The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-05
HOME NOT FOR CATHOLICS.
MARGARET LOUISA INSTITUTION M
TENDED ONLY FOR PRoTESTANTS.

There Are Catholic Homes of the same sort
"A Catholic Young Womnn's Protest-
Thinks All Christinns should ne Admitted.
The following letter was received at The Sun
ONCE yesterday:
To THE EDITOR OF II SUS-Sfr 1 wish to
ask a question of the editor. as we'll as to impart
an item Of valuable information to Catholic
girls. / represent unprotected young woman.
hood in your metropolis. I arrived in New York
from a neighboring city early one evening last
week. Having often heard OF the valuable
services rendered to young women by the Mar.
garet Louisa Home, / applied personally to the
Young women's Christian Association and
passed the examination OF its catechism up to
the question concerning my religion. In answer
to that question l immediately replied;
81 an q Catholic"
was then told by the Superintendent that she
could not admit me, because ] was not q Prot
estant. Hearing this, I asked:
why, madam, is it possible you will not ac-
commodete me because I am a Catholic grill
Do you think you are acting fair. when ] tell
you that I cannot afford to pay hotel pricesf"
"Oh. / have nothing to do with that; the rules
here are that we take only Protestants." was
the only reply.
Now. my dear sir. will you please answer this
question: Is it possible that the public, or Chris
tians in general, would indorse the management
Of this association, which styles itself, first and
foremost, a Christian Association, in refusing
shelter to an honorable young woman who is a
Christian Catholic and who has to pay her own
hard-earned money for her board Ought she
to be refused accommodation because, although
a Christian, she is not a member OF some OF the
various divisions OF the church to which the
Board OF Managers OF the Margaret Louisa
Homo belongi How would the Board Of Man
- appaar NJ the final frihDOal when esked.
"why did you turn away those whom Christ
acceptedf' Is is not o fact that all authorities
on modern and ancient religions accept or desis-
nate the Catholic Church as Christianl
was eventually directed to the Christian
League Industrial Women's Club, or Home.
where / was cordially received By the Superin.
tendent and asked only such questions as might
be expected from any hrst.class private family
or hotel. and was al once shown to a comfortable
room. Will you plsase answer the question for
the satisfaction OF my Catholic friends. as well
as myself, whether all Christian Associations
put their personal preiudices into public action
against the Catholic Church, which / consider
the true Church of Christi
In looking over the reports Of the Young Wo-
mems Christian Association find among the long
list OF names the following: Mrs. Robert Jaffray.
Jr.; Mrs. William Jay Schieffelin, Mrs. F. J.
stimson and others OF wor:h note. Then. on
looking over the reports OF the Christian League
Home. among a goodly list of well-known names
l find that OF Archbishop Ireland, with Bishops.
doctors OF divinity. and a number OF women
Mrs. James A. Garfield, Constant A. Andrews
the Rev. DR.. Macarthur and a score OF others.
Mrs. Elliott F. Shepard OF the Young Women's
Christian Association. after her earnest prayers
and cherished hopes, should have renem-
bered TO insert the word Protestant before
women. because her want OF specification has
led many a young Catholic woman into very
distressing moarTassment white IaE.Eg Sp,
Christian Association; / was a member four
years OF the Young Wome3's Christian Asso-
citation in London, England. From necessity
and association. l find YOUNG Catholic women
as much in need and quite as worthy Of true
Women. Asa Catholic girl. have always sought
to protest against every phase OF evil wherever
I find il. And now, my dear ar. will you please
publish my last protest. up 10 date. against the
Young Women's Christian Association, perpet'
ua'ea against ca'Aone girls IDA a0S X. & aTaEfaTlty
Inquiry at the Margaret Louisa Home. Il
East Sixteenth street, Yesterday afternoon,
OF ofG the oni 1eH se made tIap Is " Miss Murphy 1If! II" are
lsue. although her PARTICULAR case IL not recalled,
The home VS. eaIes!t:hsa for the benefit OF
shelter and who are obliged to earn their own
living. There has never been an attempt. ro
superintendent yesterday afternoon. by eltae.
Mrs. Shepard or any Of the managers or Officers
OF the institution. In fact, The, circulars giving
information about the nome, which any one may
have Tor the asking. stare distinctly that the
Institution Is only for Protestant women.
The exact meaning o! -Aiss Murphy's ref
ference to the Young Womcn's Christian Asso
citation is not quite clear 10 the acting superln
tendent. There are 30 rooms tCr hire in the
building OF the association. The secretary oil
the association, however, keeps. a list OF !oiE
!rgs, o. the character Of which she has become
satisfied Hy persouh, Investigation. Whenever
any respectable sc.f.sIppcrting woman, ProJ
estant. Catholic, Jew, or Gentle, sop."s to-
lodgings. she receives q number OF addresses II
the -oCaIitv in which she Gesires Lodgings. The
acting superintendea Of thc home said yester
day that hardly d day passes that from one tc
fifty women who. Tor one reason or another
cannot be admitted 10 the Home, are not re
ferred 10 The Young Women's Christian Asso
Asio Mrs. shrpard's reasons for barring Cath
o!iCs from the Home the acting superintendent
could say nothing. she suggested. however
that one very goo1 reason was the size OF the
Institution. She said that when every room il
occupied the home can only lie
persons. II often happens that a large numbeI
i, OF Protestanis have TO be turned away for laCi
OF accommodations. Indeed, II was said. Quit
as many Protestants as Catholics are turned
away in the course Of year. Then, too. II wat
pointed out that q reason Tor barring Catholics
may be because there are so many more Cath
Ole institutions OF n similar character in H.,
city than Protestant. Besides. morning prayer
are held in the home every morning. II is takeI
for granted AT the home thar attendance uroG
these Protestant religious exercises would no
be agreeable TO Catholic women were the homt
open to them.