Show BRITISH MINISTER OF EDUCATION A position ot much prominence and some embarrassment Is that occupied by the right honorable augustine birrell minister of aduca alon in the new liberal cabinet in great britain to his lot it fell to introduce the education bill which may be described aa having given moderate satisfaction to the nonconformists alarmed churchmen and Is fiercely attacked by the labor party who desire that education shall be entirely secular under its provisions full public control Is taken of all schools religious tests tor teach ers are abolished and the local education au becomes responsible for the maintenance of the fabric of the non provided schools proal eion Is also made for non denominational teach ing in schools on two mornings in the week should four fifths of the parents desire it non teaching may be given every day on all sides the measure Is described ae weak and vacillating the father of mr birrell was a torm 1st minister of the baptist persuasion at liverpool hia mother was the daughter of an edinburgh clergyman and he himself Is a nonconformist of the sternest type one of his first speeches in parliament where he represented west fife was in support of mr labouchere s opposition on the royal grant question the scope of the inquiry might be restricted said mr birrell but you could not restrict the sphere of men a reflections |