The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-03-18
The Religious DifiieuIty In the
Boston Schools

X has been stated that difficulty occurred op
the 18th inst, in the Eliot free school at R,ston
account Of the refusal of the Catholic cbitdra,
who had been instructed by their priest, and
garents TO that efect-to recite the Lords praxer
l snd the Ten Commandments as they are written
the Protestant version of the Bible custom
PREVAILS ia the various schools in the city. undsr
I ae sanction Of the School Committee, of reading
1 ron the Bible dsily and of repeating the Ten
| luommsndments aud chanting the Lords pravsr
more or less frequently, in some cases not more
hen than once week, as is the case in the Eliot
srnool. The Courier SAYS:
10 accordance with this usage, on Monday of
/ ASK week, alss snepafd,a a teacher in the school,
! Tas conducting the exercise, when she observed
/ several OF the scholars vary the usual form to
1 AsTee with the DoGay, authorized Catholic var
/ son OF the scriptures. Although the difference
il very slight, il was sufficient to render the eyer
use dissonsnf and confused. On inquiring into
l 'he cause OF the change, she was told by the
l scholars that their parents were unwilling thav
should say the common version. aud told them 70
repeat the Cath9iic. AS the at er was conf.,d IN
l i've or three, 1t vas compounded and passed over.
/ ieateFday, IN attempting to go through the same
L exercise, Miss Shepard found instead of two or
ibree The majority of her class utterly refused 10
comply with the genera! usage in this respect all
1 aoush they were willing 10 repeat and chant the
II catholic versions. The reason assigned was tn At
thus they had been instructed to do by Father
Wiset, OF st. Msry's Church, of whose parish
aeE parents were members. She spoke t. Mr.
'oS, tie sub,master whose room is adj Joining coz.
terulns the difficulty. He immediately told the
sctto Mr. Msson,the master. by whom he was refer
4 red 10 member Of the School Committee then
PRESENT on some business connected with the buii
linr. The member of the Committee went to Mics
II ,tepards room aud inquired into the matter more
istply. He efound the boys unyieldngIy persis.
tent 10 their position. Two he called to his side,
lae Of whom Thomas Ward, lad of thirteen
COX the lead in the difficulty the week previous
Affarn ff<oa Gn.ri,
4 HGnd matters entirely unchanged, upon which he
emarsed that "they bad better be turned over TO
stH rattan. The Com nittee gave young Ward in.
he hands of the sub master with direction TO
ystioree obedience. Mr. Cook says he found it ne.
\ 'sssary TO punish the boy severely which he did
4 WITH common rattan, striking him upon his hand
1 'ai mat he used no more severity than was ab.o-
/ aIeiy necessary to enforce obedience, knowing
hat the boy was disobeyng his religious ipstruc-
1 ors IN complying with his demands; nevertheless
\ ms hands were 80 much swollen and infamed at
i the end Of the punishment. that Mr. Cook bathed
he@ 10 cold water, and used other means to soothe
i 'te irritation.
Daripg the chastisenent which was frequently
fsA'itted, the boy expressed willingness to com,
Ply but for the explicit instructions Of his father
sha The priest He was told by Mr. Mason, who
came INTO the reom at this time, that his father
bad told him he desired that the boy should repeat
iae common version. He at length however.
/ Welded
Il was thought that this example would deter
'1N'9 Hpih uihODtolcuCe. Dut they still
sTnaned firm. Of course chastisement was then
.a' OF the question and further punishment was
sshdoned The Committee bad mean while found
gong from room TO room, that out of $50 scho.
as 10 the entire school, upwards Of 800 had been
A.;ructed in like manner.
"a The afternoon, Mr.. Dyer. chairman of the
Ds'rlct Committee, came into the school and sent
s,Say about 100 who stil refused compliance with
,Ia rule Thirsyssix were sent away from Miss
1spard's room, and about thirty each from two
"her rooms
Ibe Transcript of Tuesday evening says:
The trouble in the North End schools has not
.1' sCbsided. il is spreading from the grammar
.lcols TO those Of lover grade. The intermediate
hoos, that class between the primary and gram.
lar. begin 20 feel its influence This morning, in
4 e. Intermediate school, the teacher insisting
4 -pln q compliance with the mandatory clause of
Ssston I'VE, Of chapter eight. Of the school regula-
2ns, which provides that the morning exercises of
-! the schools shail commence .ith reading por-
2n o. scripture one Of the Catholic scholars threw
'9sD the testament and rushed out Of school, and
Tiers refused 20 read. The School Committee were
cut Tor by tbs perp.exed teacher 10 decide upon the
nrse 20 be taken in this open dsoedience OF school
j 'Ethority.''