differed. (Hear, hear,) It was extremly free from the assertion of any matters of ecclesiastical polity. It was even free, he thought, from anything dogmatical; and as for the marvellous powers of infallible self-consciousness which some persons were supposed to possess, it contained no ground-work for any claims of that kind. (Laughter.) But he did find in the document the doctrines of repentance, faith, obedience, the necessity of holiness, and judgment by works. (Hear, hear.) Well, he really did not know what a Churchman had to complain of, so far. (Laughter, and hear, hear.) Assuming that they found common ground-whether they took the Bible, the creeds of councils, or any more recent summary of doctrine as their standard-they had to look in the face a new system of history, a new system of criticism, and a vast world of modern science. With all this face to face, it was a blessed thing for Bible Christian ministers, farmers, and tradesmen, to know that their sons were in that college being educated in solid intellectnal knowledge which should prepare them for what they had to meet hereafter. He did not suppose that their head-master was foolish enough to talk to the boys very much about these scientific theories. (Hear.) In the first place, he found that the subject in which they specially excelled was the study of languages; and, as the essay read by Honey proved, history formed an important part of their work. (Hear, hear.) He was most thankful that the farmers and tradesmen of that part of the world should hear their sons reading and speaking to them on questions which he was sorry to say did not excite half enough interest in our homes. (Hear, hear.) If the franchise was to be still further extended—as probably it would be the one thing above all others they would wish the people to study was the history of their own country. (Hear, hear.) He thought they had in Mr. Ruddle a really able head-master. (Cheers.) Under him their sons were being brought up in firm adherence to the Christian faith, and they were also being mentally trained in a manner that would fit them for whatever they might have to meet in the world-especially by those studies which taught them that there was something more in the world than the mere mechanism of the earth, and that dust from which they were made, and that above all there was still unquestionably a spiritual life, a something beyond that which mere ordinary science could teach. (Applause.) The head-master, he believed, considered it would be an advantage if the Governors could see their way to providing a small practical laboratory; and he (Sir Thomas) hoped this would be done, as he knew from experience that in chemistry and physiology kuowledge was much more surely gained by experimental study than from books alone. (Hear, hear.) He understood that some of them were anxious to have "agricultural education." Well, he hardly knew what "agricultural education" meant. He certainly knew a great many things it did not mean. (Laughter.) However, there was no time to go into that subject. He must say he was astonished at the ability shewn in Gover's essay on Somersetshire. He hardly observed a single inaccuracy in it; he might inform his young friend, however, that Somersetshire farmers were not quite so far behindhand as he seemed to imply. (Laughter.) Sir Thomas said he must detain them by a few remarks on the extraordinary success of Mr Horwill. (Applause.) It certainly gave him a great deal of pleasure. (Cheers.) This Dyke Scholarship, he should explain, was given every year. Originally it was given for twenty years for two scholars at St. Mary Hall. His good father-who did many useful things in his day—got it put on a very much better footing; and lately the Trustees had succeeded in disconnecting it from St. Mary Hall. His father, he should tell them, got the scholarship extended to Devon and Cornwall as well as to Somerset, and added something to the value of it. (Cheers.) It was now open to any person born or educated within the three counties, so that any boy who had been at Shebbear a couple of years was eligible. The Bishops of Exeter, Bath and Wells, and Truro had rendered a good deal of assistance in bringing this about. The position now was that any qualified boy in the three counties, whose parents could not afford to maintain him at a University, could be elected. The Trustees acted upon the principle of giving the scholarship only to those who really required it. (Hear, hear.) A young gentleman whose father drove about in a smart pony carriage was struck off some time ago. (Hear, hear.) No favour was shown, no personal interest had any weight whatever; the scholarship was always honestly given to those who merited it and who required it. (Applause.) It depended on the local university examinations, and the winner was open to go to any college or to any hall, or as an unattached student at Oxford. He was not sorry to hear that young Horwill had entered as an unattached student at Oxford. (Hear, hear.) He would be able to live as simple a life as his father could wish him, provided he had sufficient self-control, and he would find ample moral support from other persons similarly placed. (Hear, hear.) The Trustees did not feel bound to elect the boy highest on the list. Next to Horwill was a boy named Thomson, from the Wesleyan College at Kingswood. They were almost neck and neck. He would frankly say that he did not admit as a matter of course that a student who was first-class in languages and second-class in mathematics and music was better than one who had got first-class both in languages and mathematics. Prima facie, he would prefer the latter, because concentration of effort was the best thing in a young pupil; but there were other circumstances to be considered. He was sorry that Horwill's name had not the asterisk, which showed a proficiency in the rudiments of faith and religion;* but he had this satisfactory information, that he was first in the preliminary, and also well up in Scripture-and that would appear in the supplementary lists. He was very well ahead in languages; and in fact had acquitted himself so well generally that the Trustees made up their minds that they were doing quite right in electing him. (Applause.) Thomson was two years younger. Age was no doubt an important matter in all questions of merit; still they did not apply it in this case for the reason mentioned in the following resolution, which he should be glad if the Press would assist him in making public :-"Resolved, that under the circumstances above stated, it appears to the Trustees desirable to appoint H. W. Horwill, who will be superannuated before the next vacancy can be filled up, whereas W. Thomson can have two more opportunities of competing. The Trustees wish it to be understood that they do not consider themselves bound to elect the candidate who stands highest on the general list without further inquiry into his position on the sectional lists, and that, other circumstances being equal, they are at liberty to take the age of candidates into account as one element in deciding on the superior merit; and Mr. Horwill is declared hereby duly elected." Sir Thomas added that the results of making the scholarship dependent on the local examinations was to bring it within reach of persons who could not afford to keep their boys at expensive schools beyond the age of eighteen. (Hear, Hear.) He gave some excellent advice to the boys, and stated that having thoroughly examined the college premises, he was satisfied that the arrangements for preserving the health and morality of the boys were as good as they could be; while as to the buildings themselves, there was no nonsense about them, and no waste of money, and they were in every respect a credit to the Connexion. (Applause. He highly praised Mr. Ruddle's management. North Devon was at the head of all England in the matter of public schools, and Shebbear College took a good place in North Devon. (Applause.) * That is, the rudiments of faith and religion as contained in the Book of Common Prayer. |