The Portland daily press., 1886-04-15
SectarIan classification of cuIprits.
illustrated Christian WneklV.l

This question has come I'D In the State
Reform School at Portland, Maine, and the
issue is so clearly presented that it makes
good opportunity to discuss the matter here.
The facts in this particular case are that
for some years past the Roman Catholics
have been allowed to celebrate the mass, and
to hold Sunday school service in the insti-
tuition on one Sunday in each month They
have also occasionally had confession. This
did not satisfy them, however. They de-
sired more frequent services and demanded
that the priest should not be kept under the
supervision of an officer of the school while
instructing the pupils. y hen this was de-
MED, the bishop withdrew the priest writ
ing II cannot permit the teacher of morals
to be insulted by a presence and watching
which make him suspected by the inmates of
the Reform School,"
1t may be that the bishop thought that this
withdrawal would frighten the authorities
into compliance with his demands, but it
this action of the bishop cleared the way,
have adopted bylaw prohibiting all secta-
rian teaching in the institution.
1t seems to us that this is eminently wise,
and we hope that they will maintain this po-
sition. The Sectarian classification of Gull
prits, whether in reform schools or prisons,
seems to us utterly absurd and illogical. 1t
must be prejudicial to the best discipline of
such institutions. The primary object of
reform schools or houses of refuge or peni-
tentiaries is not the religious education of
their inmates. These inmates are there be-
cause they are culpritS, and the object Is
their correction, with the hope of their refoT-
nation. They are not to be kept from under
the influences of religion. On the contrary,
religion is the best and strongest instrument
that can be used for their reformation. But
religion and sectarianism are two very diff
ferent things.
In the Maine Reform School provision is
made for divine service every Sunday, con-
| Quoted by clergymen of different denomina-
| tions. Sabbath school is held by the teach
ers of the Institution. The regulations say
| "The boys shall all be taught the general
| precepts of the Christian religion, the power
| and goodness of God, the truths of the Bible,
| and lessons of morality and virtue; but no
| sectarian teaching shall ever be allowed"
| Any clergyman who is willing to observe the
rule of nom sectarian teaching can address
| the boys at such suitable times as shall be
| determined by the superintendent.
| The bishop says that under these condi-
| lions a priest would have ito choose between
| teaching what he knew would be distasteful
| to the majority or content himself with the
| glittering generalities of morality, which
| neither instruct the mind nor touch the heart
| of Catholics" The trouble with the Roman
| Catholic is that, in his view, religion means
| the teachings of the Roman catholic Church,
| while the teachings of all other churches are
| mere sectarianism. When it comes to relig-
| ious instruction in public institutions of any
| sort we cannot accept his definition of relg-
| ion He is entirely free in his own churches
| or in his families to teach precisely what he
| pIeaseS. But it is another matter when 1t
comes to public institution.
! Mr.. O'Donoghue, one of the trustees of the
| Maine Reform School and Roman Catho-
lie, has made a minority report concerning
| the affairs of the school In this he calls at
| tention to the article of the State constitu-
| ton regarding liberty of conscience, and
| claims that it is violated by the action that
| has been taken. The facts do not warrant
Mr.. o. Donoghue's inference. Roman Cath
| Ollie clergymen have precisely the same
standing In the institution as any other cler-
| gymen. But to give. them what they asked
for over and above this would be to open the
door to isectarianisn. 1t would violate the
further part of this article, which says: 'All
| persons demeaning themselves peaceably as
good members of the State shall be equally
under the protection of the laws, and Subor-
dindtion nor preference Of any one sect or
| denomination shall ever be established By
| ld,p." This section Mr.. O'Donoghue does
not quote, but it contains the gist of the
whole matter. For to allow the Roman
Catholic priest to instruct the boys without
| the presence of an officer of the institution
when such privilege is given to no other
| religious teachers is manifestly to give pref
/
| privilege is given to the Romanist it must
| be given to every other denomination, and
| then we have the spectacle of the State
| teaching sectarianism.
| We are entirely confident in our conviction
that the general principles of religion can be
| taught even in our public schools without
| violating any rights of conscience and with.
| out sectarianizing the schools We main.
! tain that those principles" general pre-
cents of the Christian religion, the power
| and goodness of God, the truths of the Bible
| and lessons of morality and virtue"-oughi
| to be taught in those schools, and so the re-
proach Of "godlessness" taken away from
them But the case is, if anything, stronger
| when it relates to the inmates of a reforma,
tory or penal institution. The discipline OF
such institutions demands religious instruc.
ton, but it must reject as utterly preJud1cla
anything of a sectarian nature.
1t is not Freedom of Worship for which
these Roman Catholics are contending In
Maine or in New York 1t is freedom fol
their sectarian teachings. 1t becomes al
lovers OF religious liberty to resist anything
OF the kind. 1t is surely fitting that those
whose conduct has entailed upon them re-
| stralnt OF freedom in other respects should
not have all the liberties in religious matters
which otherwise would be their privilege
At the same time we would not DENY. nor d.
the regulations of the institutions to which
we have referrd deny, to any one under dur
ess his full liberty of conscience.