In 1856 a controversy arose over the use of the Bible in the P.E.I. public schools. At the opening of the Normal School for the training of teachers’in October, 1856, John Stark, Visitor of Schools, remarked that the new school would introduce the practice of beginning each day with a Bible 1esson.(1l) The Roman Catholic Bishop, Bernard D. Kacdonald, promptly notified the Board of Education that any such practice would be resisted by Catholics; and he requested the Board to "reconsider the evil tendency of introducing religion in any shape into our mixed schools."(fl2) The Bishop was assured by Hon. George Goles that Mr. Stark had Spoken with- out the authority of the Board and that no proposed change in the secular nature of the public schools was being consid— ered by the Liberal Government. (13) However, several Protestant ministers, including a member of the Board of Education, began a campaign to petition the government to allow the Bible to become an approved school text and to have compulsory readings from the Bible in all schools. (14) One such petition was introduced to the house of Assembly in March, 1857 by Hon. James Muirhead from " diverse inhabitants of the Third electoral District of Prince County." (15) Hon. W. W. Lord, the other Liberal representative of the district> expressed his opposition to such a petition and dismissed it as a minor issue in his district. Unfortunatley for Mr. Lord

it was to cost him his political office.

An election was held in the Third District in June, 1857

to confirm Mr. Lord's acceptance of the executive office of

03.