New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-03-23

hs1 told them that they ought not 70 rec e the Prot
"es.sLt yertion Of the Lords Prayer and Ten Com
"nardnep,s and 20 they had given crederce % the
vssue and unfounded runor, AID taken upon than
selves the responsibility Of disobeying the rules OF the
school.
eyc.p,i5rs there has been exhibited marked dsgree
OF tolerance although each pir'y spP7Ars 10 Se arm
il iis opinions.
we held on Monday afternoon.
The Mayer ri iced the following communication BE-
fore the Committee:
To ne Presi<sHf and he"oer' p ts NeAool Co7Hft
Tie updersigr ed ha. leaned tins. a meeting Of the
school Committee for the City o; Boston il to be held
this afternoon, ard doubts not that tie unpleasant
difficulties which recently have sprupg up between
the te sehers aud the stbohc pupil in eets'l schools
will form part Of the matter for delb sra'ien which
on the occasion will be brought before the members %
that honorable Bosrc.
lie also thinks and hopes that II vii not be regarded
81 an act of presumption obtrusiveness bic part
20 offer few remsIks upon the subject, and 10 ct
OrtD clearly a. may be, the nature and founta11n
OF the obieetiOrs which Catholics feel and make
sgaust certain articles Of the regulations TniCn gov
ern the exercises of Public Schools. III 8 per-
susded that the Committee desire h. know and Weigh
All the eorsiC erstOns which may have a reasODa5e
bearing the question at issue and he thitks
that ms testimony 20 what regards Catholics in the
may be to them more satisfactory tnan wonli be
that Of some others.
These reasons induce him to write.
The Undersigned would therefore first state, %
general that the objections raised oy the Catholic
pupils and by their parents are not affected scrdPles
are OF, some would seem 10 think, fetc1es or
pretenses devised simply Tor the purpose OF creating
. difficulty They are serious and solid objections
founded in ndiv Iusl science and individual faith
To show this, il may be well TO divide the matter,
and pet apart for consideration three particular po1ts
out Of which, and against which, mainly thoe o5iec
tons 6rie.
These points are. The enforced use of the Pot
estant version Of the Bible ,. The enforced eara-
ing ard Iectirg Of the Ten Commandments in tner
Prot slant form. 3. The enforced union in cnaunt-
ing the Lords Prayer and other religious caauuts.
On these three points the undersigned respectfully
begs leave 10 remsTk as follows:
l. Catholics can.ot, under any circumstances, &C.
know edge, receive aud use as complete collection
and fSithfn version Of tle PRED books wh3h con-
pose the written Word Of God the Euglsh Protestant,
Translation Of the Bible. Still less can they so ar
knowledge accept it when its enforc smcnt as
such ia coupled expressly with the rejection Of that
version which their own church approves 6n1 adopts
as being correct and authentic. And yet this e re-
qoired of theniby aF. The Law, az adm1-
istered holes ioIth the Protestant version 10
the Catholic child aud rays, . receive this
az the Bible" The Catholic child aDswers,
81 cannot so receive it, The law, ss admin:
isered ssys lyon must, or ese you must be scoulged
" and finally banished from tbs school
ii. TIE acceptance and recital Of the Decalogue,
under the form and wOris in w1cn Protestants co,he
H. s offensive TO the conscience sud belief OF Cathoos
inatmucl that form and those worcs are we Eei ~
n en- ana have not unfrequenty been used by their
adyersares as a Of attack upon certsin cIe's
ard practices which, uDder the teaching OF The Church,
they hyld ss true and sacred.
Ill The chanting ofthe Lords Prayer, Of pssns OF
hymns addressed to Col, performed by many persons
in unison, being neither scholastic exercise nor
recreation, only be regarded as az act of public
worship Indeed it IL professedy intended az sach IN
the regulations which govern our public schools. II
woulo seem that the principles which guide Prote5-
tans and Catholics IN relation 10 communion 10 public
worship are widely different Protestants, however
diverse may be their religious OpiDiOn-In1itanens
who assert that Jesus Christ is true Col, and Untar
ars who deny that lie is true GodGnd difficulty
TO offer in brotherhood blended and apparently bar
monious worship, and in so dong they give and re-
ceive mutual satisfaction, mutual edihcation. TIE
C1tbo ic car not act in this manner. lie cannot pre-
cent himself before the Divine presence in what wo1
be for him q merely simulated union Of prayer and
alteration. His Church expressly .orbids hin 50 10
do She considers indifference in matters OF religion,
indifference to the distinction of positive doctrines
in faith as a great evil which proniscuous worship
would tend 10 spread more widely and Increase Hence
the prohibition Of such worship and the COthOc csn
not join in it without doing violence 70 MS sense Of
religious duty.
Iheee three points the undersigned simply sets forth
as tscts apperGning to the faith Of Catholics end u
their Coincidence in matters of religion. Any discus
sion or show Of arguments TO prove the reasonable
ness Of such belief and of such conscience vOul
To him ont Of place. nssmuch IS the question T. be
solved is not Why people believe, but wnat they be-
lieve; save always the lava OF common morality aud
the resp due 10 ell such things as may be essential
or integral to the Constitution under which the Com
monveath is goyernerred.
The undersigned viii not bring his communication
TO ciCse without dissyowsg the slightest thought OF
inpUtDg 10 the gentlemen who framed the school reg
nations any design Ia disregard the rights or the feel
ires Of Catholics HE personal knowledge Of several
among them excludes such an idea from his mind,
ard the bare inspection of the rules IL, he thinks,
enough to prove that good aud just and honest nten-
tons presided in their councils.
TIE uudCrsigred begs lesve to add orc word more
in conclusion. Ii has been supposed THAI because h6
vas silent be was satisfied with tAe state Of pub
lie fchools This is net 90. lie hss always enter
tsired the sentiments which he nov expresses But
wherever and wherever al effort has bsen made by
Catholics 10 effect sucl changes as they desired,
tie question has been distorted from rs trde sense,
ard fsse Issue mas been SET before the u0n-CatAo;
community, II has been represented that the design
was TO eliminate ard practically snnlhl'se the Bible
This has never been true, ana yet this Mss a!Eay3
been believed and ralyins cry, To the re1cne OF
the Bible - has resCun0ed every side. Angry pss
,ors have been reused, violent acts been commit e,
and almost invariably the last condition of things hiss
been worse than the first.
In iLe light Of this eXperieI &C. any attempt 70 bring
sbouta change seemed ca!cpsted 10 cause much s-e,
bpt very little good ano therefore 10. advisable.
To.osy. however circumstances, known 20 al seem
to make it duty for the undersigned TO at ent 10
sneak lie does without reuctsnce, since il i bis
drty. and he bones ~ at Whist he has said will h.
Ceivej as II Is spoken, with spirit OF concli ston,
and with true deposition 70 promote goodwin and
charity among all classes Of citizens
TIE undersigned hsE;h- honor 20 BE- With rnuea resFec
C.utl-upen your obeiieut ssfyADt,
JOHN B. FITZPArklCA, b.aOP OF Boston.
Eciioa, NeLoSy, March =, 1858.