The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-06-22
Reasons Why 1t Should Be Maintained
Was Contemplated by the Laws and
Sanctioned by Custom.
a Legal View Of the Whole
Matter.
Correspondence Between Richard GGor-
man and Ex-Judge Porter.


TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:-
AS the subject OF TIE new Catholic chapel on
Wards Island has received much attention re-
Gently in the columns OF your paper, wish TO cor
rect some misapprehenSOnS which seem 10 exist
on the subject.
Enclosed is a correspondence between the Hon.
Richard UGOrman, President Of the late Board OF
Emigrant Commissioners and the Hon. John X.
Porter, giving the legal aspects OF the case, to-
Of the Board. showing that ali the commissioners,
without distinction or creed or party, acquiesced
In the Establishment and continuance Of separate
Catholic and Protestant chapels. In so dc.
Ing they only perpetuated the precedent
which for twenty years has been followed
and propricty OF which have been guaranteed by
the concurrence OF such men as Cuban Z: YER
Moran Jnhn 4. Kennedy frederick s. Winston
A. A. Low and wilson q. Hunt.
Permit me to say that not to give the Catholic
inmates OF Wards Island separate place or wor
ship is practically to DENY them any, since their
creed forbids them to commune In any. religious
room formerly provided for a Catholic chapel be-
came UNSAFE ana insufficient, and no other room
Se ne Tor the N e od IN
q Catholic chapel and uion those iacts the resou'
ton was passed.
IN similar emergency would advocate the
building oil Protestant chapel or synagogue, be.
cause 1 believe in the fullest sort OF religious
liberation, though not OF the kind which seeks to
vindicate itself by violating the convictions or It's
neignb0rS.
THE QUESTION PROPOSED
to the OLD Commission was just this. The Protestant
inmates OF the island were already provided with
q suitable anu adequate chapel. The Catholics had
either to go without one nave one built for them
Those Commissioners VINO thought with me believed
1t to be their DUTY to build Catholic chapel as In
the revei Sc case they would with equal alacrity.
have butt Protestant chapel IL should not be
forgotten either, tnat these emgrants Catholic or
Protestant, have been used to separate houses OF
Except where the civil law interferes with the
free exercise Of religion the Catholic especially
has worshpped all his life in edhces solemnly
- a q
and open 10 no other, and nding so universal rule
apparently dtsregarded in this country, would lead
him to suppose religion In America looser creed
and tend to render him indifferent to his faith.
The same is measurably true as to the Protestant
emigrant also; and cannot consider Indifferent
ism In any form result to be desired by good citi
Eens, whatever their religion.
As to the legality Of the commissioners action
the correspondence SPEAKS for ITSELF
MY DEAR sa.-Wiii You kindly give me your opinion
my mind good deal OF late A question has been raised
q the On TO e nnS ae hy
n the erection OF church for the use q the Roman
For the consideration of the subject the following state
the Commission created by law Of the state Of
remain; II pInsiss the
Sr
non saminsterss ana son'riSuaon hss ever been
n4Ss ay S Ss seqss for tho
maintenance ana support Of cmgrants, when they
their arrival Chap. s5. Laws 1877, ~ For these
LARGE AND EXTENSIVE POWERS
are conferred On the commi.sion They may employ
estate and building they deem necessary
ssrs & Of esss s%
s%srni Children
s saes
saersSn valuable buildings HOSPITALS schoolrooms,
comms toner's many years ago proy dSd two lar
cs for e hs the Sge for tie
Of the island and these have been each suit
S legal s for ,n hs 81 n ns9
msn to them Of suitable salaries Chap SIS Laws s57
na Issrfn AID . e.1mo,c .Sru
WARDS island have regularly celebrated public
The room used for worship suitable con.
yenent and sufficient being the second aoor OF the
The room applied 10 Catholic worship, however, is on
tai and partly los school pnrpssss sss
ss y aHS r1S tn.
and toruous wooden staircase, and ascent
eryce
0Gt o s
sompcten architect and he reported and the
Impressed ~ this danger, me COMMITTEES Of the board
saass Sun
for Roman Catholic worship, having regard to the num-
her asenSsa m q
should be used As schooroom for which use il was
TN In pursuance Of this decision,
SEPARATE BUILDING HAS BEEN sKrcrxD
and atted up as Roman Catholic church and the room
over 20 The use Of the school,
s Of g he tms
s noa aa fh c % n
the same have been made CHAP ~ Laws is5y sec 81
ments Tor public worship were provided according 70 the
In lie report Of Amos Pilsbury. SUPERINTENDENT at
Ward Island which forms part Of the annual report Of
yea ss . io%nd he CLOWNS s q
sSa and co
Dfs @ SsS sT Ms
s a and Te have sU sss e
sanssy I s ssa HRs ss e ne on
and V ssl ss sSs s rho
sssas sadfsn ssy sSsy ssise'e , VICE
as he sSaSe and f s Of suss eS
nag sSdS
the German children IN reading, singing &C The CslSo
c children, Numbering from one hundred to hun
Sshos chapel Every Sunday nsrnns under esrs
others several Of the nurses have also rendered vau.
q as
s ne ss 1St and OF e Board S s ~
%f ofs e"
e IN. 81 a tn s1d pp;
ha. decided to erect larger building IN the sprns
New, however member OF the Board has raised the
question whether the legal powers OF the Board extend
the erection Of church Tor the Of denomina
lion OF Christians, and upon that question want your
advice.
II the action Of the present Commission In expendlnS
part OF the funds In their charge on the erection Of
church sary for the separate worship OF one con-
egsiion be ultra rire 50 also has been the action Of the
Board Tor many years past in expanding the uiid for
Aerntions and additions to the apartments which they
also provided TOR separate worship.
rue principle In each Is the same. Will you do
me tue fayor to give the matter consideration?
nave ,he honor to be President OF the present board,
ano an ucous that our action In the matter should be
sir, yours faithfully RICHARD OGORNAN
NEW YORK, January Is, 1873
- JUDGE ronrRRs RyrLy.
Hon RICHARD OGoRMAS President of the Boar OF Com.
msoncrs Of Emigration =
MY DsAR SIRf have examined tho do.
inning me powers ana duties OF the Board Commssi
anu nave gwen 10 tue questions suggested In your
letter tho consideration due TO their interest and irpor.
lance. 80
In my judgmentltis entirely clear that the commis
H0ners OF Emigration acted within the limits OF their
power and ~ the Discharge Of their plain ocia duty In