The New York herald., 1875-03-25

VINO were sure TO see thas they were rellgiously
parochia schools. There was no home influences
ior them MOST OF them spent their evenings IN
the streets. Perhaps IN the majority OF eases the
parents themselves, not having had the benefit
or the chance OF an education when they were
young, were not able 10 instruct their children.
WHAT could poor laboting men do toward instruct
ing their children when they came To their homes
after days bard WORK or mothers also, who were
equally as hard at WORK all day WAY. very likely
the children would be too tired themselves 10 &c
anyihlns else when their father came home tnan
10 90 TO bed. Here was where the point came IN.
Here was just the point tnat no Caiholic could
yield up. II these poor children were not reg-
lously educated In the schoolroom they could not
be rellgousy educated anywhere. AS far ma
opinion went, he believed that pastors would not
abandon these children 10 any chances OF neglect
IN religious instruction. Tnefe was an Infinitely
stronger reason TO support these parocnlal schools
tnsn there was to support the corporate schools.
But OF that he woulu say nothing now. lie would
only say that Catholics had always paid their
taxes Tor the support OF the pcblc schools Without
murmur, ana ;hey now asked some concession
which would nelp IN supporting schools in which u
cerialn class OF children. placed In circumstances
which coulu not he controlled were receiving ln-
struction, not at the public expense, but at the
expense OF Catholics who were also paying Tor the
other schools. III the Board OF Ecucatson OBJ
ed tnat we must come under the Board, we
should be willing 10 come under the Board with
the concessions granted winch applied 10 TINS par
tcular class OF children. who could not, lor the
reasons already stated, attend the existing public
schools. 10 hls mind. there ought TO be very little
objection 10 any concessions asked Tor by the pas.
tors. These cnildreu were entitled To be taught
py the state. and circumstances should not be AL
lowed 10 crush taem out OF that support which
belonged TO them. He believed the Commissioners
would act conslderatey in TINS matter, ana that
they were not 1igotS where education was
cerned. Tne cilculty was SIMPLY this-How
could the Board OF Education, under the
law, estaDllSh pubic schools winch would be
suitable to Il class OF children such as those now
attending the parocnial schools, and thus make
coud say nothing more until the Joint committee
OF conference had had some consultations.
HIS NAME NOT MENTIONED.
The reporter also called on q prominent down.
town pastor ior some information relative TO the
proposed amalgamatlOn. But the reverend gen.
tleman knew nothing at all about the matter. and
would say nothing except to ask that his name
ton with 1t. The reporter, with cnaracterlstic
consideration promised that the PASTORS peutIon
should be attended to- reserving To himself, how.
ever the knowledge that so iar as fresh ntelit
gence had TO do with IL. he had mercy called az
the pastoral residence IN the lull consciousness OF
its being "a forlorn hope"
Mr.. EUGENE KELLY's OPINIONS.
The reporter next paid visit to Mr.. Eugene
Kelly, the banker, at his office, IN Exchange place.
and mad conversation with that gentleman on
the merging question. Mr. Kelly is Il member OF
tue Committee OF Conference appointed by the
REroRrER-l have called, Mr.. Kelly, to ascertain
your views relative TO the proposed amalgama-
tlon OF the parochlal and pubic Schools.
Mr. KELLY-Weil as member OF tue joint com.
we ascertain what Vicar General Quinn and his
1rlends intend to ask from us.
REfoRrER-As Tar as you know, how do the
School commissioners leel In regard to the
PROJECT?
Mr.. KELLY think tnat the Commissioners fee,
ton and attention. There can he q Iubt but
that the tntricacies OF the question will be dis
cussed in an Impartial manner ana that, II 1t be
at all ieasibe the merging OF the parochlal
In the puDlic schools viii be accomplished. AT the
same time, you must remember that the Board OF
Education Is not omnlpotenl or supreme 1t Is
subject to laws wnIeh the school commissioners
are bound to oDey. There Is a mistake prevalent
IN regard to this matter, ana here Is where the
difficulty Will arise IN arriving at a settlement OF
this question. me school Commissioners canno,
act III tnis matter just as their own personal In.
clinatlons might lead them; they must ooey the
law with all It's restrct ions Hence, II the paro-
chial schools come In under the public s;hool
system, they must come IN the law
dictates anu obey The provisions relative to
schools now IN existence have got to
obey them. AS to whatever concessions 1t Is In
the power OF the Board to make III this particular
case it would be premature now to speak, Tor we
do not know what concessions are demanded.
But am Tree to say that In nv opinion the Board OF
Education should yield much Tor the sake OF mar
monizng the school sys ems OF the CITY as may pe
consistent with their duties under the law, and
tnat lar consideration Of every dif1culty should
REPorrER-Do you think that legislation will
be required Tor tie accomplishment OF the ANAL.
RamaNoE
Mr.. KELLY-That 1 cannot answer, because I
other difficulties to be got over may mention the
serious one OF the money appropriation. At the
more money than 1t absolutely needs Tor the
expenses OF the year, as provided Ior by the
the parochlaI schools to come in 1t would be
necessary to procure money from some source;
Dut Wnetner tnaC money might De raised other
wise than ny an appropriation made In the tax
levy in the ordinary way, which could not occur
until November next or whether the Board OF
Apportonment has the power 10 meet such an
emergenc y am unable tOsay. These points and
Others nke them nill all be considered by the
JOINT committee. and, as nave already SAID, 1t Is
premature now to speculate upon them.
kEPoRTER-Are you personally IN favor of the
Mr.. KELLY-Yes: l should like to see the school
systems OF the city entirely one. There would be
then an end to this long vexed question. AT the
Gn
consideration Tor these children under their c,re
have DuL lew TO look to but tnem, the Commits
sloners OF Education cannot exceed the powers
given TO the Board by law. An amlcaole settie-
ment Is greatly TO be desired. fee tnat on both
sides every cVnclatory effort Will be made to
secure 4 satisfactory result, Whatever 1t may be.
The reporter then, after the usual courtesss,
withdrew.
THE BIBLE IN THE SCHOOLS.
Since the question OF the amaiSamation OF the =
schools came up Tor puOllc consideration inquiries
nave been again ana again made by citzens as to
the reading OF the BlDe IN the public SCHOOLS.
There seems TO be an Impression among numbers
OF people that the Protestant BiDle Is read IN all
tne schools, and that Cathocs are compelled to
listen TO this version TO the exclusion o the Douay
version. The reporter called yesterday on Mr.. Kld-
Sile, the CITY superintendent of Schools for some
accurate Information on THIS point. When tue
question bearing on the matter was put Mr.. KID
"Wny, no; there was never more erroneous
idea"
'Are there any schools in which the Douay YER.
sion IS readyn
Certainly there are; the difference between
the two versions Is never considered at all |, my.
self. nave repeatedly opened schools by reading
the Douay version. Imay also tell you tnat 10y
law no particular version ~ sanctioned-no more
than any sectarIan book is sanctioned-under the
pubic school sytem; and further, may say that
IN some schools the Bible Is not read ut ALL This,
however, occurs only when the trustees OF the dis.
tylct, for reasons winch seem to them wise, and
which | nave no DOUBT are wise, request that the
readlng OF the Bible IN these schools be dispensed
wltn.n
Mr.. Kidde then directed the attention OF the
reporter to the following section IN the law relar
ing TO the public schools:-
No school shall be entitled to receive any portion OF
the school moneys in which the religious doctrines
tenes o any particular Christian other religions
shall be taught, incucated practised any
book or books containing con positions favorable Oh
prejudcia 20 the particular doctrines tencts any
particular Christian or other religious sect which
shall teach the doc rines cnes other religious
sect, which shall refuse permit the visits ana
aminaiions provided for in this act But nothing herein
contained sha authorize the Board Education to
clude the Holy Scriptures without note or comment
selections thereirom, from OF the pro.
vded for by this acl II snail be competent for