Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1875-11-10
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NewtoWn, Conn.,, are related. by an
eastern exchange in this way: New
town has . very large Catholic popuIa-
ton, and though the Prosestants are
slightly in the majority, they are chiefly
old settlers, and of the fcrty- seven
children attending school thirty are
Catholics.
About two years ago the Rev. Father
M'Cartin went from New Haven to
N.wtown. and there found a Catholic
teacher taking charge of the school.
That was satisfactory to Father Near
tin. Monday, October Ii, was the 6rst
day of the current term, and Mr. Ar
thur Day, jr., son of New Haven
Baptist minister, took cearge Of tie
school,
On Wednesday, October Is, the
school bell rung at the usual hour, and
after the children had assembled Father
McCartin entered aud saluted MIR. Day.
The teacher invited hita to take his
seat, but the clergyman declined and
sat down among the children. Mr.. Day
read portion of the Scriptures, and
vas about to begin the repetition of the
Lords prayer, but Father McCartin
interrupted him to ask him 6y what
authority he read the Bible in the pub
lie 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 fol-
lowed, and Mr.. Day says that Father
McCartin called him liar tSice. Fl
nally the clergyman addressed himself
to the Roman Catholic children and de-
sired them to pay no attention to tie
Scriptures if the teacher should read
them in future, but to 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 Nr. Day fol-
loved him to the door and told him that
be was master of the school, and IN
tended to carry it out as he had been
authorized to do, and would not permit
any interference. If Father McCartin
interrupted the opening services again.
be said he would put him out by force
Il necessary.
The clergyman replied contemptu-
ously, and Mr.. Day, going back to his
desk, repeated the Lords prayer as
usual. Later in the day be spoke to
members of the Board of Education
and to several other Influential men of
the district, and was encouraged to read
the Scriptures and repeat the Lords
prayer on opening the school. In the
evening be called upon Father Met ar
tin aud told him what had been said in
relation to the reading of the Bible.
The Father, MIR. Day says, seemed to
acquiese, and said he would not inter-
fere again.
There was no further trouble that
week, and on Saturday, October 16,
the Board of Education passed the fell
lowing:
Resoired, That il Is perfectly proper for
any teacher of public school in this town
TO open school by reading the Bible without
note or comment, and to preserve order
while exercising such right. Any interftr-
ence herewith would be an intrusion"
On Friday, October %, when Mr..
Day was about to open school he no.
ticed that the shutters had been opened
in the night by cutting away the fasten-
ings, and that his Bible had been stolen
from bis desk. lie sent to his house,
procured another book, and read por-
tion of Scripture as usual. That even
ing the leaves of the stolen Bible we're
found scattered along the road near his
house.
On Monday last climax was reach
ed. When MIR. Day arrived at the
scboal house he noticed that the chill
dren in the playground were not play
ing together as usual. The Catholics
had separated from the Protestan,s and
were playing alone. When they en-
tered the school house the former at
once began to study, paying no atten
tion to the Scripture which 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 60 if they wished.
but that all who remained must attend
to the opening services. All the Cath
olic children then went out and the
school was opened iD the ordinary way.
Soon afterward Father McCartin en-
tered with the Catholic children. After
they bad taken their seats he told them,
as before, that when the Bible was read
in their bearing they must pay no at
tentlon to it, but 60 on with their
studies. Mr.. Day said he would not
allow any man to interfere with his con-
duct of the school as authorized BY the
Board Of Education therefore lie de-
sired Father McCartin to go out of the