The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-02-19
Aid to Sectarian Schools.
HOW 1T WORKS WHERE THE CATHOLICS HAVE
MAJORITY.
From the New York Times. !

From the New York Times.]
Some remarkable statistics, carefully gath
cred by the Council of Political Reform, are
presented in another column showing the
prodigious extent to which the Roman Catholic
Church in this State, in various forms, has
gained possession of charitable funds appropri-
ated by the State or city of New York. Thus,
out of seventy-three charitable institutions;
under control of religious denominations, re-
ceiving public aid to the aggregate amount of
S6SS,O84, fifty-fve are Roman Catholic, to
which the appropriations amount to the enor-
nous proportions of $641 ,433-leaving only
some $4,000 to the Protestant institutions, of
which the protestant Episcopal receive the
largest share-namely, $40, 516.
Again, out of the 116 private charitable in
situations in other cities of the State, under
control of religious denominations, and receiv-
ing State aid, 10 were Roman Catholic, and
obtaining as appropriation, $240, 1872 out of the
whole amount, 255, 1854; leaving to the Protes-
ant institutions about $4,000, of which the
Baptists obtained the largest share-$8, 211.
Still further, in this city, 112 Roman Ca tholic
church schools, with $1,000 pupils, are aided by
are only 16 schools, with about 5000 pupils,
thus aided, (of which the Episcopal embrace
$3.50, and the IS non-denominational schools
include II, 722 pupils.
Another interesting fact will also be gather
ed from these statistics, that while the Protes-
tant and the non-denominational charities and
weekday schools receive such small amounts
from the State, they always supplement it with
very large private contributions, thus to GER
tain degree compensating the State for its aid
On the other hand, the Roman Catholic chart
ties almost live on the public support, receiv-
ing very little in private contributiOns-thus
throwing nearly the whole burden OF their sup
port upon the State or city authorities. This
contrast is strikingly shown in such charities
as the Protestant House OF Refuge of this
city, and the Catholic ProtectOry for destitute
children, each sheltering nearly the same num-
Der of children, and the former receiving only
about $38,000 from the State and city, while the
latter obtained this year-if we are correctly in
formed-$240, 600.
1t was time, evidently, that this endowment
of Estate Church" should cease. What with
appropriations to church schools and gifts of
lands to churches, the Roman Catholic Church
of this city enjoys an enormous support from
the general public. No Protestant of liberal
mind begrudges moderate public aid to we'll
spread public evils: The policy of the STATE, is
to supplement such private and useful under
takngs, whether under one sect or another, or
under none, by a reasonable public assistance,
On the ground that the public evils they are de-
signed to relieve are thug more economically
and thoroughly cured. 1t will be seen from our
Albany letter, that the sectarian appropriation
clause in the charter has been struck out. The
condition in which the subject is left will de-
serve discussion on another OCCASION: