The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1875-11-26
omisrelisneuus
THE BIBLE II THE SCHOOLS.
-r!i1". Trar'rr Putting Out Catholic Priest -
f. if-.-- .sf''~ Experience A. Teacher in the
.. r ---r. II NeWtOUn. Conn.

t'.'..r ---.-.. " NeWtOUn- Conn.
NewJrUu. Connecticut. has a YER,
large Catholic population, and though
the ProteStants are slightly in the ma
ioriry, they are chiefly old settlers. anC
Of the forty seven children attending
school thirty are Catholics About two
years ago the Rev. Father McCartiI
went from New Haven TO Newtown. and
there found a Catholic teacher taking
charge Of the school. That was salts
factory TO Father McCartin. Monday.
October II, was the first day of the cur.
rent term, and Mr.. Arthur Day, .Jr., son
OF New Haven Baptist minister. took
charge Of the school. On Wednesday,
oct. IS, the school bell rang at the usIl-
al holr, and, after the children had as
sembled, Father McCaf5ffl entered and
saluted Mr.. Day The teacher invited
lin to take his seat, but the clergyman
declined. and SAT down among the chill
dren. Ir. Day read a portion of the
Scriptures, and was about to begin the
repetition of the Lords prayer, but
Father McCartin interrupted him to ask
by what authority lie read the Bible in
a public school.
Mr. Day replied that he was author
lied by the Board of Education to open
the school as he had done, and the Priest
said there was no law to support him in
such course. Hot words followed, and
Mr. Day says that Father McCartiu
called him liar twice. Finally the cler-
gyinan addressed himself to the Roman
Catholic children, and desired them to
pay no attention TO the Scriptures if the
teacher should read them in future, but
10 go on with their studies, adding that
if Mr.. Day should punish them he would
expect them to complain TO him. He
then went out, and Mr.. Day followed
him TO the door and told him he was
master of the school, and intended to
carry it on as he had been authorized to
do, and would not permit any interfer-
ence. If Father McCartin interrupted
the opening services again, lie said, he
would put him out by force, if necessary.
The clergyman replied eontemptuous-
ly, and Mr.. Day, going back to his desk,
repeated the Lords Prayer, as usual.
Later in the day he spoke to the mem
bers of the Board of Education and to
several other influential men of the dis
trict, and was encouraged to read the
Scriptures and repeat the Lords Prayer
ON opening school. In the evening he
called upon Father McCartin and told
him what had been said III relation to
the reading Of the Bible. The father,
Mr.. Day says, seemed to aoquiesce, and
said he would not interfere again. There
was no further trouble chat week, and
on Saturday, October 10th, the Board
of Education passed the following:
Res0lCeG, That it is perfectly proper
for any teacher of a public school of this
town TO open school by reading the Bi
ble without note or comment, aud 10
preserve order while exercising such
right. Any Interference here would be
an intrusion.
On Friday, October 22i, when Mr..
Day was about to open schccl, ho no.
ticed that the shutters had been opened
i'll the night by cutting away the fasten-
ings, and that his Bible had been stolen
from his desk. He sent to his house,
procured another book, ana read a por-
ton of the Scripture, as usual. That
evening the leaves of the stolen Bible
were found scattered along the road
near his house.
On Monday last q climax was reached.
When Mr.. Day arrived at the school
house he noticed that the children in
the playground were not playing to-
gether as usual. The Catholics had
from the Protestants and were
playing alone When they entered the
school house the former at once began
to study, paying no attention to the
Scriptures when Mr.. Day was reading
The teacher desired them to lay aside
their books, and they asked leave to
withdraw. Mr.. Day told them they
could go il they wished, but that all who
remained must attend to the opening
services. All the Catholic children then
went out, aud the school was opened in
the ordinary way.
Soon after Father McCartin entered
with the Catholic children. After they
had taken their seats he told them, as
before, that when the Bible was read in
their hearing, they must pay 10 atten-
ton TO if, but go On with their studies.
Mr.. Day said he would not allow any
man to interfere with his conduct of the
school, as authorized by the Board of
Education; therefore he desired Father
McCartiu to GO out Of the room. The
Father continued TO speak to the chill
dren, without seeming to hear the teach
er. Then Mr.. Day approached him, and
said If he did not withdraw he would
eject him foreibly.
Father McCartin is a large, powerful
Irishman, about fogtyfve years of age.
Mr. Day Is ga somewhat delicate and COM
paratively small New Englander, much
younger Hence, when the priest defied-
the teacher TO lay hands upon him, few
of the scholars doubted what the result
of a personal encounter would be. Moth
ing daunted by the physical advantages
of his opponent, Mr.. Day proceeded to
put his threats into execution,
Father MoCartin struck at his asailant
rs he approached, but, dexterously stop
ping the blow, Mr.. Day closed with him.
\ vigorous scuffie ensued in the school
room, the children looking On appalled,.
The schooInaster forced the priest to-
wards the door. and, with a sudden and
unexpected exertion of strength, thrust
him down the steps. Father McCartin
fell, splitting his t-nuseEs at the knees,
tearing mis- clerical coat, and bespoiling
his person generally in Newtown dust.
Tle spectacle of the fallen Clergyman
demoralized the children of both persua-
sions The door was occupied by the
combatants, SO, taking the only means
of egresS left to them, they escaped
through the windows and fled to their
homes.
But Father McCartin was not con-