The Irish standard., 1900-08-18
His Action Drew Applause from
the Entire Audience.
DETAILS OF A San JUAN INCIDENT
After the Retort by the Bishop
the Meeting Closed.

Some weeks ago the secular press of
the country published cable dispatches
regarding sensational incident at San
Juan, Porto Rico, when Bishop Blenk
publicly gave the lie 10 Rev. Mr. Vail
mer, Protestant minister, who had
attacked the Catholic church, making
the charge that the world held the
church convicted OF the backwardness
and state of degradation in which
Austria, Spain, Italy, all of South
America, the Philippines and the West
Indies were langushing and dccaying.
A Porto Rican correspondent of the
Daily Picayunc, OF New Orleans, Bish-
op Blcnks native diocese, sends the de-
tails OF the incident to his journal, and
they were even more dramatic and inter-
csting than was indicated in the brief
cable adviccs. He writes:
"The incident in the San Juan Thea
ter oil June 26 continues to be the chief
topic in the island The entire island,
Protestants as well as Catholics, are
with the Right Rev. James II. Blenk,
bishop OF Porto Rico, in the manly
stand he took in the matter. The Epis-
copal minister at San Juan, the Rev. DR..
Pratt, says that Bishop Blcnk could
not have acted otherwise in the public
manner i'll which the church he repre-
sentcd was insultcd Other Protestant
ministers i'll the island express Them
selves III the same manner and regret
the violent onslaught made by Mr.. Vail
ncr.
"Thc people resent his speech as
personal insult, aside from the insult Of
fcrcd to their religion, and the fact that
the bitter attack Of Mr.. Vallmcr was
utterly uncallcd for and that he used a
public convention of teachers, called for
the purpose of quietly discussing what
was best for the educational progress of
the island, to get in his bitter invcctivcs
against the Catholic church, has served
to bring down upon him the condcmna-
ton of the best people and ministers
not of the Catholic faith.
Briefly told, the true version OF the
incident is this: In the first place the
convention did not take place at San
tiago, as extensively tclcgraphcd over
the United States. 1t took place in the
thcatcr at San Juan, which was placed
at the disposal OF the Porto Rican COM
missioner OF public education for that
purpose. DR.. Croft, the acting chief
OF the commission of education in the
island, thought that convention of
educators in which the best thought on
the subject OF education could be
brought forth would prove vastly bcnc-
flcial to the cause OF public education
in Porto Rico and its better progress.
He very wisely concluded to invite all
| the school teachers in Porto Rico to be
present as well as the various ministers
of the gospel, some of whom are en-
gagged in teaching. In making out his
program he modelled it on that of the
nationa! educational convention re-
Gently held in Charleston, S. C. As in
that convention the question of religion
in public schools formed topic of dis
cussion, he invited DR.. Saldana, prom
incnt local educator and scientist, to
discuss that question.
"Among others invited to speak on
various topics we're Bishop Blenk, Rev.
Mr.. Pratt, the Episcopal minister, and
Rev. J. Vallmcr, a Portuguese Protest.
ant minister, who had been engaged in
teaching in Brazil, but who, after the
American occupation OF Porto Rico,
came to San Juan and opened a small
gospel room. He was never superin-
tcndcnt Of education in Brazil, as ex-
tcnsivcly tclcgraphcd to the United
States. That has been strongly denied
by the Brazilian press. Indeed, the pco-
pie OF Brazil do not seem to know much
OF him. His remarks were distin-
guisicd, as the local press declares,
chiefly for their assaults on the Catho-
lie church. AS this is the religion al
| most to unit of the Porto Ricans, he
| failed to attract them to his cause.
"rhc convention opened with great
cclat on June rs. There was every
prospect OF brilliant and interesting
! meeting. Schoolteachers had gathered
from all parts of the island, many OF
the clergy came to attend the delibera-
tons and the utmost harmony and good
feeling prevailed. y.