New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-27
CHURCHES RALLY
TO HELP SCHOOLS
Wirt's Gary Plan to Re
lieve Evils of Part Time
Glasses Favored Here.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
INSTRUCTION OFFERED
Advocates of Proposal Say 1t
Would Not Burden City with
New Expense.

4 cross section OF religious opinion,
including statements oy Protestant
and Catholic clerRymen and laymen'
revealed Yesterday that mere was no
sound basis for letters Of complaint
addressed 10 the Board Of Education
against the cooperation o. churcncS
in the Gary irt-Etrnger plan 10 re-
reve orcrCrowdinl I'D pubic SCHOOLS.
Catholic. Protestant and jew arc on
our committee said John Nhalen,
member OF the Board OF Education and
representa- I've OF the Cathohc Church
on the committee arranging for the en-
lstment Of churches IN the movement
e counteract the disadvantages OF part
time school sessions. There is per
feet courtesy. Nobody wants 10 take
advantage o. the city m the name OF
religion nor are religious bodies ad-
vancing their own interests at the cN-
pense OF others. The churches want
10 help in relieving overcrowdlng IN
the schools; they have a real contrlbu-
ton 10 make Their help viii help the
city. II will help the school children
and il will help public ana private vel
fare in the future
Mr. Whalen said he doubted L any
complaints worth consideration had
been received. He thought the writers
Of the letters needed to inform them
selves as 10 the precise nature OF the
steps proposed 10 be taken.
"The Lutheran churches are ready TO
cooperate when the public school peo-
pie are ready" said the Rev. Dr.. &. l.
Wenncr. member OF the inter-church
committee on the Gary plan. "Our
Bronx centre viii probably be Bethany
Church. on Teasdale Place
n Il -rs
nittee." said the Rev. c. Wallace Petty,
"and in Crcston Church. Fordham, We
have named a local committee. We
shall be ready when others are. Lay
men are financing our plans 20 have
the Baptist Bronx School at this
church"
The Rev. W B. Stevens said the Epis-
copal Church in The Bronx and Man
haitian will be ready TO do its part by
February ]. the date when the Board
OF Education will be ready to coop
crate with the churches "The Church
Of the Advocate. fremont, and the
Bronx Church House. Crotona Park,
will be headquarters, said Mr.. stevens.
81 understand that 81. Mary's in Law
renee Street, Manhattan, will take up
the work with part time pupils IN the
public schools. / fail 20 see any rea-
son why anybody should complain of
the part the churches propose to take
IN this public school and religious in
struction plan. Nobody is introducing
religion into the public schools. The
work of the church and state and the
city is not being mixed Up. All that
IS proposed is that the public schools
permit the churches 10 have pupils for
certain hours in the day. II is great
opportunity for the church. But il
should be borne in mind that no child
IS taken unless the parents give their
permission. Churches are trying 70 CO.
operate and ! have heard Of no at
tempts ct PROSECUTING"
Mr.. Whalen illustrated the plan as
follows. an certain schools there are
5000 children and seats for 1000.
Obviously 1000 can attend only part
time. The rest Of the time 1000 boys
and girls are az home. on the street,
In public libraries. Probably they are
learning nothing and public schools in
their district cannot receive them
"Now if parents direct and designate