Facts and Reasons Against Thoughts on the Points at Issue Between the Established Church and the National Board of Education.": Being Some Observations on Mr. Woodward's Late Pamphlet"

Facts And Reasons Against Thoughts On The Points At Issue Between The Established Church And The National Board Of Education." By Alexander Ross, M.A., Rector of Banagher, in the Diocese of Derry. This pamphlet is a pointed critique of Rev. Henry Woodward's proposals on national education in Ireland. Ross argues that joint education and Scripture in schools can be a positive, morally elevating force and that the Church of Ireland bears a responsibility to educate the entire population, not merely its own parish. He contends that Woodward’s objections rest on conjecture and character rather than solid argument, and he rejects appeals to personal virtue as sufficient justification for changing Church policy. Drawing on decades of pastoral experience in a largely Roman Catholic district, Ross asserts that Scripture-reading in schools can coexist with Catholic families and that religious instruction within national schools can contribute to uplift without proselytizing. He critiques the Board’s rules, discusses relaxations made to accommodate Presbyterians and others, and defends the Church’s duty to witness for Holy Writ. He also recalls a plan developed in Derry to harmonize government education with Church principles, emphasizing faithful witness over partisan advantage. Overall, the work defends established church principles while engaging constructively with contemporary educational reform.