New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-08-09
Church RS secular Education.

III ali the opposition when ! rec schools
have had to encounter IN this State. none
was more bitter and uncompromlslng thaa
that put forth by certain portion of the
Catholics They contenied that all educa-
ton ought to be under the immediate super
intendence of the clergy that no child
should be permitted to learn arithmetic or
geography without the Intervention OF the
Church and that any system OF schools.
in which instruction IN religious dognas
was not part of the daily course of stud
les, was unworthy of support. or even OF
liberation and that the idea of leaving re-
hgious education 10 she influences and
teachings of home, and the lessons OF the
pulpit and Sunday School, was goddess, IN
fdel, socialist, and destructive of every
thing noble and sacred among men.
1t is true that thus was by no means the
view of all Catholics The large ana high
" respectable portion OF them who hold
republican and liberal opinions in political
matters, repudated thIs sectarlan hostility
to Free Schools. and voted for the law
guaranteeing TO every child the right TO edu-
cation They regarded II a. every way adj
yisable that all the members OF the commu-
nlty should be trained n branches OF secu-
lar KNOWLEDGE as far Is possible, under one
democratic system theY could not under
stand that religion was exposed 10 danger
from the diffusion OF Intelligence that
their children would be harmed by going
with those of other DENOMINATIONS for a few
hours a DAY, 10 schools where the care of
the entire community would be devoted 70
securing the best teachers and the most
vieilant oversight, and where no attempt
would be made 70 affect their religious be-
lief one way or the other. \ large propor-
ton OF the Catholics were of this way OF
thinking. and voted with their fellow-ctI-
zens accordingly.
We find in our late English journals the
report OF case which would seem to prove
that those who support the system of Secu-
lar instead of Church education are In the
rlpht; and for the reason that the former Is
under the supervision of the community,
and the latter cannot be, and therefore is
liable 10 abuses from which the former is
exempt. The Rev. John Weale, Catho
lie clergyman. master of school at lsllng-
Ton. near London. was recently brought be-
fore the police on the charge OF abusing a
little boy SIX wears old. one Of his pupils.
Mr.. Hlnchley, grocer residing ~ the
ue.ghborhood. testified that ne had often
heard rroans and screams from the children.
caused apparently by the severity OF their
punishment. but that on this occasion the
evidences OF suffering became 50 shocking
that he went into the house to stop The pro-
cess of torture. He found the master en-
gared IN :courglrg the child with whip OF
sutta peIcha; the victim was talnting, and
The blood was running from his person.
The following Is me report OF the evidence
/ which was given BY the boy himself
The poor LITTLE fellow. having g,Ten satisfactory
answers 20 lie nature Of AZ oa-A. "s s"ofIi an
stated thai az O'Clock n the afternoon a!tef al ne
scholars 18th the exception OF three Of the ei-er
ones. rad been sent bone. the defendant seiZe1 ani
foc-ed hlm with gutta pcIcha WA-p Oh n ,es>'
III gns, and other parts OF hls person of colsle'a-
/ lie tune lie could moi say non many blows were
inflicted. 5ui Re could swear tina, there were more
fnar twenty he had not been naughty DO IN iilai
/ dav TIE father defendant told nG. ma lie pun
.hmefi va, f0r having aD>en,ed himself from -e.ool
q sunday.
Such cruelty might happen IN ordinary
schools. but there the criminal would be
held responsible and punished Tor Il. Bat
in Church school there IS no such respon-
sibility; where the master IS a priest,
especially, he is not amenable for ms act.