New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-04
PITTSBTRG PfTRTOTIC OEDEHS.
FEELING OVER RELIGIOUS TEACHING IN THE
PUBLIC SCiOOr.s-INlON WITH
pAEOCUIAT. SCHOOLS.

PAEOCHIAL SCHOOLS
Pit, sburg. Feb. CSpeciaD.-The 4. =. A move
ment Is extending eastward. II has reached PITTS
burg and promises to be an important FACTOR III
local politics Ten thousand limitations in Allegheny
County are said TO have been already made AS
evidence Of the rush K is reported that one ioGge
received sixty new members In one night one
prominent Methodist Episcopal clergyman who COM
nended the order In a Sunday sermon has received
threatening 'ettcrs from all parts Of the country
This s a promising field for religious agitation.
and a distinct issue has already presented Itself
The parish priest ~ the Thriy-fourth Ward. the
Rev Father Cosgrave desires TO introduce the Farl-
bault plan. He wants 10 unite the parochiaI ana
public schools introducing Sisters Of Mercy as
teachers In the consolidated institution Two pre-
vous attempts here 70 unite parochial ana puolc
schools succeeded for time.
The expectation OF more than ordinary agrees
siveness on the part OF the American Protective
Association in this vicinity is based on the fac'
that this Is q hotbed OF patriotic orders. whlch
are In harmony with the a. p. y. on many ques-
tons The most prominent OF these organizations
f.. the Junior order Of American Mechanics. which
IL rapidly growing. and has about 10000 members
one-ff,h Of the membership being IN this county II
was orgauz.d IN Lafayette Hall. IN this city, be-
fore the Rebellion. declined greatly during the
War and was revived five or six years ago with
grca, Intensity. II processes TO abstain from po-
'lcal movements but every lodge IS represented by
DELEGATES
Council" which includes representatives, OF all
.,,frioc' orders In this county. AZ which the Mt
ness ~ candidates for public office are secretly
discussed
\ member u Ii" Junior order 81 American Me-
chanics said The Tribune correspondent; w ME
our organization Is not distinctly anti-'athohc we
are opposed - the Church the school question:
and no good catholic can be- consistent member
~ our society which especially desires the reading
4 the Bible and the King James version at that
IN the public schools
Tn. society holds great plrldes annually on WASH
ingion's Birthday. AMI j. foremost among sueh or
ganizations I'm foresilling Father Cosgraves pans
III. Mechanics as they are called. have been con-
suicl,us in tho presentation Of American hags 10
schools and also at pubc-schooi dedications ana
cornerstone ay ings. Flags were not 70 De seen Oh
public schools until the Mechanics Insisted upon H.
Father James Cosl;rayc's ward the Thirty-fourfh
: Roman Catholic that j.. majority OF lis IN
hoblfan,s are Of that faith consequently the par
,chiol school IS ovcrcroWled. while in the puphc
building there is room 10 spare 30 inc priest pro-
posed to the ward school board, majority OF whose
members are Roman Catholics. that he smut up MS
parochia school and transfer his pupils to the pun
lie building still retaining the Sisters "a teachers
Father osgravc based the right 10 such an arrange
lnent on the fact that Roman Catholics PAID pubic
rchool taxes wei a. Proi"stantS.
This caused a great stir in the patriotic orders
and a committee representing the Advisory council
and headed by r. II Baird Patterson weli-kho"h
attorney waited unon George y. l.uckey. city SUI
,.rl,,er1ent OF Public schools Mr.. Iucl<ey wrote
:, stat. Super!ntendent Schaeffer about IT, and he
rruli.i that the sisters OF Mercy coui De 'i"'i't
as publc-school teachers II they passed 'hr usu1
~ ,,,ninntion provilai th"v registered under their
real names. and not under the Names 10y when MI
we're known in IN" Church: MI. Patterson s. SUI
,ss.rts in spite Of Suprrin, Schaener that tne
plan j. Illegal and is waiting Tor Father tossraV's
Father James MGIEhe' OF Inc vi @ nnhuc
-,,ffh - fh,rt DSEra
IieI was suggested by an overcrowdei parochia
school and poorly attended pubic school Ina, a ma
Catholics and majority Of the ward school board
being OF the same rciis2n me ne2n 81 ,s Inr
family and a successful inventor 81 MIL machinery
caused commouon amonS the Mechanics ana
sini'or societies There no legal action taken
but there was 4 mass-neetinS. ana 50 much pup
lished I'm the local papers about II that Father Nc
Tyhr became tired of the notO:i"iy and went pack
The me- old fsriing was revived later when Father
Roman Catholic stronghold. rented the unused p0r
| tons Of the public school building ana insiaiSI
odd situation OF two schools-one pubic. the other
sectarian-being conducted under tne same rooi ana
~ n lar because TN, principal ana Instructors
TN IN" pubiic school were Roman catholics. having
been elected by the Roman Catholic ward school
board The ola order OF tmSs was rsld s wmsI
building were completed These situations were
rity Il Is impossible in the remaining wards whore
the citizens elect Protestant boards.
Professor Chapman. OF the Fourth Ward schools.
made interesting statement OF his experience
| He SAID.
Il was the superintendent of the Cambria County
schools for eight In the two arg" towns there
-ioretto and Carrotown-there We're convents. ~ Il
| I'm each place the Sisters of Mercy taught N The
public schools. They had received certificates from
the superintendent who had no discretion In the
matter He Is compelled 10 issue certificates TO all
applicants who possess the ability 10 pass the ex
animation. |, was understood mat during the resn
lar hours religion was not To be mentioned II the
Sisters remained after the time for dismissal end
| taugh, Roman Catholic children the catechsm Ii
| WIS nobodys business. There was no trouble r.
/ dss tisfaction The Sisters We're paid out OF the
public school funds. and the schools were regularly
| Visited by the county superintendent
| The American Protective Association. which has
| now been organized In Pttsburg. Is especially in.
! terestel in the selection OF city Councimen and
| ward school directors February is Election Day.
and the influence OF the order Is expected 70