The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-04-22

MODERN PUR1TANlsM.-We were very much sur
prised, on reading an Eastern exchange, few days
since, to observe in report of the proceedings of the
Legislature of the State of Massachusetts, denial,
on the part of that body, to grant charter to the
celebrated College of the Holy Cross, situated at
Worcester, in that State. After prosperous ca
reer of seven years. the heads of the college, with
the view of overcoming the disadvantages which
they abored under in not being incorporated
among which were, the privilege of granting de-
grees, of holding property under corporate seal,
and doing other things of that nature-applled for
charter to that body The application was referred
to a committee, who, without assigning any reason,
briefly reported adversely to the prayer of the
petitioners
We do not know certainly-and the committee
have determined not to enlighten us on the point
what was the reason of their reporting they did.
We presume, however, the main one was, that the
College of the Holy Cross is Catholic institution,
and therefore not entitled to any favor at the hands
of the Legislature of Puritanical Massachusetts,.
If this was really the reason-and we sec no cause
to doubt 1.-THE committee who made the report,
and the Legislature who received it, have proved
themselves wanting in lberality, independence,
and Christian feeling. They have been elected by
their fellow citizens to the places which they &C.
cupy, as tribute of respect their learning and
capacity, and competent to egislate for the in
terests of the commonwealth. Their action, how
ever, in this matter shows that matter how
learned they are, they are swayed, as their
ancestors were, by bigotry and intolerance, and
are incapable of legi1lating on religious SUBJ
jects. In this State, we happy to say that our
public men are above such bigotry. If a seminary
or college applied to them for an act of incorpora-
tion they would never descend so low as to inquire
into Its religious character but would grant it at
once, whether it were Jew or Gentle. AS an
evidence of this spirit of lberaty, that body grant
ed its last session, nine thousand dollars to the
Buffalo Hospital of the Sisters of Charity, an inst
tuition, as its name indicates, controlled excu-
sively by Roman Catholics. They cared not for
,hat-they merely looked at its end and aim, and
made the donation. What a contrast does not
this magnanmy afford to the pary and bigoted
course of the Massachusetts Legislature on the Pc
tition of the College of the Holy Cross for simple
act Of incorporation!
1t is, however, in another point of view that thus
act should be deprecated by all liberal people BY
refusing to incorporate that college, on the ground
of lis being Catholic institution, the Legislature
al once ProscrlDes the Catnouc rellglon, through
out that State, and gives its followers to under
stand that they may expect no favor and tolera-
ton at their hands. This is unworthy of the age
in which we live, unworthy of the State of Massa-
chusetts, and libel on the American confederacy
which proclaims to the whole world, that within
its borders, not only civil, but religious liberty, is
enjoyed in the highest and widest degree It affords
evidence, however, that the spirit of religious per-
secution is not extinct in Massachusetts, and that
the intolerant disposition which sent unofcndng
Quakers to the stake, and demolished barrels o
beer for fermenting on the Sabbath, Is yet alive
there.