New-York tribune., 1885-02-10
STATE INSTITUTIONS.
WORSHIP IN THEM NoN-sEcTARIAN.


AN EARNEST PROTEST AGAINST TIE PASSAGE OF
THE FREEDOM OF WORSHIP ACr-LETTER EkoM
A PROMINENT BROOKLYN CLERGYMAN.
To the Edftor o The Tribune.
SIR: There Is now proposed bill before the Senate
Committee with this title An act to provide for tho
better security of the freedom Of religious worship in
certain institutions" Its second section reads ms
act shall be deemed to apply to all incorporated
societies for the reformation of Juvenile delnquents'
houses Of refuge and other reformatory INSTITUTIONS
receiving public moneys for their use whether ncorpo-
rated or unincorporated" Its third section, pesdes
providing for the visitation Of any clergymen ior
purposes of holding religious services reads IL shai
be the duty of the managers, officers and agents OF al
such institutions to provide and allow the use Oh
proper for holding such religious exercises, anu
afford all proper facilities for such purposes
The fourth section reveals the intention OF the trainers
of the bill 1t shall not be lawful to compel any Oh
such inmates to attend any religious exercise not
conducted by a clergyman of the denomination 10
which such inmates may belong, may have belonged
at the time of their reception; and in all matters
pertaining religion the right of conscience OF such
inmates and the free exercise thereof shall be carefully
respected The fifth section makes any wiliui vioia
ton of the provisions Of this act misdemeanor.
To the unobseryng man this bill would seem prop
erly prepared to accomplish the end mentioned In
its title but little thought will show that nothing -
further from the minds of ITS trainers than to provide
for the better security of the freedom OF religious
worship in certain institutions" Its title Is mis- lead
ing and its provisions, purposey made plausible, arc
in fact opposed to the terms OF the title Freedom OF
worship is now allowed If it needed better security
this is not the bill to furnish IT, They who framed the
BILL and those most enthusiastic in its support are men
who neither in theory nor In practice believe IN inc
freedom of religious worship. The religious affairs OF
nuhli chaIit Lies
been conducted with perfect fairness TO men oil every
school of thought No clergyman, no priest, has ever
been excluded from private mlnstration OF sacrament
the public preaching OF the gospel. ,
Who complain Roman Catholics; only these.
What more is desired That they have opportunity
afforded them for public celebration of mass, and that
every adult Roman Catholic or minor chld OF Roman
Catholic parents, by the terms of this bill when IL
becomes law shall De compelled keep away from any
service but his own. II anything could he more
designedly sectaran in its aims and measures than
this, have yet TO hear it, To my mind, TINS olii
directly at the very foundations OF our civil and
religious liberty. Freedom OF worship where we
please and to believe what we please is a natural
liberty, with which the State cannot rightly interfere
To execute these several provisions over would be
utterly subversive of the best interests OF char
table Institutions IL would compel those In authority
at the House OF Refuge at the Home Tor the Reform
alton of Juvenile Denquents D ascertain the regOus
views of the parents Of each child IN order to deter
mine what services he must be allowed to attend. Ana
If pcrchance a child of Roman Catholic parents should
get into room whore Methodist was preaching the
managers OF such Institutions could DO proceeded
against for n misdemcanOr
From the beginning all our penal and charitable
institutions have been non-sectarian IN eir manage
mcnt The members of all religious denominations
have had in them equal rights and equal access, and
while the preaching of any dogma which Is the
exclusive property of any sect has been forbidden the
proclamation of Christian truth common toal believers
has been encouraged In the hity years of the life OF
the Society tor the Reformation OF Juvenile Denquents
success has been great that 10 Is believed upon very
good grounds and from accurately prepared statistics
that over seventy por cent OF the children admitted
h.gFt fVn Ia a.
per cent be shown il this bill becoming law, from
present teaching the general truths Of the Christian
religion and the principles Of good morals, We IN |
augurate scheme which shall end IN a pandemonium |
of conflicting sects each trying 10 reinforce Itself with
new recruits sad enough the divisions in Chtston- /
dom in the outside world Far he the day when III our
pull lie institutions shall emphasize the differences
among Christians in executing the provisions oi any
such statute! The dangers OF this bill all the
greater because not plain upon it, surface AZ read
il and interpret ITS meaning IL will he perfectly |
possible under provisions should IL become law, fer
tho smallest child Ia roforinatories ia the exercise
Of his legal right and under the protection of the law
Of the State, to choose religion every Sunday. |
aud refuse to attend any but the of this days !
choice THIS would De better securing the freedom
of religious worship" " with a vengeance
Public sentiment against this bill ought NJ once 10
be aroused and find il expression in emphatic remon-
strance. The bill + tic outcome aud expression OF
plan carefully devised aud faithfully prosecuted now
Tor years by the Catholic Union. This year the blll or
an equyale makes it, appearance in the Legislature
for the seventh time. Except for Governor Cnrnells
veto m 1881 II had then become law IL Is a plain
effort on the part of the Roman Catholic Church to got
ul possession Of the penal and reiormntory insiitn-
tions Of our great cities Long waiting has provoked
the supporters of the measure to anger. Political |
damnation il threatened any man who dares TO oppose
tine bill In The Catholic Review of February. /
1883. We read Z" We wish 20 say that there are !
enough interested In the passage "f this measure
20 secure the political daBnatiUn ot any man or party
that will not do full justice We have already /
arred the political future oi than bigot ana
We advise all others 10 note the fact. We want as !
nearly unanimou. vote can be had" The question
before the Legislature is plain Of duty j. tue
gious instruction IN penal and charitable insti-
tutions to be delivered into the hands OF inc
Roman Catholics shalt II continue 10 be as II ever
has been agreeable TO the eternal principles Of our
Constitution. free and untrammeled by the i'm. oil
sect
The dangers Of this bill not clearly seen by !
surface reading Its title l.. have said. in,en-
ionsly coniriyed be dangerously misleading. bat |
Tor all this ! greatly mi,udgo the interest Of our
eminent citizens Of the Empire State. II without |
protest they allow such niqutnns measure ever to
become law. GrOHGK X. VAS d. WATER
Z IL. nca.a... Er..L In E.h lsAl