The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-05-12
THE HOUSE OF REFUGE.
Startling Disclosures of Its
liner Workings.
FORCED PRAYERS The BEST DEVOTION

the Managers Think Of Religious Lib
embellishments Of the superin-
tsndent, Chaplain, Father Re-
maud and Three Inmates
The House OF Refuge Is an institution for the re-
formation of Juvenile delinquents, male and female.
Il Ia situated on the southern extremity OF RAN
dals Island, and Is supported partly by the State
and partly by private contributions. The Board OF
Managers Is elected by the members Of the Society
for the Reformation OF Juvenile Delinquents. Police
Justices OF the city Of New York have power to
init to this house youthful offenders who may be
brought before them.
THE RECENT MURDER
and attempted homicides in this institution have
given rise to numerous inquiries and complaints
about the moral and physical training to which the
inmates are subjected. Three desperate ARRAYS be-
tween inmates and keepers, taking place within as
many weeks, do not seem indicative Of the best
relations between the officials on the one hand and
the unfortunate prisoners on the other. Neverthe-
less 1t would appear that the discipline IL excel
lent, not salutary and the very character of the
gentlemen who have been elected trustees Of the
institution would seem to be sure guarantee that
everything is being done to remoud the young and
depraved minds of the individuals entrusted to
their charge. To ascertain whether any grave
sources Of delinquency really existed there or not
one of the HERALD attaches was commissioned to
visit the House OF Refuge and to interview such
persons as might enable him to lay the true state OF
things before the public While in the performance
Of this duty he received information which must
sTARrLE THE MIND
Of every true American every lover of fair play and
every man who admires that provision OF our con-
Btitution which guarantees to everybody the right
to worship God according to the dictates Of his
conscience. Even the wretched criminal in his
prison cell, while preparing to yield up his life on
the scafold, is allowed to choose any minister,
whether Christian Jew, and to get ready to face
his Creator according the voice of his own reason
guides him. But here in this House of Refuge-hcre
within stones throw Of this great metropolis of
the land of free thought and free religion, in the
middle OF the nineteenth century, six hundred
Catholic children are marched
TO A PROTESTANT CHAPEL
twice every Sabbath day, and compelled to join in
D worship in which they do not believe, and to be
content with ceremonial which, however good it
may be In the eyes Of those who control the house,
s nevertheless most obnoxious to three fourths Of
all those within its walls. There are 800 persons
altogether in the House OF Refuge and 600 of these
are Catholics. II the Catholics were in small mi
nOrity 1t could be well understood how the interests
Of the few should be sacrificed to those Of the many
and 1t would not be source Of SO much wonder to
hear Of that few being marched to religious SER
vice which would conform to the views of the great
majority. But this Is not all. II any Of the Catholic
boys should refuse to enter the Protestant chapel
or refuse to sing the Protestant hymns he would be
deemed guilty OF
and according to the statements below would
be stripped Of his clothes, and thrown across
STOOL and there dashed by one of the officials with
three straps fastened to cane. Much has been
said of Catholic intolerance In past times, but it
NAV well be doubted II ever there existed in any
Catholic wherein n
other faith would be logged for not going to a
mass The case does not end here. Never, from
the time Of their entry until they leave, are the
Catholic children allowed to see priest; never to
receive the sacraments in which, despite the follies
receive any religious Consolation. except they
chance to be taken i'll and are
DANGER OF DEATH
in the hospital There has been one exception, and
only one where French boy continued to crave
for priest so that one of the fathers was admit
ted to hear his confession. The strangest phase OF
the case is that the managers or this institution
profess to be non-sectarian. Nothing" they say,
s.is to be found In our religious service which can
be offensive to any sectn Now everybody who
knows what Catholics are, knows that the very fact
of ritual and service being non-Cathoc is amply
sufficient to offend them, and hence the fallacy OF
what the managers Of the House OF Refuge assert;
indeed, 1t is clear contradiction in terms. Before
putting forth more fully the position and the prin-
cples on which the officials vainy seek to justify
their monstrous intolerance, we will give IN sub
stance an account OF
had with the superintendent, the Chaplain, the
priest and three OF the boys now confined in the
Tombs From 117th street rowboat conveys the
visitor to the southern extremity OF Randall's
Island, where the House OF Refuge stands. The
main entrance facing the river soon leads to the
office OF Mr.. Jones, the superintendent. Mr.. Jones
is hale and courteous gentleman of medium age
and size. His hair and whiskers are turning gray,
na .ns scWer OF mos o. smiles
The reporter announced the object OF his VISIT
whereupon Mr.. Jones politely expressed his read-
ness to accord the desired information.
REPORTER-l presume, tnat you recognize re-
ligion as being most potent reforming agent :
Mr.. JoNEs-Most certainly we do. We have re-
ngious services every Sabbath, both inthe morning
REPoRTER-How many 'chaplains come to your
aid on Sundays
Mr.. JONES-Ony one, sir.
REPoRrER-Then, are all your inmates Of one re.
uQfOus belief
Mr. JoNEs-Oh, not at all; most OF them are Cath
Olics.
REPoRTER-Then suppose Catholic priest per-
Mr.. JoNEs-By no means. We are not at all Sec
tartan in this institution. We allow nothing which
any sect can take umbrage at.
REPoRTER-ls your chaplain, then, anon-sectarian
MI. JoSEs-oh no; he is a Methodist minister,
DIR. Pierce is
REPoRrER-And the great mass Of your inmates
don't object to this service
Mr.. JONES-Wcl l have never known them to
make objection to 1t.
REpoRrER-Are all the Catholic inmates CON-
PEELED to attend these religious services
Mr.. JoNEs--Certainly they are. DR.. Pierce never
teaches anything sectaran. We even invite clergy
men OF all denominations to come and preach here.
We've had Father Duranquet preach here once.
REPoRTER-How IL 1t that you've had o priest
only OnceS
Mr.. JoNEs-Well, ] suppose he did not like to
preach again, as we could not allow him to preach
any Catholic doctrines here.
REPoRTER--But would you not let priest say
mass or hear confessions hereS
Mr.. JONEs-Certainly not. am not permitted to
do
REPoRTER-But don't you think that Catholic
children ought to have Catholic service, and would
be benefited thereby
Mr. JoNEs-well, you see, in this institution we
believe the Sermon on the Mount to embody all
that is necessary for SALVATION All we wish Is mat
our bows may become good citizens-that they may
not lie or cheat. -.
This answer implies what Ia repugnant to Catho-
lie teaching-namcly, that honesty and truthfulness
are of themselves sufficient for salvation. The
HERALD commissioner hereupon babe the Superin-
tendent adieu, and repaired to the residence OF tne
chaplain, Rev. b. X. Pierce, ID. ID. The reverend
gentleman was found In his studio, sur
rounded by cases OF books He Is appar-