New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-03-03

tl3t tnert is Any NIVus III q sooSnoA ~fNc
sschool with prayer where no objection is msde
and the general assent Of all those interested
is fairly assumed. We. certainly, should not
feel that our rights we're invaded BY the offer
ing of short and simple prayer on opening
the school BY teacher of almost or quite any
Religious Faith.
p But so soon as the teacher became aware
that the parents of some of bis pupils objected
TO these prayers, he should have promptly and
cheerfully discontinued them. If Miss NJ did
otherwise, she did wrong and what was contra
~ to the spirit of our Common School system.
We apprehend, however that there was some
Misrepresentation in the premises, and that she
did not understand that her prayers were OF.
fensive to Catholic parents of her pupils.
8. Mr. Mcmahon had perfect right to re-
monstrate against any Religious exercises in the
common school which he deemed injurious to
or inconsistent with the Faith Of his parishion-
ers. The Board appear to have promptly, If
not very gracioudy, acceded to his demand, by
directing that the prayers should be discontin-
ued. We cannot determine what Mr.. Leggets
did which made him the advocate Of the
offending teacher; he may have merely observ-
ed that she did not mean to offend against the
rights of conscience or the principles Of the
common school system
A. The Catholics have of course a perfect
right to present a candidate for School Trus
tee, and to vote for him. If they believe their
Faith imperied By anything done or suffered
in the Schools, tits their obvious duty TO seek
remedy And We do believe that if McMa-
hon had called upon the principal citizens of
Flushing and said TO them, 1--WE consider our
selves not altogether well treated in the man
agement Of the Common School, and We ask
you to allow us one of the three Trustees
the demand would have been recognized as
reasonable by majority, and complied with.
Ii We are mistaken on this point, and the NOM
inee Of the Catholics, was refused because he
was Catholic and not because Of anything
defensive or defiant in the manner of his pre-
sentiment, then those who threw him out made
q misstep, which is TO be deeply deplored. As
Stunning that he is fit man We should have
certainly voted for him had We been a resident
Of Flushing, and had we been courteously
invited to do so.
5. We have only Mr.. McMahon's statement
Of the case before u.s. and we do think he has
been too hasty in declaring war on the Flush
ing School and the Common School system,
and calling on his people to build separate
schOol.house and tax themselves with the sup
port Of Catholic school. They are mainly
poor, and the burthen will prove heavy one.
May we not hope that the matter will yet DO
reconsidered, that the Protestants of Flush
ing will profler all reasonable guarantees that
no Just cause of ofTense shall be given in the
School to Catholic parents or their pastor, and
that the project Of a Catholic School will be
given up Will not some one of the present
Trustees gladly resign and help elect Catho-
lie in his stead, if thereby schism may be OBJ
Waited One Public School in Flushing can
do more good than two, or any larger number.
We appeal to liberal and enlightened eiti-
zens every where to watch the troubles now ST.
lentiy brewing all around us on this subject OF
Religion in Common Schools, and do their ut
most to avoid the threatened calamity. Be
sure the fault is not all on one side, though the
Catholics often seem to us unreasonably jealous
and exacting. We must bear ever in mind that
their Faith is to them the most vital of all
matters, and there must not be even an APP
pearance Of infringing uponit. The Education
of each is the interest of all, and we cannot az
ford TO have the children scattered and driven
away from School by zealots throwing Bibles
or Praye books over their heads at each other.
Let this matter be looked to at once. I'D.