The New York herald., 1871-11-30
THE BATTLE OVER THE BIBLE.
The Excitement i'm Long
Island City.
Controversy That All Should Be Ashamed
Ot-Protsst Against Reaiing the Bible
in the Public schools-Children
Suspended and Expelled.

wen III war OF ereeub tuat naS
been raging In Long Island City for several Gays,
ana which Is constantly gathering force, owing
TO the undue prominence given to it. So
much las recently been published regarding
the rebellion naugurated by catholic children
OF the Schools II Is alleged, on the hand, and on
the part OF the Trustees Of the FIRST ward ON the
other hahd, that HERALD reporter yesterday
despatched TO the CITY OF 'sparscly populated
streets" to make carefll inquiry into the crcum-
stances and ascertain, II possible the history OF the
war; which all parties interested In should be-
heartily ashamed OF.
After waiting at James slip for half an hour for q
means of conveyance a slow boat was found, aad
about half. past one he was landed at
HUNTERS POINT,
one OF the villages that comprise Long Island
City. The first duty OF one In search OF
Information was to find the place OF domts
ce OF some Of the officials. Police Head-
quarters, the City Hall. the Board Of Eductaions
building, and the place where the City Fathers lay
out, were In turn inquired after OF citizens In
business but all proiessed utter ignorance OF tha
existence OF any building likely to contain any Of tha
organizations sought. i
Finally the public school was inquired after, with
no better success until little girl was found, who
said. "Do you mean where
MR.. LIEBERG Is A FIGHTIN' THE ROMANS r'
Eyes, child; show me 1t ana pi give you someI
thing for your trouble"
The little urchn starte as on escort, and on the
way pointed out where the store Of one OF the Conn
mssioners was located. There the location OF thd
school was ascertained. The district school, pre-
sided over by william II. J. Lieperg, Principal,
was found, and the reporter had q long interview
with HIM IN the presence of three poiAceMen-who
WATCHING FOR AN ATTACK
from the enemy. From the Principal II was ascer-
tanned tnat he took control OF the scnoo IN Septem.
five commissioners, VINO were appointed under the
charter OF TINS year. and One or wnoin IS Mr.. wal
locn. one OF the Commissioners OF En grafton These
Commissioners nave the general managemenr
OF the schools OF the city, wnch comprise the
villages or hunters Point. Du ch Kills. Blissvlle,
Astoria and RavenswOod, from eacn OF which one
Commissioner was selected. rnen tnere are school
trustees elected from eacn ward, whose Only duty
Is TO take charge OF the scnool troper. Inc Boaru
OF Education, IN adopting lis bylaws embode0
article twelve. that compels the teacher to read
laws were adopted section by sectoa, ana, not
wlthstanding
TWO OF TnE COMMISSIONERS ARE CATHOLICS,
article twelve was adopted, Mr.. Iceberg SAYS.
unanimously. and on taxing charge OF the hunter's
Point school he computed with the article by read
Ing portion OF the Bible each morning.
Every thing went on smoOty until the 10Th or sep.
1ember when oiilcla!s oi the Board OF Educ2son,
Kills. Rev. W. Il. Smith, OF the Hunters Point Bap-
tist church, and others, including trustees were
present. Addresses were made 10 the children by
Rev. Father Marcot and Mr. Smith, but no reference
was made to the reading OF the Bible. Later IN the
cne Of the Trustees OF the FIRST ward, arose and
made violent address TO the cnlldren denouncing
the reading Of the Scriptures, ana requested the
Principal TO make note or ms protest and submit
1t to the Board at It's next ensuing meeting.
Kew. Mr.. Smith addressed the teacher, and nti-
mated that the Trustees h d no control or the man
ner OF conducting the exercises, and the Principal
declined 10 make
AN ENTRY OF THE PROTEST.
The superintendent OF Education, Alanson Fal-
mer Father Marcot and the other gentlemen were
snl present wien Fiese called Tor the register, and
the following protest was written ny MIN and signed
by his associate trustees OF the ward:-
We admire the discipline acquired in this schools but pro-
ss. and have protested th. day publicly In this school IN
reading Bible of Of faith whatever In this
THOMAS McMAHoNJ
ilSaEEL iiGSaaH iiasEk aAsE: First Ward Trustees.
This Is alleged to have been the Inauguration OF
the war which Is now attracting so much attention
clares that Tor some time he has reao only the
Lords Prayer; and when the children. led by Katie
Denan, who, another authority says, Is member OF
the family In which Rev. tather Ciummins boards,
commenced the disturbances he assured them and
merely to keep STILL To one mother he asserts he
gave PERMISSION 10 'stur her cLilds ears with cot
TOM
The Board OF Education. on The matter being
brought to Their attention a. the last meeting,
the Lord's Prayer or the Ten commandments, or
both, and he has since complied.
break and It was by the com ihmssioners Tie prin-
clpa assftts that lie volunteered In the interest VI
peace 10
READ FROM THE CATHOLIC BIBLE,
but the offer was declined and he has heard that
Inc Catholic minister. Father Crimmins, has visited
the houses OF his nock and advised tne children
nos to Iislcn to the reading. The last gem
eral demonstration was made on Monday,
iocn, % when hen Mr. Iceberg '''1Dl called upon those lose
children who would not remain quiet ana
lag Ka.ie denim, waose mother had promised aud
VINO nad personally assured the teacner tnat she
woul, be quiet in the iuture-and were then sus.
good behavior. The following day Katie again
commenced disturbance, and
WAS THIS TIME EXPELLED.
Yesterday there was no demonstration and the
Scriptures were read as usual.
John Deniu, brother OF Katie, James Cotton and
John Clark, all young men, aged about eighteen
years. who persisted III forcing themselves Into the
as wen as another man (Maltncw Downey), VINO
threatened the Principal These are the only
the schools the BOle was read as usual, aud
there appears TO be objection OF serious char
predominate. It is sad. Tue Brbie has been read
Tor some time ut Dutch Kills, so the reporter was ln
formed oy ne prae9 m o .e pmD 1Gmoo Snr ONE Wn
had come from Biissvle to create revolt objected
the reporter called at the residence OF Rev.
Fathers CrImmins and Marcot, but Doin were ao-
and they declared that heletoore the Prolcstants
have been Indifferent ABOUT the reading OF the
Scriptures IN the schools; but now mat tue
where but hunters Point and have only two repre-
sentatlves III the COMMISSION nave lnaugurated The
rebellion. the sentiment oil the PrOtestant5 Is en-.
lrely opposed TO the expulsion the Blole and
THEY WILL FIGHT FOR IT
10 the end, confident that the friends OF the Bible
viii triumph.
No violence is anticipated, as it Is believed that
The matter IL mere tempest IN q teapot,h that
can be compromised by the Board OF Education,
who viii doubtless call special meeting. one OF
ne Rev. Father Marcor5 housencld declares that
hat gentleman takes no part IN the controversy,
md, indeed, the Protestants speak or him as
lberal gentleman, VINO Is inclined TO be u peace
maker.