Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-11-13
ONE VIEW In MIND
Coming Conference of Roman
isl Archbishops
TO EDUCATE The CHILDREN
Where Shall the Authority Of the State
Cease and That OF the Church Begin.
To Be Notable Event.

NEW YoRK, Nov. l2.-Twelve OF the
thirteen American archblshops Of the
X man Catholic church will gather IN
this city from all parts Of the country
on Wednesday next and will cit IN dis
tlngulshed ecclesiastical council. This
assemblage will be the annual confer
ence OF the chief dignitaries of the
church. which nss been authorized by
MS holiness, Pope Leo XIII. for sew
eral years past. In 1891 the arch
bishops met IN ~. LOUIS. add next year
they will convene in Chicago.
Speculation is rife as 10 the exact
outcome of the probable ciscussiofr>
which Il Is generally believed will arlss
on questions that have recently boeA
the subject of controversy among the
srchblsnops individually. Thus fas
tae members OF the coming gathering
have kept their own counsel aud, as
the sessions will be secret, public
knowledge OF the exact Happenings
may be long postponed.
Those in position 20 guess shrewdly.
however, look Tor little acrlmony IN
the doings OF the eccleslastlcs and pre-
dict n speedy adjournment of the pro-
ceedlngs. On the morning OF Wednes-
day next the eccleslastlcai council will
convene IN the handsome and spacious
marble mansion OF the archblsnopric
AT the corner of Madison avenue and
Fifueth street.
Discuss the Fsribauit system.
Little formality will be observed in
the formation of the council. Cardinal
Gibbons Will open the proceedings with
prayer and with the religious exercise
usual on such an occasion. The prln-
cipal topic for mutual interchange II
opinion, which Will De laid down by the
pope, will be as 10 the best means TO
provide for the religious education Of
such OF the Catholic children az do not
or cannot attend the parochiai schools.
There are in the United States one
million and quarter such children.
Under this head will come the ques-
tous of the multiplication of Catholic
schools, the extent TO which state aid
can be asked, aud general review of
the Faribault system.
"Can the church give the state the
appointment OF teachers?' Will be
another phase of the discuss IL 10
probable that the last interrogalive will
ultimately be answered in the mega
tive, with a possible concession IN favor
of granting TO the etate the right 10
test the competency of the teachers.
Next will arise a discussion OF the
text books TO be used, with the prob
able exclusion of those blgoted IN
church. A serious question which will
confront the council will be the re-
moval of crucifixee and other religious
| emblems from the school rooms. Mem
bers of the council hold extremely o2-
posite views on this matter, and Arch
bishops Ireland, Williams and RiordAn
will undoubtedly express their opln-
ions freely on this subject.
Some Questions of Ruling.
Whatever line the discussion may
take 1t is safe TO predict the following
general result:
First-Autonomy Of the denomina-
tional schools; that -, the right 10
choose their own teachers, but only
among those who have qualified be-
| fore a state or mixed board.
Secondly-The doors of the echool
| room to be always open, both TO eccle-
siastlcal and secular Inspectors
Thirdiy-The right 10 examine the
schools in secular branches 10 belong
to state or municipal otficisls, aud IN
religious matters to eccleslastlcal au-
| thorlties.
Fourthiy-Progrsm and text looks
tc b. agreed upon smicabiy.
| Fifthly-The civil power 10 support
the schools and pay the teachers, or at
| least. to contribute for the purpose an
amount corresponding 10 the school
tax paid by the parents the pupils.
Only on these conditions VI the arch
bishops entertain n proposition 60 ac-
cept state aid. Tney will simply AK so
mucn per capita allowance for the
children IN tue state assisted schools.
and IN return viii conecde the right OF
the state TO examine the pupils aud
teachers IN secular branches and will
pay tor instruction given IN purely sec
ular divisions.
Archbishops Feehsn. kstzer and Ire
land will be the principal speakers on
this theme. The deliberations will
also uch upon the subject OF Don best
/ TO promote the well being aud ntsrests
Of the Catholic University IN Washing
ton.