Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-11-10
ARE TOO MANY
The Methodist Ministers Con-
ference Discusses the
PUBLIC AND CHURCH SCHOOLS
Ths Rev. J. w. Reid Defends Catholic
Loyalty, But Condemns tns PzroehiA
school systsG-- Other Addresses

The ministerial conference OF the
Grand Rapids district oegan At the JOY
Memorial church yesterday. The
afternoon ssssion was taken up with .
paper by the Rev. William Denman on
.Irath and talsshood."
WI CogshaIl. presiding elder OF
this district. presided At the Methodist
conference last evening. snd after the
Rev. Mr.. Davidson had led in devo-
tionsl exercises. Mr.. cogshall stated
the subject OF the meeting. Roman
lam Menace TO Our Public Schools"
He introdu ced the Rev. BArglll of Hoi-
land. wno vas the first speaker. tie
said mat whatever lnterferred with the
public schools interferred with the
sheet anchor OF our nation. he asked
what had klven America her freedom
and liberty and love OF country, and
answered that it vas the pubic scnool
and the protestant church.
He said that the eountry is not god
lsss, and the public schools are not en-
trely goddess. There is no distinction
in religious matters Ia our pubic
schools, but Rome came along and de-
mznted :Aat a distinction DO made
Catholic Loyalty.
Why must a Catholic DO . Roman
Catholic and hold TO Rome first, and
why must they unite with lnfldels aud
demand that the bible DO taken out OF
the schools Tho schools should be
guarded against all attacks from Rome.
Catholics ara becoming bold, and are
using the language OF threats. tie
held that because the Catholics IN the
province OF Quebec are not loyal TO
Queen Victoria they are not loyal elu-
zsns IN tins country.
The Rev. j. W. Reid OF the Second
Street VI. Z. church was the next
speaker. He said that At least in u
church Il payed To be honest and Just.
and he desired to say nothing
that could be construed TO BE- unfair To
sucn a large portion OF our people rs
the Catholics He said -the paroch:al
school has a grain of truth IN II. winch
II considerably the protestant church.
would DO of great value TO them. He
wished that the protestant churches
might be- opened daily. that protestant
children might be allowed 70 enter and
receive religious training. In the
Catholic schools the children are con-
stantly under the eye Of teacher or
nun. Those children grow up TO think
that the church 10 = protector and Will
wascn over them.
Upheld BY Men.
Professionalism bringing ncr children
up In public schools without any special
religious influence develops this fact,
that the protestant church 10 upheld by
women, while the Catholic church is
upheld by men and women. In the
Columbian day parade moro Catholic
men were IN line, than there are male
protestant church members IN the
city. These mon were reared religious
Iy from boy Catholics TO men Catholics.
can ind no fault with Rome, for
MAINTAINING her psrochiai schools
do not antagouize she teaching OF
the Catholic church but / autagouize
the church and its system.
The people are beginning 70 rebel
against the priess. Tho Hibernians in
tina city have deded Bishop Richter.
10 means rebellion in the Catholic
church.
America can not book two school
systsms. The Catholics say tho public
school must go. but say that the
parochial scnool must CO."