The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1881-03-25
OUR PHILADELPHIA LETTER.

DEATH OF eYLvReTRR J. HEaARaB-AEEI-
vERsART OF PENN DRATH-eEwTNs THE
SEEDS OF UNBELIEF-6As TRUST POWER
PATAL ACCIDEETs-HIBEREIAE HOLIDAY
-eRAFT'e LUcE wAEIHe-A DISGRACE
PUL PRESIDENTIAL ACT, RTC.
Especial Correspondents Of the FRBEHASl
PHnApELPHIA, March 2i, 1881.
DEAR NcPIKB-Since my last letter our
city has lost, in the truest sense Of the term,
one of its very best citizens the noble the
linked with the history of the Quaker City.
He was truly one OF Philadelphia's most
prominent and respected citizens. His death
has closed the life of one Of the nObeSL gem
tlemeT that it has been my fortune and honor
to ever come in contact with, and to fathom
and appreciate. No man in Philadelphia
was more highly esteemed and loved than ).
j. Megarge. Honor honesty. kindness and
/ manliness characterized ali his actions He
commanded the respect and good will Of air
creeds and classes No citizen OF this city or
State. OF any other city or State In the Amer
lean Union, left behind him as a part of the
/ Inheritance of his children, a prOuder name
than has the late Sylvester Jacob Megarge.
His whole life was of the truSst and nObltst
type of manhood In his death your CORES
pondent lost ore of his stauncneSt and most
cherished friends. God rest his soul.
AEEIvERsARY OF PENN's DEATH.
The 18th instant MAS the 137th anniversary
of the death of William Penn \ citizen Uf
Philadelphia has suggested that the remains
of the founder Of the city shall be brought
hither and placed under the dome of the new
public building, and the attention of the
city authorities has been called to the mat
ter. Tne gentleman in question has agreed
to detTay the whole expense OF the under
taking. Preparations are being made for
Che celebration Uf the two hundredth aunt-
ver5ary Of the settlement of Penn in this
State, Committee OF three members of The
Legislature, three OF the Bi-Centennial AsSo-
citation and three of the Historical Society
having been appointed to cOufer and deter
mine upon some plan of ceisbration. Quite
a large number attended the conference at
the rooms OF the Historical Society III rela-
tlOn TO preparing for the Di-centeunial ami
Yersary.
SOWING THE SEEDS OF UNBELIEP.
The charges which we're made against the
female teacher IN one OF tile SeCtIOnal high
Schools Of this city Of deHounciug the doc
triEes Of the Catholic Church and insulting
Catholic chiidTeny caused a little ripple OF
concern in Christian society, but the idea Of
a male teacher Of a High school telling his
pupils that there are great many things in
the Biule that are not true, and especially
throwing doubt upon the Mosaic acco@nt of
the creation, thereby creating the impression
IN tie minds OF tne boys that the Bible - q
fiction ana shaking their faith III all reIgiOn,
Is more than the average Protestant VIII
submit to without protest. Boys, 1t Is said,
are leaving the PuiIade phia Hign School
with weakened fdItn in the Bible, III Chris
tiau teaching, and in everything else per-
tanning To the great hereafter. This insidi-
Gus mode of spreading unDenef has been 60
ing Oh in the High School of this city IOr
many years, and the Board of Education
should lose no time in putting a stop to such
wicked practices 1t is an outrage upon the
religious people of tue city, whether CathO-
lies, PrOIestantS or Jews, that the public
school system, supported as IL 10 by revenues
derived from puUlIc taxation, should be
made vehicle tor assaults on the faith of
Catholics or any other denomination. as it
effects ali denominations alike. Complaints
have long been made OF attacks by public
school teachers, acting in their capacity as
such, upon Catholicism. Such OmpiaIutS
however, have thus far been uuheeded tut
now when High School teachers are wicked
enough To tel their pupils that Tile BiUle
CONTAINS hundreds II uulFujiI5, and luaL The
Mosaic account OF the creation is nothing
but diEsy tale, - reverend Protestant gen
temen are earnestly oujectlug to the sowing
OF tAe seeds OF uuUCIIei. Iuey are at last
TevutIng against systematic attempt of
puulic school teachers 10 undermine t.e rc-
IigiUus belief Uf children committed to their
tutclagc, and IL Is high time Tor them to be
doing SO. Professor Houston, against whom
these serious charges have been preferred,
denies them, dHu Professor Richie, the Pres
IdrHt OF tile High School, is very indignant
that tile good name Of tile IEsLitut!uu should
be aSsaIied. Some interesting expressions
OF opinion are also being Iuuulged III by
CleTgyI Iaru with regard u matters suggested
by the charges made against NJ NlSs SCuu, prIn-
cipal of tile Grammar School, and Professor
Houston, OF the High School. NotwiIh-
standing the accusations are denied, the at
tentIuH OF the people las not been Withdrawn
III either case.