New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-06
AGAINST SECTARTAN APPROPRIATIONS.
A COMMITTEE OF THE HOUSE OF BISHOPS on
THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH
HtEMOR1hT, To CONGRESS-

THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH
SENDS A MEMORIAL TO CONGRESS.
Through a memorial addressed TO the Committse
on Appropriations of both houses Of Congress. the
Protestant Episcopal Church Of the United States
has recently put Itself on record against Govern
ment appropriations for. sectarian purposes. The
memorial In question is signed by committee OF
the House Of Bishops. consisting OF John scar
borough, Bishop OF New-Jersey; Henry c. Potter.
Bishop OF New-York: William d. Walker, Bishop
OF North Dakota: William A. Leonard. Bishop OF
Ohio and c. Kinloch Nelson. Bishop OF Georgia.
The memorial and petition recite in part:
I'VE the undersigned a committee representing
the House Of Bishops OF the Protestant Episcopal
Church In the United States Of America, an or
ganization OF whose loyalty as citizens and conserVa
tisrn Of our National rights and liberties you are
well aware respectfully petition your honoraDle
body 10 take under consideration the subject OF Gov
eminent appropriations to sectaran schools and IN
stItutons OF all kinds and especially the contract
schools now In vogue among the Indians. and. II II
so please you TO report unfavoraby to all grants 70
or contracts with religious denominations Of what
ever name, under whatsoever form or pretext they
may be sought.
"The Committee on Appropriations IS doubtless
acquainted with the fact that within the last eight
years-lsss to 1s93-out Of the sum total Of Gov
eminent appropriations for Indian schoos-3. 0426l-
one denomination has enjoyed S2S72.72s while all
other schools and institutions National and other
wise. but 81 4O1.525 almost twice as much as all
other schools put together. without the ability to
show correspondnRly good results The proportion
OF receipts Of this denomination az last reported by
the Indian Commissioner In 1894. Is $G5si5, or III
times as much as all other schools put together.
Thoroughly convinced that the whole system OF
Government contracts with sectarlan institutions
contravenes the Ist Amendment to the Constitution
of the United States, the Protestant Episcopal
Church has placed itself on record In It's Board or
uhich ie society OF this
Church. and in the House OF Bishops It's hlghest
deliberative body dscountenanclng the receiving
of Government appropriations. and has declined TO
ask for continuance OF such subsidies, although a
great loss 10 the mission work Of the Church. This
special committee has been. charged by the House
OF Bishops with the duty OF presenting 10 the Gov
eminent Of the United States the earnest protest and
objection Of n large and patriotic constituency.
"In conclusion. your committee beg leave TO ex-
press their strong conviction that the abandonment
OF the present evil usage in the matter Of sec
tartan appropriations will largely depend upon the
awakening and strengthening Of a sound public sen
timent upon this most imperative matter OF the
absolute and complete disassoclation OF the State
from the Church. or any religious body claiming TO
be the Church"