1144 THEISLANDACADIANS

at the beginning of the century although they were still called the Temperance. Total abstinence from alcoholic beverages was no longer compulsory and anyone—man, woman or child—who had received communion could become a member on payment of annual dues of about 10 cents. The money collected was used to pay for the religious ceremony at the time of the member’s funeral. This type of organiza- tion survived in some parishes until the 1970s.

In short, the temperance society played an important role in Acadian parishes since, for many years, it constituted the principal community organization. In addition to fighting the problem of alco- holism, the temperance movement contributed to the social, eco- nomic and cultural development of the parishes.

EDUCATION

A QUESTION OF RELIGION

Between 1860 and 1870, Acadian schools were victims of a serious religious and political conflict in the province. By the end of the 1850s, the question of religious instruction in the schools had pitted Catholics and Protestants against each other. The controversy was focussed on the power of the Church and the State in educational matters. A violent debate dragged on in both the newspapers and the Legislature. The School Act of 1877 finally stated that public schools in the province were to be non-confessional, that is, neutral in religious matters.

To appreciate the extent of the debate which divided the province for many years, it should be understood that by the middle of the nineteenth century Prince Edward Island was a pluralistic society from a religious point of view. The members of the various religious denomi- nations wanted their children to be educated according to their beliefs. This demand on the part of parents posed a problem since many communities were comprised of several denominations. The limited population in these communities, not to mention the meagre re- sources available in the Public Treasury for education, did not justify multiplying schools in order to respect everyone’s religious beliefs and practices. The simplest solution was thus to see that public schools