher been a subject of concern that many of the richer and interests of scholarship and of intellectual progress. some of the more cultivated inhabitants of great manuThe reconstitution of the University of London in the facturing towns ceased after a time to reside in them, and year 1900, under the Act of 1898, is a fact of great betook themselves to London or the country. The per- significance in the history of the higher educamanent inhabitants were for the most part absorbed in tion in England. That institution was founded Thei business, and the lack has been felt of a class of persons in the first year of the reign of Victoria with a ^London. engaged in intellectual pursuits, and obliged by the nature view to place the means of University training of their duties to become habitual residents. The within the reach of students who were prevented by professors of the new provincial colleges form such a class; distance, by the existence of religious tests, or otherwise, and experience has shown that they have received cordial from availing themselves of Oxford or Cambridge. At welcome, and that their influence on the local society has first its scope was limited to two or three colleges in been generally recognized as a clear gain. London, and to a small number of provincial colleges ; and The future organization of University education in the Senate was empowered, after due examination, to Ireland is not yet (1901) finally decided, and is still a confer degrees on such students of these colleges as had subject of much controversy in the sister island fulfilled certain conditions of residence. But in the year anc education ^ P^li^ment. A Eoyal Commission has 1858 a new charter practically abolished the connexion of in Ireland. been engaged in investigating the whole subject. the University with the affiliated colleges, and empowered The principal existing provision for academic the Senate to confer degrees and honours on all candidates, education in Ireland consists of the ancient University of collegiate and non-collegiate alike, who could satisfy the Trinity College, Dublin, the Royal University founded in examiners. After that time the University was mainly 1880, and the Queen’s Colleges. The Provost and Fellows an examining board; year by year upwards of two of Trinity College were until recently required to be mem- thousand young persons presented themselves for matricubers of the Established Church, and the institution was long lation, and the number of degrees conferred in the regarded as a stronghold of Evangelical Protestantism. Faculties of Arts, Laws, Science, Medicine and Surgery But these restrictions and all religious tests have now steadily increased. A strong desire arose, however, that been abolished. The Royal University consists of a Board the Metropolitan University should influence teaching empowered by charter to examine students and to confer as well as examination, and that it should be brought degrees, but exercises no direct teaching functions. These again, though under altered conditions, into organic conprovisions are not satisfactory to the heads of the Roman nexion with the great teaching bodies of London. After Catholic Church, who have made a strong effort to induce the reports of two Royal Commissions entrusted with the Government to grant a charter to a new Roman the duty of making inquiries on this subject — the Catholic University, Avhich shall be largely under the first under the presidency of Lord Selborne, in 1882, supervision and influence of the hierarchy of that Church. and the second, in 1892, under Lord Cowper—an Act The question thus raised is of great importance to the of Parliament in 1898 reconstituted the University, on whole empire, since by recent legislation all theological the principle that while continuing to discharge all its tests, whether for the students or for the governing bodies, functions as an examining body for collegiate and have been abolished at Oxford and Cambridge and at the non-collegiate students in all parts of the empire, it Scottish Universities, and since every one of the newer should also establish closer relations with the great London academic institutions which are empowered to confer degrees, colleges and medical schools, give to the authorities of either in the United Kingdom or in the Colonies, is wholly those institutions a larger share in the government of the unsectarian in its character. The University of Laval, in University, and seek in other ways to co-ordinate and Lower Canada, is almost the only exception—and not a control the higher education of London. Statutes very important one—to this general statement. Those designed to give effect to this proposal received the royal persons who object to the proposed new departure from all assent in the year 1900. These statutes contemplated a these precedents in the case of the Roman Catholics of wide extension of the usefulness of the University under Ireland, urge that there is a fundamental difference between its new conditions. In particular, they recognized it as a a College and a University. While Colleges with a pro- large part of the business of a University to ennoble and nounced denominational character deserve full recognition liberalize the higher professions generally, without the and public aid, a University is something more than a limitation to Divinity, Law, and Medicine, which have for College. It is a chartered corporation empowered to set so many years been regarded as par excellence the learned up a standard of general scholarship and science, and to professions. To bring a high standard of general literary
