Calendar: 1878-1879 Page 55

ANNUAL report 53 which is not to be thought of or by an extension of the period of study which would certainly be undesirable In all other respects the plan has worked very satisfactorily in some cases securing for the ranks of the Ministry those who otherwise could not have entered them in others serving as test of the fitness of Candidates and enabling any who may find it necessary to reconsider their offer of themselves to turn back without serious sacrifice of their prospects ill life The general prosperity of the Department is the more satisfactory since the number of Theological Colleges con- tinues to increase and the advantages given to Theological Students at the Universities are also happily augmented There are now 604 Associates of this Department of whom 229 were placed in the First Class at their Final Examination -The number of Students in the Department of General Literature and Science has this year slightly advanced though it is still far from commensurate with the excellence of the teaching and the importance and variety of the subjects of study During the past year in accordance with recommendation of the Staff the Council have consented to make slight addition to the Curriculum with view to make it completely adequate for those who are preparing for various Public Examinations for the University of London and for the Civil and Military Services and at the same time with the same view to allow to Students greater freedom of choice under the advice of the Dean in forming for themselves such courses of study as may be especially necessary for them This has necessitated slight increase of fees from £12 12s to £14 per Term The results of this experiment are yet to be seen The Council would greatly regret to impair in any way the supremacy of the principle of liberal education to which this department has always been devoted But the system of Public Examinations has now attained so great predominance that it is impossible altogether to ignore it in framing schemes of higher education