Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-20
SCHOOL SUPPORTERS.
Two Meetings Yesterday Of the Ma
tiOnal Reform Association.
EDUCATION PASSED In REVIEW.
Resolutions Emanating in Boston Adopted
BY the Gathering.
IN FAVOR OF SCHOOL PRESERVATION

The National Reform Association yester-
day held two sessions in Old City Hall in
the interest of the public school system.
The afternoon session was presided over
by Hon. Felix r. Brunot and was opened
with prayer by Rev. DR.. McKelvey. DR..
/. N. Hays made the first address in favor
of the public school system. He took ex-
treme views against parochial schools and
maintained that the public school system
was fundamental integer of the Republic.
He deplored the miscellaneous character
of the country's population. and held that
intelligence and patriotism should be vigor-
ously inculcated. To succeed in perpetu-
sting the country free schools were a posi-
tive necessity. The speaker paid his re-
spects to those who seek to eliminate the Bible
from the schools and foreshadowed scholastic
millennium in very explicit terms.
The Nun of Kenmare, Miss Cusack spoke at
length upon the intolerance of the church
which she left Her lecture was q repetition of
her Well-known views upon Kindred occasions.
INTEREST MANIFESTED.
At the evening session the hall was nearly
half filed by ladies and gentlemen. Rev. DR..
S. Collins, retired minister of the United
Presbyterian Church, presided. While a ma
jority Of the people listened attentively, there
were others. mostly young men, who entered
and left the hall at frequent intervals tramp
ing as heavily as possible in the aisles and max
ing much noise. On several occasions Of ap-
plause of the speakers there were distinct
Kisses.
Harvey Henderson. the attorney. delivered
an argument in support of the public school
system and against the Roman Catholic
Church for its opposition to that system. The
power which the Pope seeks to obtain, he said,
thn n
Caesars rather than of st. Peter. He
admitted that the Roman Catholics had
given up their former doctrine that ignorance
was the mother of devotion. He read from the
Vatican DEGREES and from Pope. Plus syllabus
of errors Of 1854 to show that the Roman
Church is opposed to a school system controlled
entirely by civil authority, and believes no
school system to be right unless controlled by
Roman Catholics and run for the purpose of
making Roman Catholics. He opposed the
Catholic demand for q division Of the public |
school funds. 1--WE do not tax people for |
school purposes" he said, because they have
children. The theory on which our school tax is |
based is that 1t is the duty of the State to edu-
cate all its children for the general good"
FUNDAMENTAL BELIEFS.
Americans believe fundamentally that the |
State should not in any way interfere in rehg- |
ious matters. To devote part Of the public |
taxes TO the support of UNCONVENTIONAL schools |
would certainly be such an interference" He |
opposed any governmental recognition or sup |
port of Roman Catholic schools on the ground |
that they teach doctrines contrary to the basic |
principles of the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS to
liberty Of conscience, liberty Of speech, liberty |
of the press.
A call for Rev. DR.. G. W. Smith received no
response. Rev. David McAllisteI presented
series of resolutions, copied from those recent
ly adopted In Boston, declaring the free school 1
system essential to the country's welfare; that
ic q mai 6rTtu N mr.
either sectarian or atheistic aggression, and /
that Judge Anderson's refusal, in Utah. to nat
uralize Mormon is worthy of Endorsement
The resolutions closed by a declaration that
sectarian schools should be subject to State |
inspection, and that if they are found to teach
doctrines subversive of the Government, there
should be a law compelling attendance on the
public schools by all children.
Harvey Henderson objected to the final
declaration; but the resolutions were adopted.
MISS cUsAcK TALKS.
When Miss Cusack again appeared upon the
rostrum, she was applauded. She said the
had been made that she had failed
to answer question put to her ON the occasion
of her last lecture in Lafayette Hall. A young
man asserted, she said, that Locke argued in
favor of the infallibility of the Pope, 200 years
ago. She thought that rather remarkable, in
asmuch as Locke was Protestant.
She then proceeded to speak Of the schools.
aIOCulhl ScHOOlb WoHo ROuIcod. INC DADio uau
been banshed from them. She said that the
Sisters who taught in the church schools were
ignorant She said, They know nothing them
selves and they teach what they know to the
children. They have established an alleged
in Washington and they haven't
decent professor for it" She gave her expert
encc with the schools of Ireland which are
nearly all sectarian.
When she sat down several young men arose
one after the other, repeating the question
asked at the Lafayette Hall meeting, and in
sisting that Miss Cusack had misstated and
evaded it. The question asked was said to be,
Why did Locke, 200 years ago, refer to the in
fallibiity OF the Pope, not supporting 1t, how
ever. if it were adopted only 20 years agof
Others arose to contend with the questions. |
and as there began to De confusion in the hall,
Che Chairman abruptly adjourned the meeting.