The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-01-18
AS THE METH0DlSTS SEE IT.
WHAT THE MINISTERS sdY ABOUT
THE GRAY NUNS ACT.


What DIR. Curry Views as the Biggest Quee-
tion that ever ARitntcd n Civilized Coun-
try-A Report Read BY DIR. Wheatiey.
At the meeting OF Methodist ministers
Yesterday DIR. II. wheatlcy created intense ex-
element by reading the committees report
upon the public schools question. The report
frat refers to the Gray Nuns act, and TO tho
appointment Of a Methodist CON mmittee for
its repeal, as law insidlous in its ds-
ordinations, unconstitutional in Its spirit,
and mschlevous ia Its operations. The
next point touched Is the removal by
the new law OF the children between
and 10 years old from Randals Island, except
the idiotc, the eplleptc, the paralytic, and the
defOrmed, the effect OF which has been great
| distress TO widows and poor parents, who for
merly enjoyed the privilege OF sending their
children To the nursery on the Island by paying
t5 monthly, whereas they are forced to pay at
lesst SlO monthly elsewhere. The Superintend
ent OF Out-Door-Poor reports 10 children re-
moved TO the Roman Catholic Protectory, l20 to
the House OF the Sisters Of Mercy, " Protestant
children TO a branch Of the Childs Hospital on
staten Island, 20 to the Juvenile Asylum IN
| Thirteenth street, and to the Howard Mission.
The report declared the law unconstitutional.
because II prefers those denominations that
have charitable refornatory institutions to those
that have not.
Ant thululAite EtAoulnenu Nnt HdtnlnE ol
such laws as shall forever put any quas-poltica
| connections between Church aud state beyond
the reach Of political tricksters and dangerous
pOlitico-ecclesiastical conspiratore. As tho law
stands, the committee continue, the effect OF Its
| operation is to increase the revenues and polit-
cal power Of the Roman Catholic Churcn. To
obtain the necessary legislation II Is absolutely
! neeuiul that supple, invcrteurate politicians.
who now sacrifice the interests OF the country
to the demands of personal aggraudizemcnt and
| political mOtttUn. bN fnalr NNnAl trucking 10
Naticanism, should be made to feel that such
treacnery to free institutions and equal rights
will aesuredly be punished by defeat at the pOls.
The Roman Catholic propositions to the Board
sSd ,r c sps' in tSs rs
port. Early last year the trustees OF the Roman
Cathouc parochial schools IN New York, UNDER
| the appointment OF Vicar General Quinn, pro-
posed to turn Ov T a portion OF the children In
siructe In the parOchal schools TO the Board
and 20 be governed 10y their rules, as lar ns
textbooks and courses of study and the eIami'
cerncd bat the oner was conditioned on the
retention. by the Roman Catnohcs, Of the title
TO the 80 oul buildings, on the appointment OF
the teachers they should recommend. on the
concession OF privilege or the ftglt TO use tho
school buildings for purDoses Of religious tut.
ton before or after. or before and atier school
hours, and ON the payment OF tue rent OF the
expenses Of The schools, out OF the public
money raised 10y taxation for the common 60 q
of the whole people. No conference mas oeen
mad on the subject since last spring, and the
question Is still ~ abeyance.
The report halls with ri 4dness the proposed
amendment to the Constitution, Introduced IN
the House OF Representatives by Mr. blaine,
providing that mo state shall make any law
rcsuectine the est ,blshment Of religion, or pro-
hirlung the free exeTctse thereof. duo that nn
money raised oy tx ,tion In ANY Stste for TIE
suunort of public schools or derived ftom any
fund therefor, sh al ev be under the control OF
any religious seet' ana tna, no money or lanes
SO devoted snail be divided among religious
sects OF denominations.
Tne committee has faith In the Department
OF Education, sNire that tue COMMISSIONER
d. ir hes
an average attendalce OF lOOOO pupis.
The committee n0aly suomit their conclu-
sious m tue following tour rrSplutious. the re-
pprt being rigned by r. " ne atley. Daniel Curry
y. y. G. Crawford, George /. kettell. and J. B
McrWin:
l. That ,he law Of May Is. 1873, commonly known At
tnr "1rs, Nns act Is userss uuG unhecees ,ry en-
is i",iGi,9s u' gal, aud r.chiesous /. ouSht to b,
S1tsS tae i5ssa o iee sts 4 Sow STk reps,
u uuuug be pfc'cn ',ssion' as soon A. thc) my nHd
Z Tia the provisions OF Constitution OF the stat
tLe sat Of New York rslal'e 70 lhe puDle school
= Gy pub lie mo1eys Or b, falds derived rSm TAX lion
: shluq ress aud untquvocay prohibit AL eece.i
MN sun eassSs ;ss .soo Iegr-iS S eI,it., iH,s
: " and unequyocaly prohoit he appropriation puu
lc moneys or funu d'r'ee IRON laAsu no' lne state
any seCI.ri4h o. any piiTAta undertaking
: s. Il inst sn sheaSneat to the CONSTIPATION Of tn
i utiicG stat coy ri@s hs srognd Of demonstrated
4 4 lnat the Lcgs nre Of the State OF New York b
ftrNctAlulf pttlluAcl ~ ~ iHpAA) W p"
Apli a. 1875 20 rctstahiA the Chl Teus NUS o.
on kaunANs Island, under conditions thAt viii iusur
~ greater crDcy ana to provide against the evils o
y indiscrnioatey hcrdins cnlr,n aud ADULTS IN 90
. u.ty pOul"ousos, Ia sLch maLnrr as VA connie
. win anu iutelt - tue late constitutions
e allrnuineni prohibiting soctArian APPROPRIATIONS.
A vehement debate followed the reading o
the report. Ihe ministers In the crowded ma
divided into two c mps, one side holdins MA
the origin4l Grey Nuns ac OF Aptll q. lo1l ough
first to oe Drought to bear on prospective legs
- lHtiou. and the utner rejecting delay.
Dr. Cury, one OF the committee. said tina
the, W entering uuDu Question:, the III g-ea
n that had ever come before "a civilized country.
= Ihc rcpurt was recommi ted 10 the cUmnltt- 4
II ana Br. Cooks W saGded To the committee.