New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-07
ST. GABRIETS OR CIVIC PARKl
Roman Catholics Protest Against Change
Of Name on the East Side

10 the Editor OF The Tribune
Sir: IN December last the Park Board by a
resolution IN due form, named the new small park
between Thlrty-ffth and Thirty-sixth ets and
First and Second ayes. Civic Park which name
is heartily approved by the great bulk the peo-
pie IN the neighborhood St. GabrieIs Roman
Catholic Church and parish school frcnt directly
this park. and Alderman William J. Boyhan
the Tammany alderman from the district. about
month ago introduced into the Board OF Aldermen
q resolution providing that the name Of the park
should be changed TO ''St. GabrieTs Park
ANY such change q name Is inspired no doubt
by the alderman's expectation that Il VIII add
the Importance Of and rebound 10 the benefit Of
the Catholic Church but Catholics take
cepton 10 this point or view and protest against
the change OF name which VIII be attributed by
those who are not Bonauists to Catholic intrigue
and unquestonaby excite ecclesiastical strife and
religious hatred In matters Of municipal improve
rort and civic benefits the great mass Of the mem
hers o. our Church are no more Catholics as such
than are Presbyteriars or Nethodlsts. II public
affairs they are good citizens and they object 10
having our Church forced into a false position.
sub3ecting IL 20 unmerited reproach and attack
II would be specially narrow minded and short
sighted TO change the name OF Civic PARK. when
pleascs all kinds o. citizens 20 the distinctly ho-
man Catholic name OF St Ga5riel's. and the man
uer OF doing IL would excite criticism against our
Church which Is not merited and which. we nope
viii be avoided. We believe that the change whlch
IS not demanded by those who have the oest N
would cause great indignation In the neishooTnooa'
but that the people at large IN the city would re-
sent such a name FOR the paIk ana II NouIu oIEIy
lie logical II q demand instantly arose 70 nave tIe
park named after Luther or AVN ~ ,iS s ~
late IN these days OF broacminced ana nbetal
rnirited fraternity. IL seems 70 Us 70 excite re-
Hrf0us annosity. a this would, without any suo-
erantlsl benefit 10 anybody. The church hlS tAe
marx at its door 10 Is benented by that iaCt. anu
- one can grudge that gain 70 u ana 70 every
body 10 greater gain could come 70 ~. anu N1l"-
oII~e % The right spirit ask for no more
TThe fact OF the matter IS that the creoJ OF ket-
Dag Tire small park IN this district belonss 70 We
civic Cub and moreover. that II was the ellogtH
81 CAPTAIN Goddard personally that preNented the
AL nom being laid out somewhere else. ana
brought ia 70 the place where IL Is now az Last
c-f.Tliebed because u the only Tlght ace IN
- Ste--cf - Uut H. having regard TO the density
~ ronulation ana other controlling considerations
- fhe name Of the park. like the name OF the
ciub continue typify the civic spirit that seeks
10 gain benefits for the pupic, resaraIeSs q re-
ict6n and even OF partisan politics
Alderman Boyhan's resolution j. Lable 10 oe
sansrDed through the Board OF Aldermen NJ any
moment and probably IN utter oisree ard OF inc
request of Alderman Ware that a pubic nearing
10 rad GA this resolution before IL is passed We
ask other Catholics to protest With Us against