The Newark star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1909, 1909-10-28
PROTESTS
AGAINST MATHEWS
AROUSE BOARD
Meet Tonight to Consider Action
Over Professors Part in
Big Demonstration.

AT tonight's meeting of the Board of
Education the action of Professor
High School, in presiding at the Ferrer
meeting in Weverss Colosseum on
Monday night will be considered by the
board. City Superintendent of Schools
Addison B. Poland is In Paterson to-
day. where he made the principal ad-
dress In connection with the laying of
the cornerstone of a new high school.
Mr.. Poland already has stated that he
will bring the matter before the Board
of Education and there is the liveliest
speculation as to what action the board
Will take.
Members of the Board of Education.
1t is said. have been deluged with let
| ters complaining of the active and
prominent part Professor Mathews
took In the meeting and indications are
for one, of the leveliest meetings of the
| Board of Education held in some time
While the protests have been gen.
eral, the most specific, complaint has
/ 'N~t' ''eitN py ifc LuNdfu
Quirk, spiritual director q the Catho-
lie Young Mems National Union.
Father Quirk. after expressing his dis
pleasure and that of the Catholic young
men he represents, through the public
press. personally visited City Super
tntendent Poland and made formal
protest. Last night DIR. Poland said
| that he would call the matter to the
attention OF the board
There was doubt today whether or
not formal charges will be presented
against Professor Mathews. All parties
concerned realize that they are tread
ing on delicate ground. Those whom
Father Quirk represents declare that
the least that snould be done is to
censure Professor Mathews. Others hold
extreme views, and say that he should
be dismissed from the schools.
Those who hold these views say that
the public schools should be kept free
from anything that would lead to re-
ligious feeling, and that Professor
Mathewss action In presiding at the
Ferrer meeting was more than "in-
discreet"
To the Editor Of the Newark Star:
The modern school of Francisco
Ferrer viii be as much needed In
America as 1t is In priest ridden
Spain il Roman Catholic priests are
going to take a hand in the manage.
ment of our public schools
If additional proof were needed that
the Catholic Church is responsible fol
the death of Professor Ferrer II is te
be found In the course pursued by tn,
/ Rev Edward n,ttrl,
himself Spiritual Director of tht
Catholic Young Mems Union" claim.
to speak for 100000 inhabitants of New.
ark in denouncing a teacher in the
public schools for taking part in q
public meeting of citizens to protest
against the official murder of Professo,
Ferer by a tyrannical government In
which state and church are one.
| have many Catholic friends. anc
among the more liberal al-mlnded | fire
quently hear severe criticism Of thei
church in Spain and the Philippines.
After denouncng our system of publ,
schools, as the Catholic hierarchy doe
on every occasion. and threatening dir.
consequences To those Catholics wh,
send their children to the public schools
it Is interesting to note that a Catho
the superintendent of public schools
of the city of Newark that he intends
by all means in his power to procur,
the dismissal of public school teache
because that teacher had the man
ood and the courage to raise his voic,
in protest against the foul lnurder o
a brother teacher and great educator
whose only fault was that he taugh
the truths of modern science
If Father Quirk's church. is teaching
the truth and nothing but the trutf
what has the reverend gentleman Il
fear from modern science? In my
humble opinion the spiritual director
of the Catholic young men is making
the same blunder in assailng Professor
Mathews that his coreligionists in Spair
made in procuring the death of Profes.
sor Ferrer.
AGAINST PRIEST DICTATION IN
OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
East Orange. October q, 1909.