The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-03-19
TIKI EXTRAORDINARY COMMUNICATION.
Vicar General Qninn'S Effort 10 Merge The
ParOrhial and the Public Schools.
A GIVE AND TAKE" POLICY.
Singular Difficulty in Getting the Clergy to
Eyplain--The Question as 1t
Seems To Be Now.

The communication received by the Board OF
Education, having attached the signatures OF
Vicar General Quinn, the Rev. Father Doanelly,
Ihe Rev. Father O'Rellly. the Rev. Father Merrick.
j., and OF some prominent Catholic
,aymen which read at the meeting OF the
Board on Wednesday last requesting the appoint
menr OF committee TO form part OF Joint COM
mlstee TO confer upon the admission OF parochlal
schools under the public school system Of the city,
has caused not a little speculation and attention.
in view Of the great apparent change In Catholic
sentiment on the education question. The CON-
muncation was worded very carefully, and was
entirely non-committal In its character. not ad.
vancing any idea that might give the slightest
ciew to the Catholic demands which are to be
presented. There is. however, enough known OF
THE GENERAL CLAIMS
made by Catholics IN regard to what they believe
TO be their rights, to assume that the task before
the Board OF Education is one OF the greatest diff
nculty and one requiring discernment upon
which may depend the settlement OF long vexed
question. The Board OF Education has not VET
satisfied Vicar General Quinn az TO the time OF
BEGINNING the consideration OF the opposing views
nor has the committee which will act for the
Catholic aide been yet appointed. There is
CONSIDERABLE RETICENCE
shown by the clergymen as to what they are pre-.
pared to yield and what they propose to ask to
have conceded to them AS the Board OF Educa-
uion has so far merely received the request that
v joint committee shall discuss the subject the
Commissioners hesitate to give any opinion, alleg-
ing as reason that The friends OF the
parochial schools have not yet stated what 1t Is
precisely that the Board is asked to consider The
Catholics claim that they own nifty schools, all OF
which have been run at their own expense and
without the assistance OF the public money. They
have efIlcient teachers in these schools. whom
they wish to retain. They pay taxes for other
schools, from which they gain little or no benefit
They say they are entitled to some share OF this
public money for the support of schools which are
educating in larger degree the children OF the
GumblesL classes OF citizens But they insist that
they must be permitted TO impart religious in
struction to the pupils On the other hand, the
Board oil Education viii not allows any particular
aenominational teaching in the SCHOOLS, and they
have the advantage in support OF their resolution
IN that the CathOllcs alone make objection. They
also claim that this Is an innovation. Here, then,
Va where
THE POINT FOR SETTLEMENT
comes in; but still, owing to the extraordinary
retcence OF the friends OF the parOchtal schools it
cannot now be ascertalned to what extent they
will yleld'ther old views and accept the modified
rules Of the Board or Education. 1t is said rnat
the Catholics are willing to DO three things:-
FIRST they will not ask for any religious teaching
during the established school hours, but they Will
lmpart religious instruction either before alter
the public school hours; second, they must be
permitted TO have such teachers as they please,
subject 10 the one condition, that tho Board snail
have power to examine them as to competency;
third, they will give up their school buildings to
me custody Of the Board of Education, subject to
conditions and formulas, to be decided upon by
she JOINT committee. How TAR these speculatons
arc true cannot be stated for the reason that the
petitioners to the Board decline saying anything
definite, though admitting that much, If not all,
depends upon the intention OF the Board OF Edu-
cation in this regard.
THE VICAR GENERAL WON'T SPEAK.
HERALD reporter yesterday called on Vicar
General Quinn at the pastoral residence in Mnl-
berry street. Having been informed OF the object
Of the visit, the Vicar declined saying any thing
the subject further than that i, was mis- intention
TO put the matter before the Board in truly pc.
litica sense, Us u matter that came under the
head oil city politics. What his own plans were he
declined to say as he desired to know before Civ.
ing expression to his views how the Commission
srs OF Education !et disposed TO treat him. In
the settlement OF TINS question 1t should be
time politicians, and That they should DO
ready to meet each other nall way-ia other
say at present that could lead 10 the formation or
an opinion as 10 how the, proposed discussion
ment could he formed before even the initiative
were taken by the Committee OF Conference.
The reporter next visited the Rev. Father Mer.
rick, >. j.. pastor or 81. Francis Xaviers church,
est Sixteenth street, and explained to MIN the
reason why ne mad called. The reverend father
Immediately referred the reporter TO Vicar Gen.
eral QUINN VINO, be said lad the matter in charge
and knew most about 1t. lew more questions
convinced the reporter that Father Merrick, II IN
the Vicar Generals confidence. was resolved not
70 anticipate events nor TO give any opinion at all
On the subject
SENT AGAIN TO TIE VICAR.
Again the reporter esSayed TO Ret at the
opinions o! some one OF the pastors who had
signed the communication TO the Board OF Educa-
ton, ana sought the Rev. Father Donnelly at his
scnoolhouse which Father Donnely has erected
beside bis churcn was PROUD monument in favor
OF the parocnial system IN the city, and the
HERALD representative cit assured that here at all
events he would be sure to learn something OF the
rather startling proposition which the friends o.
the parocnia schools have been making. Having
been ushered into the PASTORS study the follow
ing interesting conversation ensued:-
NEPoRTER-l nave called, Father DOnnelly to
asS you TO give me some Information relative TO
parochial scnoo! and the public school systems.
You are aware, OF course, that your name Is at.
tacned to the communications
Rev. FATHER D0NSELIY-My friend, you must
60 TO Vicar General QUINN. lie knows all about
1t. prefer saying nothing just now.
MAsiSG a MEDITATION
The HERALD man then began to reflect, and he
came TO the conclusion 10 find ous II 1t were pos
Bible Y the Vicar General was really going to DO
some thing unusual that WAS great secret.
50 no pail visit TO Mr. Henry L. Hoguet. No. as
West Twenty.eighth street. Mr.. Hoguet received
tie reporter very courteously, but, better
st!ll, never mentioned the name OF the
Vicar General, which, with recent occurrences
his opinions IN regard to tho PUBIC and parochlal
scnuO!s, but was unable to form an opinion as to