New-York tribune., 1885-02-28
LEGISLATION IN ALBANY.
BISHOP McQUAID'S POSITION.

EXPRESSING A DEFINITE AND VIGOROUS OPINION
ON THE FREEDOM OF WORSHIP BILL.
tFRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRTBUNE.I
ALBANY, Feb. 27. - Bishop McQuaid, OF
Rochester has written another letter on the Freedom OF
Worship bill This time 1t is addressed to Assembyman
Hubbell In the letter he says: "Senator Bakers bill
accords best with Idea Of the duty incumbent on the
Legislature at the present time. viz: To enact by stat
ute what the Constitution guarantees as fundamental
right Such enactment should not be necessary But
unfortunately there men, unable or unwilling to
comprehend the requirements Of the Constitution who
seek to force others their notions Of religious
worship, and withhold that form Of worship
most acceptable to their religious convictions
Tho article in the Constitution was placed there
so seems to expressly to hinder this mode OF rel-
gious persecution. The State guarantees right with
regard to religious profession and worship which cannot
be forfeited slienated bartered away 1t admits OF
no compromise The State provides superior form OF
religious worship to which any individual or any class
In the community may be made to conform. The state
of New-York has State religion to impose
on Its citizens no modified. improved
or super-exeellent form OF religious
worship present to the humblest most unfortunate
Oft citizens 1t cannot withhold from any class the
particular form OF worship preferred by that class Bu
the managers OF the House Of Refuge on Randalrs
Island, State institution step In between the Constu
ton and the individual inmates under their control and
conPcI the use Oh ther improved lOrn Oh religious "oI
ship rs best adapted to the spiritual weoeng OF these
boys The unwarranted action OF these managers has
been the cause OF much needless agitation In our State
"There be discussion to the relative merits OF
the different forms OF religious profession and worship
The question is Shall admitted wrong avolaton OF
tho constitution. be perpetuatcd 1t rests with the
members OF the Legislature who may be said to repre-
sent the farmlndedness liberaity and Intelligence OF
their constituents to uphold wise provision OF the Con-
stitution and right effectively grevous wrong pcrpe
trated In the past by misguided though well-meanng
and worthy men.
senator Murphys bill Is inferior to Senator Bakers
because II makes discrimination which the Consutu
ton does not make. Senator Gibbss bill limited III s
scope, and enacts In detail 1t is true, that the religious
In oil refornatories for juvenile delnquents
IL does not provide for than has
been customary In the Western House OF Refuge
Tor over ten years. II secures for reformaOres what
has been fully accorded In ali the public institutions OF
Monroe County the great comfort and advantage or
their inmates And, you well know, there has been
meddling arring no pickering wrangng IN any
OF these Institutions II Il found that nothing 40 con
duces to kindly feeling and pleasant relations
as the proper recognition OF equal religious
rights Any OF these bills will answer IL
seems to he required only for New-iOrk County.
Through the rest OF the state more liberal class OF ON
OF the Constitution those under their supervision,
whenever the clams OF wards benecaries have
fairly presented to them. II Is to be hoped that
NewYOrs County will cease to bring dscredit on oher
portions OF the State and become equally Just ana Dela
I'm dealing with It's unfortunate delinqucnts,