New-York tribune., 1885-02-13
FREEDOM OF WORSHIP BILL
THE COMPROMISE PROPOSED LAST YEAR
CONFERENCE BETWEEN TWO OF THE M"N""""
AND THE CARDINAL AND ARCHBISHOP.


A CONFERENCE BETWEEN TWO OF THE MANA''"'
AND THE CARDINAL AND ARcTBIshoP.
A fact that has an important bearing upon
the Freedom of Worship bill has been lost sgnt Oh iii ~
discussion Of that measure has never peen prous
to public notice. 1t Is not generally known that ""e
In 1888 the bill was last before the Legislature, H
attempt made to effect compromise po'"s .rs
Roman Catholic promoters Of the bill ana inc ~n"o ~
of the House OF Refuge. conference was he'o ,o
Cardinal McCloskey and Archbishop Corrigan, on
one hand and Alexander Agnew and Nathaniei '".,.'
IT, ON the other General splnola was also presca''
dinal McCloskcy and the Archbishop agreed not 70
the bill II Catholic priests should be admitteu ~
House of Refuge on Sunday mornings anu aiiV ~.
to hold services according to the Roman i'' 80
the children of Catholic parents In the ai1eiho
children were to be allowed to attend tne res
nonsectarian services of the INSTITUTION "n, IN.
ever this proposed compromise was reporteu " -
Board Of Managers of the House Of Refuge IL was IN
,ected by a unanimous vote, and the fight over 'n' w
has gone since that time. ,.,..or
TRIBUNE reporter called yesterday upon Ar'n' ar,
Corrigan to obtain fuller details Of the conference
Archbishop expressed his unwingness TO eh'el NV
any controversy in the newspapers, but eohsen''N "
give the reporter the facts as he knew them 80,
at was in February, 1888" said he, "when .no w
WAS la st before the Legislature that Cardinal Mcoo
received communication from the management VI sI
House Of Refuge asking that conference snouiu oo -
for the purpose of settling, by mutual CONCESSIONS
difficulties of which the bill was the cause Inc
consented and the conference took place In my
in this very room. Messrs Agncw and JAWS "o'.
appointed by the management OF the hou'0 u
Refuge as o committee to Represent tnoin, ~
the Cardinal asked mo be present with him. echeai
Spinola was also present exactly In what capacity
don't know but suppose that he came on the part VI
Governor Cleveland The Cardinal agreed to compro-
mise by which Catholic cergymcn were TO DO aho"eu
gpnA mi
ings and these children to attend the regular sun
day services In the afternoon. This may seem 10 nave
been large concession on tho Cardinals part but as IL
was the children were continually Obliged to attend
these nonCatholic services, and the compromise sa'o
them the advantage OF the mnistraton OK priests Oh e
own church The committee from the House or heiuse
wished to wait until the regular meeting OF their
board before placing the matter before them 10 TINS
delay the Cardinal objected and the committee hhany
agreed give the OF the board on the follow
Ing Monday. Monday came, but no answer
The week passed and the same silence
continued At last called to Albany
to oiciate at some religious service and the Cardinal
ntimated to me that as the board inclined to Dis
regard proposals It would be US well TO press the Dill
rejection by unanimous vote of the board Of the pro-
posed compromise. wish to east no !inpulaon. upon
If the whole performance was an attempt their part
gain time and TO put OF the possible passage OF INC
what We are struggling for said the Archbishop. in
conclusion IL simple Justice We don't want to teach
children should be deprived OF the teaching of their
church. They tell us that we can como to the
esiy Is the bost policy and similar truths. That how
ever not Tnaswe want We went to have p nothing h 70
should have but want TO teach our own children IN
Alexander Agnow. one OF the managers OF the House
OF Refuge. visited at his house IN last Twenty first
as ST. nna Eae erIhr o. rsSt S sh w
Albany said he In 1883 10 oppose tho passage Oh he
by saying that when the bill should become law, they
would 10 TO the managers OF the House OF Retuge Win
Catholic children In the House the fret and third sun
days OF each month"; from nine TIL half past nine In the
Grady for these remarks saying tnat he had right TO
make any such propositions subsequently there TOOK
and myself and General spinoa and myself General
spinoa OF the warmest supporters Of the bill
that a conpromisc might be effected The suggestion
from them. and had no authority fron the board
This talk, however, came 10 no result. and We later
agreed meet in Nathaniel Jarvs's Office
h Jarvi" WIS aS and myself we're present. and lie
result OF The meeting was inst the m hs. wS cl"a
and the Archbishop and talthc matter over win thcm
hnar did not Know what we were doinS and We
tine conference simply to learn What terms ue var
board The Cardinal and the Archbishop may have
thoroughly understood that were acting Ia an luul
hns ar.ch Al the meeting The Cardinal stated that his
church could bc satisfied with nothing less than the per
mi sion that Catholic children Ia the Institution should
attend low from . To 10 on sunday morning anu
that on afternoon IN the week. 10 DC hppoi,eL
by the director they should have ncces. 10 priest or
teaching confession and the sacrament AS thc state
iucnt had mndo that board hhd absolutely re-
fused even 10 listen To any compromise. were glad %
be able 20 disproye the charge by transmitting the
Propositions OF the Cardinal 10 Tie nanagcis' put
ia,r u, say that We assened these propositions for
the board"
Henry y Cram another manager ot the House OF
Refuge who heard Mr.. Agncw's statements, supple
Incnted them by saving: "Nhcn Mr.. Agnew and Mr.
Jarvis submitted TO the board the proposal Of the Caid
nal A 4 fhe frstfi 4 had hear OF the matter