The record-union., 1893-03-06

propriations from the National Treasury
Tor sectarian Indian education. The Bap- ]
INST Church had never accepted such ap-
propriations. The Methodist Episcopal
Church, the Presbyterian Church. the
Congregational Church and the Protes-
tant Episcopal Church have all instructed
their missionary societies to withdraw
from this partnership with the National
Government based upon sectarian appru-
prIations. We also have assurances that
the few remaining smaller Protestant de-
nominations will speedily withdraw.
On January q, 1891, we received re-
sponse TO our appeal from Bishop 3larty,
President of the Bureau of Catholic
Indian Missions, in which he gave no as
surances OF any purpose on the part OF the
bureau To decline to receive further ap-
preparations from the National Govern
ment for Indian education, but closed his
communication with the following state
ment: The church will endeavor to pro-
VIDE for her own, no matter what the
State may do"
We now appeal to the high official
dignitaries of the Roman Catholic Church
IN the United States to bring the great
church you represent into line with all
the great Protestant denominations in de-
tense of the conceded American principle
OF distinct separation of the functions OF
the church and State.
We believe that such grants are all un-
constitutional, and are utterly subverSive
OF the letter and spirit of the First Amend
meBt to the Constitution. The National
! Government, violating as we believe 1t
does, its own Constitution by these sec
tartan grants, casts its influence in favor
OF denominatiOnal schools, and imperils
thereby the integrity of the whole COM
mon school system Of the various States.
We earnestly appeal to your patriotism
to assist this league in carrying forward
! the OhiacfG tO V,l,i / aN- ISte br-Ny
drawing the application which your
| church has heretofore made for Congress
sional grants toward supporting your
Indian schools, and by refusing hereafter
to accept the same, and to join us in
making protest against such grants to
any denominational schools. The pecu-
mary loss which your denomination
would thus sustain by assuming the care
and support of its own denominationM
schools among the Indians, would be
| light, as compared with the advantage
which would ensue from such sacrifice
i'll the establishment OF a correct princi-
pie OF public policy.
We also ask your approval of the pro-
! posed Sixteenth Amendment to the Con-
stitution of the United States, which is
already before the Judiciary Committees
of the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the present Congress, as before
| quoted.
This amendment has received the un-
| qualified autograph approval of over
100000 prominent citizens in all parts of
the country, including jurists, lawyers,
publlclsts, divines, college presidents and
professors. superintendentS of public in
struction and business men.
1t has been adopted by the representa-
tives of ninety patriotic organizations.
1t has been indorsed by the unanimous
vote of the American Baptist Home Mis-
sion and Publication Snpipf1nS in
convention; by the General Conference of
the Methodist Episcopal Church; by the
General Assembly of the Presbyterian
Church in the United States; by the Cen
eral Assembly of the United Presbyterian
Church; by the General Convention of
the Protestant Episcopal Church; by the
National Council of the Congregational
Churches of the United States, and by
other influential denominations, though
smaller in membership.
The official approval of the Roman Ca
tholic Church in the United States would
at the present juncture greatly strengthen
| the hands of those who are trying to Sc
cure the passage of this amendment by
the present Congress, and would encour-
age the hearts of those who believe that
If our religious liberties are to be pre-
served such action cannot longer be
safely delayed. Respectfully submitted,
W. ii. PARSONS, President.
JAMES NJ. hING,
General Secretary.
VIM. FELLOwES MORGAN,
Treasurer.
! The action of the Archbishops on the
school question the public is familiar
with, and it is generally considered to be
an advanced liberal step in the attitude
of the Roman Catholic Church toward
the public schools.
Learning that there was higher au-
| thority in the Roman Catholic Church in
this country than the Arch bishops. in the
person OF the representative of Pope Leo
Kill, the League..sent the following COM
munication to Archbishop Satolli, the
receipt OF which has been recognized and
assurances have been received that the
Archbishop is giving the matter careful
consideration, This liberal minded and
cultured prelate has it III his power to put
an end to many of the assaults upon and
controversies concerning the American
free common school system, and to speak
the word i'll reference to sectarian appro-
priations by State and National Govern
ments that shall accomplish much in per-
petuating the American principle of COM
plete separation OF Church and State:
To archbishop ,Satoli, Washfn9ion. d.
C.-REVEREND SIR: The announcement
that you come to this country as the rep
resentative of Pope Leo XIII. and as
/
cretiouary power and authority, has in
vested your personality with great interest
| to the entire American public, and that
interest has been greatly enhanced by the
perusal of that portion of your address to
the Archbishops of the Roman Catholic
Church recently assembled in New York
| City, in which you discuss the school
question. Permit us to quote:
The adoption of one of three plans is
| recommended, the choice to be made ac-
cording to local circumstances in the diff
terent States and various personal rela-
tions.
The first exists in an agreement be-
tween the Bishop and the members of the
School Board whereby they, in a spirit of
fairness and good will, allow the Catholic
! children to be assembled during free time
and taught the catechism; it would also
| be of the greatest advantage if this plan
were not confined to primary schools.
| but were extended likewise to the high
schools and colleges in the form of a free
lecture. The second to have the cate
chism class outside the public school
| building, and also classes of higher Chris
| tian doctrine, where at fixed times the
! Catholic children would assemble with
| diligence and pleasure, induced thereto
| by the authority OF their parents the per-
suasion OF their pastors and the hope of
| praise and rewards. The third plan does
not seem at first sight so suitable, but is
| bound up more intimately with the duty
/ of both parents and pastors. Pastors
should Increasingly urge the duty i'm
posed by both natural and divine law of
! bringing up their children in sound NOR
ality and Catholic faith. Besides, the in
struction of children appertains to the
very essence of the pastoral charge. Let
! the pastor of souls say 10 them with the
apostle: My little children, of whom |
am in labor again until Christ be formed
in you (Gal. iv., 49, Let him have
classes OF children in the parish schools