New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-03-09
The FREEDOM OF WORSHIP BILL.
HEARING BY THE SENATE COMMITTEE-To BE
EAXOEAnIY pEpORTED

FAYORABLY REPORTED.
Albany March S-The Senate judiciary Committee
this afternoon gave hearing Mr. Cantor's Freedom
Of Worship bill. A large number OF interested
persons present, among them the Rev. Dr. Dc
NJ King. Of tho Evangelical Alliance: T. F.. strong
OF the New York Juvenile Asylum; b. e. Wetmore'
Of the Randall's Island House Of Refuge; John jay
Chapman and Evert Jansen Wendell, OF the Now
York City House OF Mercy: the Rev. DR.. Mcleod.
Matthew Hale and Il. l.. Banks, OF Albany, and H. r.
Prime OF YOnkers. Senator Cantor said the bill had
been thoroughly discussed In former years III pro
yidcd that the inmates OF institutions receiving none!
from the State should be allowed what form OF
worship they pleased. 1t was assorted that the reh'
was denied in the New-York City House Of Refuge
Mr.. strong, Of New-York, said that the Institution
which he represented had had an experience OF forty
years and had found on-sectaran servhe OF great
value. There fifty different sects In tho stare
II all these should ask be represented there would
have to be seven services every day In the week
Mr. Strong wns about to speak OF that clause OF the
bill which makes dsobedicnce to the rules OF the At
torney General superintendent Of prisons and sWe
charities n mlsdemeanor, when Mr.. Cantor said the
promoters Of the bill were willing to have this clanse
stricken out.
Matthew Hale. OF Albany, said he was in favor OF
freedom Of worship stated In the constitution but
when a man sent to prison he lost some oil MS
rights and he should not be allowed to prescribe terms
The Rev Dr. Mcleod read letter from Bishop
Doanc opposing the bill.
The letter IS follows:
Albany v. Y, March s. 1892.
NV Dear Doctor Mcleod: am sorry that positive
engagement In New York makes impossible my coMnS
To the hearing the ocallcd Freedom 81 worship
bill. II ! could be there should strongly OPPOSE
the passage Of the BILL because First what IL seems
TO ask already recognized the night OF every one
in america II PGr'ons sSniSq ori lhS5uIi is az" Of
course incident upon their loss Of personal freedom
during the confinement They cann0t expect to en-, en-,
Joy the full privileges, secular or religious OF ir,e
man Al the same time II any persons In our pubic
Institutions deprived Of ia, right OF ifreh lls r.
gions Instruction spiritual advic. thlnk inc heiG'
OF any such Institution BE- aud ought - b" com
PEELED not to provide il. but To allow it, ,..,. J.,
And this brings what = the real objection 10
the bill. have entire respect for the dcre ~ The
Roman Catholic bishops and clergy 70 bring the n.
in rciormatories and upon the criminals IN prison 80
very large proportion 81 the inmate, Of th"-c place.
are connected with their communion that 10 would lc
most unnatural If they did nyt feel Deep Interest 1nd
responsibility IN the effort 10 reclaim them ana u'
side that / thoughly agree with 'hcir feeling TINT
only religion reclaim Them by It's dehnIi" doctrine
and it, OF grace. ,
| should strongly favor anv measure that would
recognize the Importance Of classifying The reng'o,
connections Of ali persons admitted 70 these public IN
stitutions in order allow the different religious
bodies TO look after their own meml~rs. But The
danger OF this bill IL that 1t will involve the aPPropHa
ton Of moneys 10 pay for th'ne minls'TnllohS
supporting half dozen different Kinds OF religious
thug The State can do. II furnishes any provision
for tea hing Christianity Is Ia cOnfne II Ia mere gen
eralitieS This is unfortunate becanse II Is com
paratively useless but IL l. the logic II lart~ go
| hope therefore, that the hl will either be- WIN
drawn defeated. NJ understanding !. maj y -
Intended 10 appv only to the House of Eefngc on Ran
DALI Island This l. objection In heh. for u j.
species ~ legislation specially intohtable. hr-,, IL
cause II T. special cisaon. and siil more be au>c
Indirect legislation. Let bill b" prclSErl. J.
any Is needed showing rs fsce Just what II ul'ens
and II II means that no clergyman Is - be refused ac
csS TO his people that no effort l. To he made 10
Institution and tho state is not directly or In
directly to paw for the SUPPORT ~ any re-
lcions BODY Of any name-Jcvish or th1,uan-it VIII
meet with the hearty support 81 all intelligent men
This bill looks uncommOny Ike the wooden hoiee
outside the gates Of Troy and II had better stay ont
side FOR "A makes very little difference Ia The result
~ letting il IN whether II f. f Of Grcek, Romans
Always very faithfully your friend.
WILLIAM CEOSWEIL DDANE.
Police Justice Thomas +. Gr1dy. 81 NcwN"rk. de-
clared that freedom Of worship was refused in every
penal institution ~ the state among them tho New
York House Of Refuge SIR. Wendell denied this. de
clarng that any Catholic priest would be allowed MI
the privileges accorded TO my Other minister OF r.
HgfOn. This Mr. GRADY thought. was not freedom ~
worship. Tho general rhSOus instruction granted In
tie penal institutions the common ground 81
Professionalism on which all Protestant sects meet This
va, called non soctarian." The SowlorI House Of
Refuge refused 10 allow Roman Catholic children 20
to 10 cOrfcfsion. The result was thht
when these children came out they were no longer
The committee finally decided to report the bill
faVOrably