The morning call., 1892-09-14
STRUCK A HORNETS NEST
An Alameda Teacher DelVes
Into Creeds.
CATHOLICISM is ASSAILED.
Miss Emily Hamilton Wanders Into Thee
logical Depths ard Excites Some
of Her Pupils.

Miss Emily Hamilton, teacher in the
| Alameda High School. has got herself in
voved in religious controversy which has
| brought down upon her the wrath and in
dignation of the Catholic population of that
city.
Miss Hamilton's forte Is to give instruc-
ton in modern and classic history. but by
some means she has become tangled up in
| theological matters that have brewed a
storm.
In the class taught by Miss Hamilton are
| three young ladies who happen to be Catho-
| lies. and they have taken Issue with their
| teacher on the peculiar range o. her hiStOrl-
cal dissertations.
About a week ago Henry VIII. England's
King with many wives. was the subject
under discussion.
In her remarks Miss Hamilton censured
the Pope for having accommodated bluff
King Hal in the summary way he did.
According to her opinion Papal bull in
this enlightened age was not so ramp ant as
in ages past. when it did serious damage to
the person against whom it was aimed.
The three Catholic members OF the class
did not like to hear anything derogatOry TO
their creed
They demonstrated with Miss Hamilton,
but it seemingly did not accomplish much
gOnd.
Two or three days afterward Miss Hamil-
ton delved into the question of indulgences.
She thought they were hnrrid things and
so dangerous, too. She charged that they
were sold, and the investor was allowed to
do all kinds Of bad and wicked things and
yet stroll through the golden streets after
his departure from this life.
This, too, made her Catholic pupils I'M
happy.
fTbao Niss JoD,;Itoo ovDo,;otod -, u-pbo
Superstitions of the Catholic Church." and
strange to state she thought the sacrament
OF Extreme Unctlon" was relic Of bar
barism."
The loquacious teacher thought the Cath
ollc church would get along better without
Extreme Unction."
This aroused the ire of the Catholic pupils
with vengeance and they at once reported
Miss Hamilton methods of teaching history
to Rev. Father Sullivan, the Catholic pastor
IN Alameda.
The Rev. Father advised the young ladies
to leave the school and he would take steps
to have Miss Hamilton understand that she
was TO teach history and not broaden the
course so a. to deal with theological mat
ters.
When spoken to Yesterday by CALL re-
porter, Father Sullivan admitted that fire.
quant complaints had been made TO him
about the way Miss Hamilton had ridiculed
the Catholic church.
III It co7tinueS something must be
DONE" he said.
Superintendent of Schools d. j. Sullivan
was much exercised when he heard of the
complaints made against Miss Hamilton.
Politics and religion" he said yester-
day, ''are subjects with which the public
schools have nothing to do. Their mission
is 10 teach and instruct and not TO delve
into subjects in which one part of CON-
munity may conscientiouSy differ from
another
''If had known of this Miss Hamilton
would have been very speedily told TO mend
her course"
During the past ten years that Mr.. Suli-
van has presided over the Alameda School
Department he has earnestly endeayored 10
prevent religious or political matters being
discussed.
MI Sullivan states that he does not pro-
pose to have such charges made against the
schools, and as the reporter left the Super
intendent look as II he was preparing to
see that religion would not again be theme
in Miss Hamilton's class.
Miss Hamilton is a graduate of the State
University, and has taught school In Fresno
aud San Jose. She was selected 10 fill
vacancy in the Alameda School Department
at the common cemsnt of the present term.