Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1901-05-29

~ A'N cAhN W ~ ho Jun
There appeared In the last issue OF
the Lewistown Democrat, under the
title Of ITO Whom Do Our Public
Schools Belong?" and over the sigma
ture of j. V. Vermaat, Rector of st.
Leo's Church." a communication.
some statements and insinuations
In which the undersigned, and other
members Of the board of trustees of
the county free high schoUl, cannot
allow to 60 unchallenged.
In the first place, it is not a fact, as
stated in that communication, that
the board decided that "the Presby-
terrain church was not the proper
place to hold the commencement ex-
ercises." As a matter OF fact, they
decided unanimously that the Pres
byterian church was the proper
place" to hold these exercises, and it
was only after the writer Of that
communication and some members of
his church had threatened to prevent
the harmony Of those exercises that
the board decided to make thechange,
I'm Difference to what was considered
most unreasonable objections, but ii
was not decided that the baccalaure-
ate sermon should not be preached In
the church. 1t was understood that
that was the proper place forit. The
writer, though knowing something
Of the custom in such matters, never
knew ofsuch n sermon being preached
anywhere else than in a church. Ii
the church is too sacred to have such
a sermon preached thereip, then God
save h eehurch. The Rev. Vermaat's
dirty fling at the Presbyterian church,
by insinuating that 1t is very ques-
tionable whether the Presbyterian
church is achurch. deserves only con-
tempt, and it is thus | dismiss it,
with the remark that the pastor and
members ofthat church stand as high
In the community as the members Of
any other church, and need not fear
the criticism Of the Rev. Vermaat.
For the past twenty years, nearly,
ourJittle community has got along
fairly well without the censorship OF
anyone, and would get along now,
except for the writer Of that COM
m%unication, whom we do not intend
to allow to eve the friendly rela-
tions which have heretofore existed
between all classes, creeds and parties
Of our people. Catholic and Protest
ants alike. AS to his silly charge that
the schools are run In the interests OF
the Presbyterian church, OF OF any
other church., there Is absolutely no
foundation for 1t. That the Presby-
terrain church building Is the best
audience chamber In the city, all
things considered, Is admitted by
everybody, andit wasforth that reason
alone that II was first selected, as 1t
has often been in the past, for such
exercises, participated In by Protest
ants and Catholics alike, and that,
too, with the sanction Of other "rec-
tors oi st. LeU's church." who for
piety and learning, and as disclplin-
urians, ranked at least az high, both
in the church and In the community,
as the Rev. Vermaat.
Bat when did the Rev. Nermaat
become the champion OF the public
school system OF the United States?
How long Is 1t since he was condemn
ing that system? He IL, OF course,
entitled to his opinion that not even
a baccalaureate sermon should be
preached In a church; he is perhaps
entitled to his opinion that u pub
lie school system Is pernicious; but
less narrow-mlnded people are GER
tainly entitled to their opinion that
the Most High looks with favor upon
the education Of the young, and that
His temple is a most fitting place 10
hold such exercises as those In ques-
ton, not only the ba%ccalaureate ser
mon, but the commencement exercises
proper.
The writer OF that communication
appeals to the commissioners In the
name Of his congregation. Does he
' mean to say that he intends that al