Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-03-01
PRIESTS CHARGES HEARD.
Montpelier school Hoard Assures Faith
or O'SuJjtycU If Impartial Tcnch,u..

Montpclier Feb "a special rnoe,inp
of the board Of school commissioners was
held this evening 10 consider thc state
ments made last Sunday from the pulpit
by the Rcv. Father w. j. O'Suilvan that
he had been given 10 understand that a
teacher in the public schools OF this city
had made statements to her pupils that
were derogatory to the Catholic Church.
Father O'Sulivan and Miss Grace Clark
the teacher referred to, were present
Father OSullvan first stated that it
had recently been called to his attention
that one OF the teachers in our public
schools. whose pupils were both Catholic
and Protestant had made statements that
would tend to turn tho facts Of Catholics
into ridicule. This information came from
such a reliable source he felt it his duty
to n1part such information to tho citizens
Of this city who help to make I'D his
congregation.
He claimed that one of the fundamental
features OF our constitution is that every
man has 4 right to worship God accord
ing to the dictates o. his own conscience
and that the trend Of tho times is that
abuses in public institutions should be
made public.
THE DIRECT CHARGES.
The direct charges made by Father
O'Sullvan were that this teacher had
alluded to indulgencies as being sold
by the Catholic Church as a release from
crimes committed. which is false; that
extreme JUNCTION, a sacred rite of the
Catholic Church. was laughjngly refer
rcd to as a "scnd Off: that IN teaching
history this teacher had said Catholic
soldiers were afraid 10 die in battle lest
their bodies should lac buried in uncon-
secratcd ground. aud il thcy were so
buried they would not 30 to heaven: tina:
she had called tho Spanish in
QUESTION an institution of the catholic
Church; that the richer a man is the
moro sins he can got pa,don.d h"cIlIsc
priests can bc bought to-day as we'll as
they could in other days, all % which
Father OSulivan branded a false. He
said Catholic boys ia Miss tlark's room
had demonstrated against such teaching
but she had insisted her statements were
true. 1t is an awful mistake for a
teacher in the public schools to say
things that would create cnmty in the
rising generation.
TEACHER DEFENDS HERSELF.
Miss Clark answered these charges one
by one defending what she had taught by
| the text book, "West's History" that
had been placed in her hands. She de
claied that in teaching history she had
aNcrted anything personal. and had treat
ed the church and state as Individuals.
| Never had it occurred to her TO ridicule
| any rite or creed.
! Three of the boys VINO had felt hurt by
the statements of Miss Clark in class were
called and questioned, and they corrobo-
rated the statements Of Father O'Sulli-
| van. The matter was discussed in a
friendly manner for two hours.
| Father O'Sullivan suggested that in
teaching medieval history, both sides
should be taught. and he declared the text
book to which reference has been made
is unfair and misleading
The board gave Father q Sullvan as
surance that any attempt Ca discriminate
against Catholics in the public schools
would not be tolerated and ne on his part
expressed his willingness to SO inform ms
congregation.
The hearing closed with the atmos phere
decidedly clearer. ....