The Newark star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1909, 1909-10-29
The Matthews Controversy

1.-THE following letters are presented.
as all future communications on this
controversy will be given, without
change of word or sentence, spelling or
constructlon.-Ed.]
Editor of the Star:
Sir-I should like to take issue with
the Rev. f. Il. Quirk in questioning
my sincerity and motive In attending
the Ferrer protest meeting held III
| Wevers's Colosseum October %. That
he did so is evinced by the conclusion
he drew; to wit, that Prof. b. Z. Mat
thews was an irresponsible teacher be-
cause of the fact that he presided at a
meeting of supposedly questionable
repute.
II | can succeed in proving that the
Rev. L.. +. Quirk Is "a chariatan of the
twentieth century y has not the
courage Of his convictions, then he
stands Gtscredited before the readers
of this paper.
Instead OF personally defending the
alleged attack l;poa the Bi.ir, Why did
he SHIFT the responsibility upon the
Young Me;s Cathol.c C:u,,-if ever
tbere existed sun,l al eiub? Was he
feartl, lcaat 70 appear ln>9usistent
Will list -lt@ sflsp~L. nv ~ =
Why 10 re 81 Gs,sec erne! in fae chill
dren of .ne 1tn. 100 rfho niey 1--we been
or ara undar the tuteiaEc u Professor
Matthew? If any mainoe.s of nc
Young Mems Catholic club arc Il reflex
Of Prof. Mathews efforts IN the past,
Is 1t not reasonable to suppose than
an irresponsible" teacher could not
influence them now that Rev. Quirk is
their spiritual director?
AS for those who are not as fortu-
nate as the Catholic Young Men, does
he fear that the Bible will be misin-
terpretated or wrenched from their
young minds in the public schools? ]
think not.
Rev. Quirk cannot rise superior to
the institution he represents, and II
needs no argument to prove that the
Catholic Church has been the bitterest
opponent of the public school. If the
public school should, perchance, fal
through its influence, along with i
falls the only medium through which
those outside the Young Mems Catholic
Club come in contact with the Bible. L
is quite possible that Rev. Quirk hat
not in mind the interest OF the lo0,0o'
SO much as his own.
i III tti Ina = 49, iNs
the denunciations hurled at the Pope
also the ringing affirmations that prog
ress could not be attained without rid
ding ourselves of Catholicism. And HI
might have seen that l, a former mem
Der of his own church, ~applauded thes'
sentiments to the echo. This was wha
he feared. not the condemnation of thu
Bible.
lust so sure as one flake of snow upoi
another enveloped Napoleon's army OF
the Alps, so will one Socialist vote upoi
another dispel from the minds of futur'
: generations all knowledge of Rev
Quirk and what he stands for.
JOS. d. MOORE,
Member of Ferrer Protest Committee
400 New street, October y.
To the Editor Of the Newark Star:
T Sir--In the columns of the STAR yes
terday appeared a communication from
: one styling himself Against Priest Die
tation in Our Public Schools" The ar
ticle calls for reply only because of it
intolerant spirit and utter ~viciousness
The early pages of our country's his
tory peal testimony to a nations dis
grace because of the v~irulence of thi
spirit. But time has wrought a benef