Knoxville Whig and chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1875-1882, 1875-11-17
THE BIBLE IN THE SCHOOLS.
a SchooI-Teacher Putting Out Cath
ollie Priesi-Mr. Arthur Days ENpe-
rience Rs ~ Teacher In the Public
school of Newton, Conn.


Newton, Conn, has very large
! Catholic population, and though the
Protestants are slightly in the majori-
| ty, they are chiefly old settlers, and of
the forty-seven children attending
school thirty are Catholics. About
| two years ago the Rev. Father McCar-
tin went from New Haven to Newton,
and there found Catholic teacher
taking charge Of the school. That was
satisfactory to Father McCartin.
/ Monday, October IL, was the first day
of the current term. and Mr.. Arthur
Day, Jr., son OF a New Haven Minis
ter, took charge of the school. On
Wednesday, October IS, the school,
bell rang at the usual hour, and, after
the children had assembled, Father
| McCartin entered and saluted Mr..
Day. The teacher Invited him to take
his seat, but the clergyman declined,
and sat down among the children.
Mr.. Day read portion of the Script
ures, and was about to begin the repe-
tition of the Lords prayer, but Father
McCartin interrupted him to ask by
what authority he read the Bible in
public school.
Mr.. Day replied that he was author
lied blythe Board of Education to open
the school as he had done, aud the
priest said there was no law to sup
port him in such course. Hot words
followed, and Mr.. Day says that
Father McCartin called him liar
twice. Finally the clergyman ad
dressed himself to the Roman Catho.
lie children, and desired them to pay
no attention to the Scriptures if the
teacher should read themin future, but
10, .uvtNI 4 4
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 in-
tended to carry it out as he had been
authorized to do, and would not per-
init any interference. If Father Nc
Cartin interrupted the opening SER
vices again, he said, he would put him
out by force Unnecessary.
The clergyman replied contemptu-
ously, and Mr.. Day, going back to his
desk, repeated the Lords Prayer, AS
usual. Later in the day he 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 school. In
the evening he called upon Father
McCartin and told him what had been
said in relation TO the reading of the
Bible. The father, Mr. Day says,
seemed to acquiesce, and said he would
not interfere again. There was no
further trouble that week, aud on Sat-
urday, October 10, the Board of Edu-
cation passed the following:
Resolved, That it is perfectly proper
for any teacher of public school of
this town to open school by reading
the Bible without note or comment,
and 10 preserve order while exercising
such right. Any interference there
with would be an intrusion.
On Friday, October %, when Mr..
Day was about to opeG school, he
noticed that the shutters had been
opened in the night by cutting away
the fastenings, and that his Bible had
been stolen from his desk. He sent to
his house, procured another book, and
read a portion Of Scriptures as usual.
That evening the leaves of the stolen
Bible were found scattered along the
road near his house.
On Monday last climax was reach
ed. When Mr.. Day arrived at the
school-hOuse he noticed that the chill
dren in the play ground were not play
ing together as usual. The Catholics
had separated from the Protestants
and were playing alone. When they
entered the schoOl-house the former at
once began to study, paying no atten-
ton to the Scriptures which Mr.. Day
was reading. The teacher desired
them to lay aside their book, and they
asked leave TO withdraw. Mr.. Day
told them they could go 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 in the ordinary
way.
Soon afterward 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 no attention to it, 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 McCartin
to go out Of the room. The Father
continued to speak to the children,
without seeming to hear the teacher.
hhth WI LAY opplOaShtu hllut anu
said If he did not Withdraw he would
eject him forcibly.
Father McCartin is large, powerful
Irishman, about thirty-five years of
age; Mr.. Day a somewhat delicate
aud comparatively small New Eng
lander, 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. Nothing daunt-
ed by the physical advantages of his
opponent, however, Mr.. Day proceed
ed TO put his threat into execution.
Father McCartiu struck at the assail-
ant as he approached, but, dexterously
stopping the blow, Mr.. Day closed
with him. A vigorous scuffle ensued
in the school-roOm, the children look
ing on appalled,. The school-master
forcei the priest towards the door, and,
with sudden and unexpected exer-
tion of ST ength, thrust him down the
steps. Father McCartin fell, splitting
his trousers at the knees, tearing his
clerical coat, and besoiling his person