The Irish standard., 1890-04-19
A M B "a. y !. q
a Catholic App inted to Teach IN
u 81. a Public School 5ss N

Some OF the prOfeSSodg CHRISTIANS D
IDeckertown, N. j., have been Tor the
past six mon this in state of mind bor-.
dering upon frenzy, all on account OF
the appointment Of Miss Mary Dunn, 2
Roman Catholic and . highly efficient
young woman, as a teacher OF the puD-
lie schools at that place. 8 t5s H
Miss Dunn is q sister of Michael and
Charles b. Dunn, young lawyers OF Pat
terson, who, despite their being Ro-
manists, are graduates of Presby terian
Princeton A sister Of NJ ss Dunn is a
teacher in the public school OF Newton.
Until she accepted her appointment to
the Deckertown school Miss Mary Dunn
taught with acceptance in the school in
the Pond district, four miles from Ieck-
ertoWn.
Her Deckertown appointment came
about because a teacher WHO had got
the place threw it up at the last mo-
ment to take better place in Newton.
The trustees, finding themselves with
a leadership vacant at the very begin
ming of the school year, offered the
place to Miss Dunn, who was anxious
to get to Dcckertown, as it was on a
in Newtown moro easily. The trustees
say they did not know what Miss
Dunn's religion was when they APP
pointed her. They were solely intu-
enced by her reputation as one of the
best teachers in the county and the
recommendatio of Luther Hill, the
County School superintendent, who es-
pecially recommended her as most
efficient instructor. Mr.. Hill is Pro
testant So are the three trustees,
Charles A. Stickney, Louis H. Decker
and Charles A. Wilson. The other two
teachers in the school being Presby
terians. and the principal, who is a
man, being also a Protestant, they did
not consider, on learning of Miss
Dunn's religion, that the introduction
OF single Roman Catholic would do
harm, or even be objected to.
Miss Dunn had taught in the Decker
town school but few days when the
little son of Amazie Wolfe, stone
cutter, told her that che wasn't going
to school any more to an Irish teacher"
and accordingly he left school. After
he had stayed away from the school for
to one of the other departments. About
the same time the Rev. Alexander
MICA. Thorborn, the pastor of the Pres
byterian Church of Deckertown, began
making attacks on the Catholic Church
and so vigorous were his remarks that
his own deluded supporters finally ad-
vised him to desist.
Miss Dunn wanted to resign whom
the Wolfe boy Quilted the school, but
the trustees wouldn't let her. She was
made teacher in October. Although no
fault could be found with the way Miss
Dunn performed her duties, when she
appeared in the streets she was pointed
out as 1.-The Irish teacher" and sub
jected to sim lar annoyances.
Such being the state OF affairs when
Mr.. Wilson'S term as school trustee ex
pired, Miss Dunn's appointment was
urged as reason against his re-
election. Wilson is brother-in-law OF
j. j. Stanton, one of the proprietors OF
the ''Sussex County Independent
School Trustee Decker being the other.
Editor Stanton who is Catholic
had his brother appointed post
master. This appointment # a
Catholic only added to the craze OF the
already ranting opponents of Miss
Dunn. 1t was resolved TO defeat Will
son for reelection, if possible, and the
bowling mob went to work with great
energy.
AS the time of election drew near,
the Christian Endeavor Society,
Presby terrain organization. endeavored
mainly to help on the war. Members
of the society not only used all the
usual electioneering methods to con-
vert their fellow townsnen to their way
of thinking, but they, threatened to boy
colt those who did not promise to vote
for their candidate Such expressions
as ''I'll ruin you," Or 'I'll drive GU
out of town. were freely used. Women
as we'll as men turned out to election
Ger.
It was a matter of ''terrible moment
to them. A Catholic was teaching their
children and Catholic was taking care
of their mail Terrible /! In their
foolish minds they saw all manner OF
terrible things ahead.
When the meeting was held in the
time turned out and exercised their
right to vote for scho trustees. The
Catholics and their friends among the
Protestant stayed at home, and the re-
suit was of course the election of the
opposition candidates, although the ma
jority was, small, surprise 30 all.
When the result was announced at the
meeting wild scene ensued, and cries
OF NO Irish need apply were heard.
It was very apparent that some of those
present were the worse of for liquor,
and one Of them succeeded in creating
so much disturbance that disgraceful
fight ensued. .
Miss Du mn will not be removed before
the expiration of her term. and it would
not surprise some if she was re-engaged,
as the action Of the Catholics in the
matter b as won praise for them.
{5 A Now Doctrine. Il
In letter from Sister in China tt
the Moth Superior of her Order in
France she says: lyon will, no doubt,
enjoy the follow ing note The Pro-
testant Bishop Of Hong Kong has found