The New York herald., 1875-12-24


charges pastor with pricstly influence and dcprc
cate the uhcharitablencss which prompted It's express
sion.
Resolved That while wc disclaim any wish on our
part 10 curail the just liberty OF the press, still
protest against the pryng into private affairs by its
called representatives. and tho Gtartng OF scandal
the responsibility Of which they seek TO SHIFT TO
other shoulders
Resolved That tho thanks OF this body he given 10
pastor for the able in which he has reted
the basc slander which was published against him.
THK INTEREST
does not abnte. The leading members Of the church.
in view OF the explanation of Father Grace and the
afdavt OF De Fray refuse TO take sides the
matter They at loss TO account for the contra
dictons contained In both. and willing be-
lcve that either OF them has wilfully lied
EXPLANATORY LETTER FROM FATHER GRACE, OF
81. MARY's CHURCH, NEWPORT, r. 1.
NEWPORT, R. l., Dec. ~, 1875.
To EDITOR OF THE HERALD
Permit me 10 explain in the columns OF the HERALD,
the precise truth regarding the burial tho child
Geneva Dc Fray, IN whose early death am accused
OF presy intolerance refusing ofciate over her
cold remains because she permitted by her par
cnts to attend public, or some will have it, a
Protestant school. The is simply this-Thc father
the child called oasccrtain whether no should
bring the body TO the church have tho funeral
performed at the house. he lived con7cnient TO the
cemetery, and at somc distance from tho church.
asked him what priest attended the child before death.
His reply that she died without the priest and or
did not receive the sacraments OF the Church
She had arrived at an age when, according TO the
laws OF the Catholic Church. II criminal neglect
her, and would at indicate careless and inder-
priest had he the notification of any responsible
person. neglected to visit and administer the
mcnts OF tho Church told him that had no been as
anxious about his childs eternal welfare he was
h. hax,
sacramcnts and declining go the house. sad by
way OF reprimand that he need not bring the body TO
the church, since ne had proved himself Indifferent
TO the soul Of his child. socmny assure the public
at large and wish il to be distinctly understood by
my Catholic friends both in Boston and New York.
that had wcighty TO Justify my reprmand,
and II possible 10 awaken a vcer interest in quar-.
wheFc negligence, feared, acquiring greater
proportions for whose suppression tho duty
Of Christian pastor 10 cxhort, TO persuade, and II
necessary TO reprimand. Had he brought the child
the church would not have refused him; did not
absolutely forbid him TO do did not refuse Chris
the Protestant cemetery, but this old
here. There Is no tomb in the Catholic cemetery, and
neghbors allow this privilege when the frost
deep the ground or the bodies have to a
days or weeks awaiting transportation to some other
place There was, them no objection to the burial in
consccrated ground, nor percmpiory denial to
ofleiato in the church. There rcprmand, be-
my duty, nd for this have apology to make,
excuse TO offer, no language to retrac This is the
statement of incident which has been mag
ni1cd with the cpthet OF 'prestly intolerance"
and, according to the iclcgraphc dispatches
sent to some OF our prominent newspapers,
has created feeling OF indignation az the un-
rccnting intolerance the Catholic priest Newport
II stated in the newspapers rcfased to ociac
because the child attended a public school. This l
claim to be an infamous iaschood. The correspondent
who impaired that intelligence TO the country never
called on mo to ascertain whether did or not.
condemned without the bcno1t OF judge or jury,
yond Lake Erie before l had heard ono word OF tho
affair in Newport | appeal 10 the Intelligent public
II honorable, noble generous TO charge with
an action had lot committed to condemn mo unrcp-
resented and unheard, to stab in tho dark before
was aware OF the danger and consign me to the
tempt OF people whom had never injured in
thought, word decd Far be IL from TO deny
that am in favor or Catholic schools for Catholic
children. have nourishing one under my charge,
where five hundred pupils instructed, and,
in addition TO intellectual requirements, arc
taught the principles OF Christianity which per-
feet the moral being OF the child and enable
him TO become conscientious man. to discharge
in an honorable manner his duty toward his ncghbor
and his God. But IL not be supposed that, de-
voted as am 10 the OF Catholic education for
Catholic children, am inclined TO refuse officiating
the cold remains OF those children OF my flock
whose parents refuse TO send them Catholic school
blame not the children for the OF their parents,
sidcr IL strictly unjust TO deprive them that
OF any spiritual consolation my power. Nec fom
obfusd adeo 0esfomus pectord poen IL Is stated also
in Tho Nrw YORK HERALD that am hostile TO public
schools love the too well 10 be hostil. 10
them or 10 the teachers, who mpart tho knowledge Of
the tho youth OF the country 10 the pub
lie buildings where they taught They arc the gns
OF tho Author OF knowledge they have existence and
and can DO traced back 10 tho First Cause,
10 God himself, from whom evil proceed. Bot
while ndmirc the intellectual advantages OF tho
school system and admit their goodness far as
they exist do maintain, with all respect for tho
opinions OF others that there something waning
10 give harmony and completion TO tho beng and that
something is religious instruction, without whose innu
cncc tho heart becomes drcary waste and society per-
ilous and uncertain. praise them for what they have;
deeply depiorc thoabscncc OF wnat they have not
Tho end OF man is here below, His soul has a
longing for the infinite and eternal II will never rest,
never be satisfied never acknowledge the completion
o It's happiness until u returns 10 the Author OF S
being and shares the immcnsity OF Ills bounty Ana
as IL is my duty 10 lead the flock under my charge to
tho attainment OF that end is IL not just
and proper that | should labor TO have children
attend the school where that science is taught
in addition 10 tho Others where the child Will not only
learn the art Of reading and writing with the other
branches Of secular knowledge but also the grand prin
ciplc OF eternal truths that will govern his actions
tins world and lead him TO happiness in the ncxtr II
desire young man TO study the medical profession |
will the carpenters shop 10 receive his
instruction there. would rather place him under tho
eye ~ an eminent physician or send him 10 an ap-
proved medical school, whore his mind would bo
trained for his future career life would IL follow
from thence that despsed the carpenters profession
considered hs avocation either dangerous
20 society. par, when propose to teach a child
Christian truths and impress on his tender
mind moral principles that conducc 10 virtue,
him whore that science is strictly taught 10
surround him with religious influence and noursh his
youthful mind with tho principles Of morality. And
this action Oi mine would justify the conclusion
that dcspscd abhorrcd the OF learning where
proanc sciences only taught and religion loft TO
The sclcotion OF the student And now Mr. Editor in
conclusion, declare TO the public who have read all
tho wonders OF this intolerance at Newport that have
peremptorily refused ofciatc in the church
over the remains Of Geneva Dc Fray have
fused the sacramcns 10 children for attending public
schools have never vilihcd the public institutions of
the country; have never tclegraphcd libel to the
dctrment OF any man living; have never uttered
areproach against my dissenting brethren Tho foul
charge Of Intolerance understood In practical Ian
guagc, fling back on the author Kilkenny Grnco
was tolerant at the council board Of kins James
and, though strictly Catholic in HIS sentiments,
depscd harsh measures toward hts separated brethren.
HIS sentiments mine, and, however may DO
libclied by the malicious nd .Catho.