New-York tribune., 1873-07-30
A RELIGIOUS QUESTION.
THE WARDS ISLAND CONTROVERSY.


THE ORIGIN OF THE DISPUTE ABOUT THE USE OF
THE CHAPEL on THE IsI.AND-No APPRoPRIA-
TON EVER MADE FOR sECTARIAN PURPOSES.
Previous to 1853 the Catholic and Protestant
immigrant inmates of Wards Island worshiped in the
chapel After that time separate apartments were
provided. The room which used for Protestant
worship sufficiently largo and accessible, being on
the second floor OF the Refuge building Tue apartment
for Catholic wsrshp on the floor above, and, IL Is
claimed, too small beside being dangerous in case
OF 1re &c moreover IT needed for school purposes
The matter was brought up at a meeting of the
Board Of Emigration Commissioners held June 2s
1870 when the Chairman OF the Wards Island Committee
requested 10 have examination made by some
competent architect of the condition OF the Catholic
chapel The examination 10 be in reference TO Its
strength aud security In view Of the large number OF
people assembled there during divine service On July
5th 1870 the question of erecting church ediace
first mentioned in the Board and referred to COM
mittee. The matter of building the new church.
not taken up again until the Fall OF 1871 when a
resolution offered by Commissioner Lynch to the eff
feet that building suitable for Catholic chapel should
be erected and an appropriation OF $4,000 should be
made therefor. This resolution, together with long
preamble stating the needs of the Catholic worshppers
the island laid the table at the time but taken
up again at q meeting held Nov. o. when 1t
was lost by tie vote. reconsideration OF
the matter moved at meeting held on the 2Sd OF
November, 1871, but objected to on parliamentary
grounds but s35 900 was appropriated for "a church,
but not "CathoIc chapel" In the meantime plans for
the new church had been submitted and the one pre-
sented by Renwick and Sands approved by the COM
mttee having the matter in charge No record appears
the books Of the department OF any funds having
been furnished by private subscription for the building
OF the chapel.
At meeting Of the Board held May, 1872, the
religious question brought up again by resolution
offered by Commissioner walach, instructng the archi
tect 10 prepare his plans and specifications
for the church, with view to adapt the
same for holding Roman Catholic service as well
as the Protestant. Commissioner Lynch raised
point Of order stating that the resolution was
conflict with the previons action of the Board which
determined by resolution that the building to be erected
should be used only for the Roman Catholic inmates
Richard OGorman, President Of the Board, then occu-
pyng the chair ruled the point Of order not well taken
The resolution OF Commissioner Walach was finally
laid on the table, motion Of Commissioners Lynch.
On Dec T. 1872 Commissioner Lynch moved resolution
to the effect that the building erected Wards Island
"be devoted TO the and purposes for which 1t was
Intended. viz: place OF worship for the Cathollc
inmates Of the institution Wards Island. Commits
sioner Walach offered the following resolution us
substitute TO that offered by Commissioner Lynch.
Resolred That the counsel OF this Board be requested
TO report on or before Dec 16. inst his legal opinion
whether or not within the discretionary power
law 10 appropriate and expend any OF the fund belong
ing 10 said Commission for the sustaining salared cer-
gym9n, the erection OF building f0f the exclusive
use OF any particular sect
Commissioner Lynch withdrew his resolution. ana
Commissioner Wallaehs substitute carried. On
Jan % ls3 opinion Of the counsel to the Board was
received which stated that the church built by the
funds the Commission could not be used for any par
ticular sect exclusively. AT the same time was pre-
sented the opinion of Judge John X Porter who in the
If as ~ O
Commissioners, "when one of the places of religious
worship became insufficient and unsafe, TO provide
suitable structure in it's place"
Since the completion Of the chapel In December last it
has been used exclusively by the Catholic congrega
ton The walls have been decorated at the expense OF
the Catholic employees the island with symbols en-
blematic Of the Catholic faith. The Protestants made
an effort to have share in the OF the building but
we're refused on the ground that Catholics
could not worship in the same building
with Protestants. The Wards Island Com
mittee OF the Commissioners OF Emigration
took up the matter and held investigation at Wards
Island July Of this year, when both the Protesaht
and Catholic chaplans called, and testified That
they knew of no other public institution where Catholics
and Protestants worshipped in separate apartments
Testimony was taken to show that 1t was common In this
country and in Europe for Proesants and Catholics to
have a common place Of worship The Committee has as
vet made no report TO the Board Mr. stephens"h
President of the Committee bitterly opposed to the
use OF the new building by the Catholics alone, andhe
prepared o report animadvertng severely ON H. An
other report will be prepared by Mr. James Lynch in
opposition thereto and perhaps even third report Will
ne presented Commissioner Stephenson gave TRIB-
r reporter the following in explanation OF his
conduct:
hold that it was unlawful on the part Of the late
Board Of Commissioners to appr9pa6 any ndr SH tba m
law governing TINS Commlsson aIS Rt tSe U Uonevs
Chapter $50 Section 6, reads thus but tne moneys %
received under any OF the PROVISIONS vi tu,s
act as commutauOn money or upon Donus
given for account OF any persons or passengers
landing from vessels at the port OF Newfork or else
where shall not be applied or appropriated 70
any other purpose or use than 10 uTiray one
~ such persons OF passengers" And again, under
the Constitution Of TIE state OF b rSc a1rE i1eE
isc and enoyment of rel gous profession and worship
without discrimination or pTeferenc, shall forever
of1Cer of the State cannot vote TO appropriate TINS
building which owned by the State to any one sect
exclusively.
Mr. lanes Lynch in opposition TO this, states that 1t
was perfectly lawful and in the just performance OF
their duties for the Commissioners to make the appro
praton for Catholic chapel. Mr. Lynch here referred
10 the letter of John K Porter the Board the gis Of
which has been given The law ty places S@mo11e fne
known as head money" which comes entirely from
the Immigrants. and obiges the Commissioners 10 use
the same for the care support and maintenance ol
them The free exercise and enjoyment OF renelOus
preference only be exercised by the Immigrants ae,
aordin0 TO tenets OF their respective churches: III
would be unjust 10 deprive the Catholics VINO nave
Of head head money Ge intrsed to the cOms
sioners, OF place In which 70 Worshlp accorulns
to their own t 10 aax from Church
altogether the Sabbath day, or 10 go iuto place
which used part OF the time by Catholics ana Is re-
garded as d Catholic chapel.
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LONG ISLAND INGENUITY.