Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-11-25
JEALOUS OF A CLAIM.
Archbishop Gross Friends Insist
That to Him Belongs
THE CREDIT GIVEN TO ANOTHER.
Archbishop Irelands Plan Of Placing
Catholic Children
IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, IN REAL PRACTICE
,erxcrlL TELEGRAM To THE prsrArou.

rrPEcTAL TFSrGRAM TO THE DrsPAroH.i
SAVANNAH, GA, Nov. 24-There is
considerable opposition in Cathalic circles
here to the persistent claims made that
Archbishop Ireland, of ST. Paul, is the
father of the idea to influence the Catholic
Church in favor of public schools It is
held that there was one at the recent meet
ing of archbishops in New York whose
claim of leading the Church toward the
modern idea is superior to that of Arch
bishop ireland, whose influence in favor
of providing religious instruction for
Catholic children attending public schoo Is
was more potent than that of the St. Paul
prelate.
In other words, they claim that the long
internal fight in favor of liberalism was
waged by Archbishop Gross, of Oregon;
that is is true that when the time came for
breaking the news to the outside world, and
making the matter public generally, the
initiative was taken by Archbishop Gross,
VINO, before his translation to the See of Ore
gon, in 1886, had been for II years bishop of
the See of Savannah, and left behind him in
Georgia the proof of his sagacity in the mat
ter of public schools
Savannah in the Forefront.
The first move was made in this city,
whereby an arrangement was made for the
incorporation of all Catholic schools into
the public school system. The basis was
the adoption of the schools as they existed,
teachers as we'll as pupils. At first these
teachers were all members of the Order of
Sisters of Mercy, but now they are all lay
women. Religion was excluded during
school hours, but by an agreement the
pupils and teachers were permitted to re-
main half hour for religious exercises. A
strong fight was made upon this arrange
ment, but by avoiding newspaper contro-
versy and spirit of conciliation it was ac-
cepted, passed into the regular order Of
things and is now in full force.
Three of the public schools of Savannah
are now filled with Catholic children. The
plan thus successfully established in Savan-
nah was next taken up in Macon, where it
has been maintained for years.
Other Cities to Fall In Line.
Augusta was the next city to be brought
over to the new order of things, which has
proved so successful as to be warmly COM
mended by Superintendent Evans, who is
high in his praise of the particular schools
under this rule. Columbus also accepted
the system which had proved so harmonious
elsewhere. Atlanta alone of all the larger
cities of Georgia maintains the warlike at
titude, and that is because of tine strong
Know Nothing influence which exists there.
All this was made perfect during the ad-
ministration of Bishop Gross, who was
transferred in the midst of his work TO the
rank of archbishop. His work was always
carried on automatically, without the agi-
tation of newspaper controversy. His was
the first and stands yet as the first diocese in
which almost the whole territory Is covered
by such amicable arrangement as places the
Catholic children under control OF the pub
lie school authorities.