The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-03-27

fFom nsNsgapera showing where Cakho-
lilo ehildrn had been forced 70 leave
school In Harrisburg and In New York
ststs, besauss they woaidn's use = Protsa.
tanf bible.
Mr.. Cummings then spoke Of the
paroebial schools. He said that he didn't
like them any too well, but there wsre
SOC, 900 pupils In them In this country
and the children In them are taught tbs
Catholic religion and the schools are
supported BY the psople who slieve In
thas religion. But should the Catho'i,s 10
taxed to support TO suppress their own
religion, for this Is what tsHohiag Pro-
testantism in the public sJh0ols partieu-
larry menng. IL the Roman Catholics
controlled this country and taught Catho-
lioIsm in the public schools woni1 II e
Protestants build paroehlAi tchoolsi Nc,
sir. they would not.
Mr.. Cummings then Quoted from Bsn-
jamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and
U. s. Grant 10 show the danger Ct try
Ing to mix mp the church and the stats.
81 want nothing that Is not just ana
fair" continued Mr.. Cummings. al
want nothing but the rights and priv
ileges I claim for myself. II you can
demonstrate that the constitution pro-
vides for the teaching of religion in the
public schools shall be satisfied, but II
you cannot do this I ask you as honest
men and women to be true to the prin-
ciples Of that constitution. Vote so in
this matter that every man, no matter
what his religious belief, can stand equal
nder the Law and have the same IIisi-
lezes for himself and for his children
no matter what he may believe"
Mr.. whltehouss, as MIR. Cummings
concluded arose to say something on the
question.
The Msycr--"Are you to speak on any
motion before the board or to make a
motionf"
MIR. whitshouss said he was not. and
the Mayor said he Couldn't speak.
Mr.. Brownson then asked for the app
prevail Of some hook oreers and bills and
pay rolls amounting to si,os5 SO we're
approved and then by universal req uest
MIR. Whi.ehouse was allowed TO speak.
MIR. whitehouss said: 1.-THE question
Ia not whether We shall have religion
taught In the schools, 1t Is whether we do
have religion taught in the schools.
We learn that the Bible 10 read and the
Lords Prayer repeated.
Mr.. Whitehouse then referred Mr.. Cum
mings to the osss of Donahus vs.. Kich-
ards, n 80 Maine, page $40. for decision
of the supreme court In just such q casa
where the decision was that ths rea1ing
of the bible In the public schools could
not be construed as civ ing religious In
struction.
Mr.. Heseltine then moved to adjourn
and the motion was seconded.
Mr. MCGOWAN arose to speak. The
Mayor told him the motion bsfore the
board was not dsbatabls. MIR. MCGOWAN
said he merely wished to explain his PC
sitlon. The Mayor said be could not hear
him unless the board consented, as 1t
was not in accordance with the parlia-
mentary rules for motion TO adjourn to
be debated. The question to adjourn was
pat and lost and Mr.. MoGowan given
q chance to speak. He said II was
delicate question which they were dis
OF bsing. At tne outtsb ne WanbSu ~ un-
derstood that he did rot favor Mr. Cum
mings's idea. Mr.. Cummings would dis
favor all forms of Christianity and Mr..
MoGowan said he was heartily In favor
of one form. But, Mr. Mot owan said, he
wanted 1t TO be understood that oil teach
srs should know that 1t was right to pre-
scribe the kind of Bible. whether ProtsE-
tant edition or Catholic which should
bs used In the schools. MIR. McGowan
said again that he was not In sympathy
with the motives which sotuated MIR.
Cummings,as be had bsen born IN Car e.
tianty and hoped to de Christian,
MIR. Cummings wanted to reply to Mr..
McGowAn, but someone moved to adj
journ. Mr. Cummings started 20 reply,
when the Mayor with come sharpness
raped his gavel on the tabls and de-
clared the board adjourned,
No action Was taken on Mr.. Cum
mings's proposition.