Transcribed from the 1836 Josiah Fletcher edition by DavidPrice.
FROM CERTAINCHARGES, DIRECT OR IMPLIED,
IN A LETTER ADDRESSED TO THEM BY THE REV.JOHN ALEXANDER,
ON THE SUBJECT OF
INFANT EDUCATION.
BY WILLIAM GEARY.
NORWICH:
PRINTED BYJOSIAH FLETCHER, UPPER HAY MARKET.
1836.
Price Threepence.
In times and under circumstances ofan ordinary character, the letter, to which the following pagesrefer, might with safety be left to find its proper place in thepublic mind. It is characterized by a spirit of mildnessand conciliation; and, as much of its censure is founded onerroneous impressions, the consequences would have been butmomentary. But, in the present extraordinary times, thereare not wanting those who would gladly seize upon the occasion,as a favourable one for widening the differences and perpetuatingthe antipathies, which unhappily prevail among Christians, andhence it appears desirable that the public should be set rightwith regard to the course now taken by those who are implicatedin the charges.
The main charges appear to be:—
I. That the parties in question have acted unkindly anddisrespectfully, so far as they have interfered with thearrangements for the exhibition in St. Andrew’s Hall.
p. 4II. An assumption, (perfectly groundless,) that the plan of theproposed society would exclude all children except those ofparents belonging to the Established Church, and
III. That a society embracing in its direction andoperations, all sects and denominations, would have worked morefor the public good than the one proposed.
It should be borne in mind, that the exhibition, in St.Andrew’s Hall, was Mr. Wilderspin’s ownspeculation. By myself and by some others, it was howeverfavourably viewed, under an impression that a feeling would beexcited where none had previously existed, and that it mightpossibly open the way for an extension of the system. Mr.W. was requested to meet a few gentlemen, at the Hall in theMarket, to explain to them the nature of his system, and he thereagain mentioned his intention of assembling the children forexamination in St. Andrew’s Hall. He was distinctlyasked whether the directors or the committee of those schools hadbeen consulted, and he as plainly replied that there would be nodifficulty on that head. On the subject of the expenses theway was not so clear,—with his usual liberality he declaredthat he did not seek remuneration, but still he thought he oughtto be indemnified from loss—and after some loose discussionit was agreed that those present should be responsible for anyloss. It was finally arranged that free tickets ofadmission should be given to the Sunday school p. 5and otherteachers. Of these, 300 were distributed to the variousDissenting Congregations in thecity. The public were admitted at sixpence each person, andthe proceeds went to the erection of the gallery, the purchase ofbuns for the children, and a gratuity to Mr. Wilderspin; a smallcontri