The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1880-10-28
AWAR OFCREEDS.
Excitement In south Carolina Over
the Rejection OF Roman Catholic
Teachers in Charleston.
New York Times. .


Much indignation has been aroused
in Roman Catholic circles in this city,
and in fact throughout the whole state,
by the rejection of the christian broth
ers as teachers in the public schools.
The facts in the case are briefly these:
About one year ago influence was
brought to bear upon ma jority of the
Charleston board Of school commission
ers to accept an educational institu-
ton, known as the Central school, in
George street, as public school. 1t
was known to the board that the insti-
tuition was under the exclusive control
of the Roman Catholic clergy, and
that the teachers were members of
the christian brotherhood, brought
hither some time previous from Indi-
annapolis. There was consequently no
misunderstanding on that point.
The action of the school board Gre
ated much dissatisfaction among the
other religious denominations, and two
members of the board-C. G. Mem
minger, the former treasurer of the
southern cOnfederacy, and the Rev. A.
Toomer Porter, the present custodian
of the United States arsenal, signed
a minority report against the action
of the majority of said board adopting
the proposal of the Right Rev. 2. N.
Lynch, bishop, and other members of
the Roman Catholic church. to estab-
lish separate public school under
teachers nominated by them" The
main reasons assigned are: Because
such a scheme o. public education is
directly opposed to the cardinal princi-
pies of American state policy, which
makes broad and distinct separation
between church and state; that under
the plea Of protecting the rights of the
Raman Catholics it forces Protestants
and other dissentients to support a
school whose teachers are to them
living lesson of erroneous teaching;
that it is a violation of law and virtual
abandonment of the public school sys-
tenn, and that it is an invitation to
every religious sect or social organiza-
ton to claim the same privilege, and,
if pursued, would result in the dissolu-
ton Of the public schools 1--WE have"
says the epreamble to this protest "been
reading in the newspapers of the efforts
ofthe Roman Catholics in France, Italy,
Prussia, and Belgium to get possession
Of the public school system, having no
apprehension Ofsuch efforts here. But
the action at the last meeting Of our
city board of school commissioners has
inform ed us, not only that an attempt
would be made here to make the pub
lie school tributary to the Roman Cath
olic church, but has shown us that that
attempt has been made and has proved
successful. A separate school, COM
posed entirely of Roman Catholic
teachers, selected by Roman Catho-
lie organization, has been accepted by
the board and thus the first gun has
been fired in this battle in our state.
The only course left is an appeal to the
courts and the legislature. All of us
know the delays incident to legal pro-
ceeding, and the more speedy and ef-
fective course would, therefore, be di-
rect appeal to the legislature. We
would suggest then, to the friends of the
public schools, that petitions should be
got up, to be presented to the legisla
ture at the next session, praying that
body to reverse the action of the board
of commissioners by appropriate legis-
ation."
An effort was made to have this pre-
amble published and the protest pub
lished in the Charleston Ne,us and Co,1s-
ier, but the editors, fearing its evil ef-
feet on the present campaign, refused
to insert it. 1t was then printed in
pamphlet form, and copies were left
in every house in this city. Petitions
were numerously signed, but, for OBJ
vious political reasons, they never re-
ceived the attention Of the legislature
Matters remained thus until few days
ago, when, as is usual at the COM
mencement of every scholastic term,
teachers in the public schools who had
not passed an examination were order
ed before the board of examiners, con-
sisting of Messrs. Memminger: Archer,
and Doty. Among the appli-
cants for examination were six of the
Christian Brothers, the seventh being
too unwell to appear, and it does seem
rather suspicious that not one of them,
though it is generally admitted that
their educational attainments are Of the
highest order, passed the examination
successfully. The Brothers, it is said,
claim that the questions asked were
taken from books of which they had no
knowledge, and that most of the math-
ematical queries were puzzles and not
problems. They feel, naturally, very
sore and discouraged, and it is
the general opinion among Roman
Catholics that their rejection
was premeditated. The ex-
aminers assert that the interrogatories
were merely such as are usually put
! to teachers, and that their religious
distinction was not considered. One of
them it is alleged, said that the Broth
ers were "a set Of ignoramuses," who
were not fit to teach. The school was
reopened on Oct. 4, with two hun
dred and fifty pupils, under the same
teachers, but as the latter cannot be
recognized under the school board, hav-
ing been refused certificates, they are
not entitled to pay from the school
fund, and they must therefore, look to ,
the Catholic clergy for their renumera-
tion The affair has caused Il great
deal Of bad blood, and it will require
only a slight effort to fan the smolder-
ing embers of discomfort into a fierce
flame. While some liberal-minded
Catholics regret that their clergy put
them iu this unpleasant predicament,
it is generally considered fresh exhibi-
ton OF "know-nothingisnl" among all
| classes of Roman Catholics.
Another more recent occurrence has
served to make this feeling still more
bitter. A widow named Burns some
years ago placed her children in the
Charleston Orphan-house. Having ar
rived at an age when religious impress
ions last longest, the mother fearing
that her offspring might be won over to
Professionalism and thereby forfeit their
claims on the kingdom of heaven, re-
quested their return This, of course,
was refused. Two or three days ago
she asked permission to take them out
for walk, and as neither she or the
children returned in the evening the
matter was reported TO- the. com
missioners. She positively refused, on
the following day, to carry her children