New-York tribune., 1885-03-18
FREEDOM OF WORSHIP.
,po,rvrNrs FOR AND AGAINST THE BILL.

ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST The BILL
now ITS PROVISIONS WILL EFFECT THE HOUSE OF
REFUGE.
-TrRou THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
ALBANY, March 1.-THE special order In the
sepate was the three bills introduced by Mossrs
Gibbs Fasset and Baker relating to freedom OF worship
in pubc institutions which receive aid from the oato
Senator Lansing occupied the chair and on motion VI
Gibbs his bill was first considered he askeo ic'o W
offer three amendments TO his bill first that
services shall be sundays second that priests
or ministers shall be allowed to enter the institutions 10
admiuster advice or consolation twice week on week
days and third that nothing in the bill shall DO con
srued to prevent managers of the institutions from CIV
ing proper for the performance OF religious
services il they deem 1t expedient so to do
Senator Esty opened the discussion by carefuiy pro
pared speech which he read from manuscript he sau
that the Gibbs bill contained the real object OF the pro
otcrs of this measure which was to enable the
to hold their religious services III the iouso u
Refuge on Randalrs Island The Baker Dill alhoun'ou
to nothing 1t might as well enact that sun hght may
shine upon the earth The Fassett bill was so near ike the
(,,hbs hill that IL embsdied distinction without differ
ence Many people thought the Catholic Church as "a
body is responsible for this agitation Ihis he
believed was error. 1t was private asso
citation, tho Catholic Unon-that was at the
bottom of the demand made In TINS Dill
It was a Jesuit society, organization within the
Church and not always in sympathy with it-a pohucaE
religious organization asks for the passage OF the
bill Bishop McQuad, of Rochester in letter 10 sena-
tor Baker, put himself record against IT, ana sio ~
was an outgrowth Of the controversy that the Caiho
Union had waged with the managers OF the House Vi
Refuge This institution organized in 1872 ana
first had for five boys and six girls sihce tha
time under its non-sectaran management, IL nao sent
over 10000 boys and girls The religious services OF
the Institution confined to repeating the Loru
Prayer and such other exercises as were purely non
sectaran Two of its present managers-Juoge Da'y
and Nathaniel Jarvis-were Catholics and were opposed
10 this bill Tho bill was a misnomer Under the guise
of deceptive tite this society sought to smugSe
seetaranism into this nOn-sectarlan INSTITUTION ~
became law the next raid would be maze upon ti'e
public school system The best way to settle the queS
ton was to the whole subject out OF the Legis
ture The time would come when the American doctrhe
would prevail and money would be paid by the state
to any sectarian institution and the action the Catho
Union is taking tended to hasten that day MI Esty
dwelt at considerable length upon the mpracticablty
not to say npossiby. of carrying out the provisions
of the BILL and closed by reference TO its supposed po
tcal bearings in regard to which he warned the poll
tcians not largely reward in the way
of votes for promoting such measures as this
NJ c. Murphy said that he did not intend to take any
part the discussion but he wished to correct wrong
Impression conveyed by some of the remarks OF Mr'
Esty Judge DAY. he said had resigned his position as
one of the managers of the House of Refuge and TOOK
TO part for against the bill Like himself the Judge
was nominal Catholic and not representative OF that
faith. As Nathaniel Jarvis he never was Catholic
He pretended 10 be one, and had hoy water 1
head he wanted ~ marry the sister OF James
Brady, who a Catholic. and who would not nave
gion and that of his mother in order that he might
marry the he loved, and after he had done so
and was married. he recaned and had never been inside
OF q Catholic church since. -,,.,.,
Character had brought into the discussion OF TINS
bill According TO his view Ii was measure Simply 70
carry out the provisions Constitution of the State
the their religious nights ~ was designed 10
tiee that in operation In all the other sttu
tons OF the state ana han % n RSe had re-
ceved 100000 annually of .he public money Ior the
Ssf Msre Ss the children sSnG ana Of choS SsI
had other object than to secure the same cosstu
children that freely accorded to others of dnerent
paren,age and faith. -, -, 49,, ,,oo. ,ho
Senators present Catholics or as ProteSants
but representatives of the people OF the state das
was simply constitutional question: there was NOT
line in this bill that trenched upon the Liberties o any
Granted M no more su Catholic Children
children OF all denominations he spoke OF the aarin
when predicted that his election would threaten yer
the public school system Yet the pdono cSers who
were so frightened two years ago his nomination were
among foremost in demanding his denomination to
Mr. Robinson spoke at considerable length, and went
saving Whether he was for or against the BILL He ap
psred IL 1t could be SO amended as 10 pe @uo
Indie Low opposed the BILL and all other innovations
like it, which sought 10 overthrow the trae prinoi- mol
pies OF religious liberty, which tae American peo-
nle were the first TO establish, and winch,
Sc trusted, they wonld continue to ,gns MAINTAIN IN
in spite of the opposition and hidden designs
secret organizations which consprcd AGAINST IT, he
said that the true title OF this bill should be an act 70
permit sectarsn teachings In the INSTITUTIONS VI '"0
state." A.
Mr. Mccarthy spoke in favor of the pill and AZ tne
close of his remarks Mr. Gibbs moved that the COM
mttee rise and report progress his DILL ntendng
move 70 order the bill to third reading ana get 'ote
omit 49,, -,
Mr. Ellsworth objected to cutting of further discussion
and said he had received telegram saying tha senator
Senate Thursday. a ro
cress the bill and make 1t special order AGAIN Ior
Thursday morning This carried and after some
routine work the Senate adjourned.