New-York tribune., 1870-04-16
SECTARIAN SCHOOLS.
HISTORY OF THE PRESENT CONTROVERSY.


March 70 1873 that part OF the school fund applicable
the CITY of NewYork directed TO he apportened and
pad to the Trustees of the Free School Society tho
Trustees or Treasurers Of the Orphan Asylum Society,"
the Society the Economical School for the children OF
refugees the West ndesl the African Free School,
and of such incorporated religious societies in said city
As supported or should establish charity schools who
might apply for the same each school institution in
proportion to the number Of its pupils register Under
these provisions several religious bodies participated In
the distribution Of the fund. In 1920 the Bethel Baptist
Church in DeaHCcy-st opened school, with the same
privileges previously granted to the School Society
by law Of cxpendinc any surplus funds not required for
tie payment Of teachers wages in the erection OF new
school buildings Two additional schools were accord
iucy after erected by this church, and during the
ensuing three years three Roman Catholic churches two
Baptist, several Episcopal and Methodist, the Reformed
Dutch, the German Lutheran, and two Presbyterian
churches the Female Association, the Hamilton Free
school, the Mechanics Society, the Roman Catholic Be
nevoen Society opened schools in the different sections
OF the city and, with the other institutions previously
enumerated participated annually in the Distribution oi
the school Fund
In 1913 memorial was presented 70 the Legislature
by the Free School Society and its friends asking for
such an amendment the law should prevent any re-
Ngious society entitled TO participation in the fund
from drawing for any other than the poor children IN
their congregation. The Superintendent Of Common
schools was thereupon directed to report in detail the
expenditure Of the school money, and the manner of its
appropriation. From this report it appeared that somo
800 children al induced by various means to leave
Free school No in Hudsons, and attend the Bethel
school in Vaudamst; that willie the register number of
pupils Of tic Bethel schools reported at 15l the
number present inspection found to be only $50
that I'm one school, registering pupils, only 500 could
possibly accommodated; that the cheapest sort Of
teachers ad been provided, nonnaly at salaries equal
10 those paid by the Free school Society under agree
uents pay half third Of such salaries back TO the
Treasurer thereby enabling the Society receive
$500 per auuum aud that from their surplus funds
enhanced, buildings erected, the Easements only
Of which. dark, gloomy and il-ventiated, used
for school purposes while the upper and better
portion was devoted to the use of the Church.
Tho remorialsts accordingly renewed their
application TO the Icg lauro OF 1924 insisting that The
primary object Of dcnOIninatOnal schools being not
literary hut a religious sectaran education, tho
quouces Of such training the inevitable sharpening OF
tie lines dividing secs, the systematic sowing in the
Young mind Of those germs Of conscientious antagonism
which had 50 often Tpcned into harvest Of blood and
tho destruction Of Common Schools the only common
ground in which the future citizens Of the Republic
could FROM their childhood learn to know and respect
each other. TO do this at all was gievous evil TO do
70 az the expense OF public whose future harmony was
thus however remotely, mperled, an oense against
the fundamental principles Of the Republic itself" AS
conclusive OF tie moral training given by the free
schools they asserted that out Of 90 COo children instructed
them during perion Of eighteen years. only had
been traced 10 a criminal court.
This memorial received the unanimous sanction Of the
Common Counc and the Legislature at once transferred
10 that body the exclusive power of distributing and
apportonnc the public money. After an animated and
ful discussion of the whole question before them
deening that the school Fund Of the State purely Of
eirH elar1rr desgacd for erH purposes and that Tie
iah7istayo Of 10 religious ecclesiastical bodies CGs
ro'q2H o. ccDcHTy principle IN The politics Of the
Stete and cowhy"-thcy unanimously reported against
the any portion OF the fund TO the schools
II religious societies. directing its restriction to the
schools Of the Free School Society the Mechanics So
ccy the Orphan Asylum Society, and the Trustees of
the African School.
Ts settlement OF the question was virtually acCuesced
ia for period Of IS years. In the latter part Of 1884,
however, application was made to the Common Council
in behalf of the Roman Catholic orphan Asylum for q
participation in the funds. This application allowed,
not only because similar institution under Protestant
control already recipient of the public bounty but
upon ground that the peculiar character OF Orphan
Asylum rendered departure from the stringent and lit
eal application Of the ordinance of 1925 moral and OBJ
vous necessity similar application made at the same
time behalf Of the charity schools of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, unanimously rejected.
Early $780, the trustees OF the Catholic Free Schools
renewed the controversy by application TO the Com
mon Council for admission to propOrtiouate share Of
the school fund The applicants, by their numbers, char
acter wealth. and Influence commanded the utmost re-
.pct and regard and the fact that the abest legal tai
cut in this city hal been enlisted IN behalf of the
cng claims the parties to the controversy, and that
the principles Involved Of paramount Interest and
inheritance created an intense public excitement in the
community. DESTROYS removing from the field Of dis
cussion an Irrelevant matter the Trustees OF the Public
school Society who opposed the application, consented
20 tbs carrfu'rcysOn Of their textbooks, and the ex
purgaon from them of al matter 10 which any reasona
ule objection could be made the ground of sectarian
ism.
After fun and patient hearing Of all parties, the two
itt tirpota Nnfa
with one exception sustained the remOnstTauts, and
reiterated tie prime Piles Of the decision and ordinance Of
i.25 The battlefield was transferred to the Legs
laturc and the memoriasts, representing the Roman
Catholic interest pconed that body in 1910, FOR such
modification Of the school law applicable to the City OF
NewYork as should enable the va0hs schools Of their
denomination to participate in the public funds in pro
portion TO tire number Of children under instruction No
definite action having taken the subject by the
Legislature Of that year. the memorials were renewed at
tLe session Of lo1 and propOrtonatehaIe Of the pub
Tic money demanded only for their schools, but for
all others that might be established y any Of the taxable
inhabitants Of the city.
GOV Seward in his message TO the Legislature of 1870
had recommended the establishment o. schools in which
lie "chidrcn of foreigners found in great numbers in
our poruous cities and towns and in the vicinity OF
public works." might be instructed 10y teachers speak
ing the same language with Themselves and processing
the same fq." In his message OF 1871, he again recurs
10 the subject urging lis views with great force and
elauucncc: HAVE BECOMNENIED," he observes in
conclusion, "EOR l SEEK, TIE EDUCATION or ANY
CLASS N FOREIGN LANGUAGES, Or N PARTICULAR CELDs
ORTAlTIIs; but fully believing with the author of the
Declaration OF Independence, that error may be
safely tolerated when is left free to combat IT.
and therefore, indulging 10 apprehen,iOns from
the Influence Of any language or creed among an
enlightened people, l desire the education Of the
entire rising generation in all the elements