, 1859-04-09
The magdalene AsyluM... Letter from
Dr. McMulteu.

Editors Press and THtune:
Inoticed in YOUR number Of Thursday last. 4
communication regarding the MaSlu1eu Asy
lun' now in operation, and wl1osc pcrma1icncc
We ARE dtsirous 10 secure. The substance Of
the correspondents remarks is reasonable. and
hope tn oilts satisfactory explanation. His
illusions to the fnrmcr administration Of our
property and the title Oh which it is held. must
consider as founded on want If correct infnr-
uaatiun, anu being lrI'cEtincnt 10 the present
case, pass diem over with that silence which
they merit. The gentleman considers it au
objection 10 our scheme that the property be ut
tue n,srosAt of our Bishop; and truly If such
were likely to be the fact, the objection might
he wel~f'undcd for many Of our subscribers
But even were the property held in the Bishops
name, according to the duties Of lis office. he
would only be its administrator, could not dis
pose oF It ut pleasure, and would be obliged to
convert it to that usc for which it WAS intended
by the donor. However,, wish it to be distinct
Is understood, that it never was the intention
If our IT. Rev. Bishop, or Of those WHO had to
do with the undertaking. ttat thc property be
vested in the Bishop Of the Diucese, or 10 have
thu instruction under his sole control.
thought our intention was sufficiently init
mated when / spoke, in the circular. If thu Nish-
op giving suitable site for a building, aud Of
fering donation towards it. erection. | am
confident that tue Bishop is but too eager to BE-
relieved from the responsibility and trouble per
tanning In the Administration Of this and SINH
lar institutions. by having them given in Charge
IL competent bodies of our citizens, duly char
tered bv the State. The Asylum, then is 10 be- un.
der tl,c control of board Of guardians composed
citizens Of different denominations, legally Or
sanizcd and incorporated. 1t shall be open te
eyery subject, whntcver be her religious sent1
ments, or should they be none, provided she be-
disposed tu mend her life. 4 perfect freedom
Of religious instruction in accordance with lndl
Yidual views must be sccured-aprincipleo OF re-
liyvus liberty which should be preserved invio
lable in all such public institutions, but which aa:
been sacrificed ID most ofthe o!hfr'cist benevolcn
establishments Of this city. Our object IS tc
raise an asvIum for these unfortunate lndlv1du-
ais, similar those founded in most nt tue large
cities Of Europe and this country, and working
with triumphant, SUCCESS under the care aud IL
rection Of tLc ladies Of onr religious cou,muni
ties, who, for many reasons, rs experience ha:
rruved. are peculiarly adapted to the task.
Tho Sisters Of Mercy, whose occupations wcr'
already sufficiently extensive aud onerous. kind
ly consented to take the establishment for th'
| present; but arrangements have already beer
| made ia procure q branch Of the Society 0
Indies Of the Good Shepherd" whose com
nunity las fur its sole object the management
Vi such asylums. The encouragement TINT th
undertaking has reccircd excludes alldoubts re
Garding its SUCCESS. The only question is, VIII,
should ii not be established 20 as to meet boil
present and future exigcncicsr Why shouE.
uof tae citizens in general make not some bu
IN adequate provision for this most pitiabl
elass, and secure to the public great and last
ing oenent! ]. McMullxS, D. D.