Year: 1875

ana intellectual faculties or young ought TO
ognizcd and advocated BY al good citizens SO tar
a


was concerned he proposed % vote as he pleased
gardless 0 any other person views on the subject II
President Grant was the best man the best freud
OF the negroes and of common school sys-
tom, anu If his retirement from Office would
endanger the schools he In favor Of continuation
OF the present Administration He believed that the
President Trend ot the blacks and favorable TO
their intellectual Improvement, and he was not in
favor OF any policy that would degrade them He did
not consider the Bible sectaran book, aud he advo-
Gated ts 10 the public schools not inconsistent
with the principles Of free government He thought
q majority of the best people In favor Of the
Bible being read In the schools He looked tho
attacks of is enemies being the beginning OF
saut on the public schools themselves 1t was not the
Bible that


THE CATHOLICS


dlsked but our liberal system OF education They
merely made the Bible pretext for the destruction OF the
schools In word he was in favor Of the Bible in the
free schools ana Of general intelligence among the peo
Pile and any policy Of the government that would most
advance those interests ho should support III the per-
petuaton Of free schools would be brought about by
the third term and the advocacy Of General Grant or
President he was in favor OF ~ lie Deheved that the
recent remarks Of the Bishops offered no ground Tor
eNaggerati0n alarm Whatever they might have
said could not be construed having Official slgnn-
canoe, for they spoke merely private citizens Be
cause they were at preachers meeting reason
for making other members Of the church responsible
Tor their utterances.


Is the pastor or Hamline chapel He thought that the



more sign dcanee TO the Informal utterances Of the
bishops than the facts would warrant Like his friend
Mr. Hobbs he considered their remarks merely
prcssions Of private opinions for which neither the
Church ia other pastors responsible. The
preachers meeting IS hot executive body. II has
authority 10 take official action theological
matters connected with the Church Its members meet
merely for social recreation and interchange views
Whatever might have been said at this meeting il has
moro political ecclesiastical importance than II
uttered At an ordinary church sociable and the
reverend gentleman thought that too much had already
hann nuAa nf tnhuN Utrh1 kns
one OF these gatherings While Mr. Black had nothing
particular to say in regard to the third term or


THE PUBLIC SCHOOL QUESTION


he not afraid TO boldly declare in favor Of com
pulsory education and the retention Of the Bible in the
public schools. He was in favor Of everything that
tended TO the elevation and moral development of the
young He knew Of nothing potent the
Bible and the school The glory of the age and the
nation is the American common school system aud he
hailed the recent Message of the President good
omen for the people and the country President Grant
was not TO blame because he took high view Of this
greatest Of secular questions. When he speaks wisely
and well he accused Of trying 20 make political
capital; when he is commonplace his enemies pro-
nounce him incompetent and united for his office II
President Grants election to the White House for the
third term would build up schools and place the
educational interests Of the country on stronger foun
daton the speaker said that he In favor Of his
election even TO the ninety term If necessary He
was not afraid Of C9sarsm. The worst enemy Of the
country to-day is President Grant who is friend
20 the public schools but the combination that plot
ting to destroy these institutions.


REV WILLIAM s. HAMMOND,


pastor Of the Ninth street Methodist Protestant church.
declined 10 make any official statement regarding po
htical questions. However, he said:-l am positively
IN favor OF the continuance OF the Bible in the public
schools. have always advocated IL very earnestly,
but a minister | have always confined myself to
matters pertaining to my church and not TO political
movements but personally, earnest advocate
of the retention Of the Bible IN the public schools and
very strongly advocate any fair and just by
which II can be done. 1 am sure that the Methodist
Episcopal Church viii not hold itself responsible for
anything that


THOSE BISHOPS


may say | suppose that our people stand almost
unit for having the Bible kept IN the schools, but
don't think that any that could be suggested
by any candidate would move Church as a whole,
Any plan any policy which might meet the approval
of large number OF our people might influence II IN
his favor ! am that nothing would be done in
oncal organs 10 advocate the election OF any par.
ticular nomnee still would advocate the principle
OF the retention Of


TIE BIBLE


the schools think that this principle will be gen
orally conceded by Church ana adhered to BY all
the members Regarding the recent political decara
lions by the bishops Mr.. Hammond said that he de-
cdedy % the opinion that they had stepped outside Of
their proper sphere officials OF the Church. He
opposed TO bringing political questions or measures
inside OF the Church door and he was sure that the
members his demon nation with him unit
The Methodist Protestant branch which he represented
extends from New Jersey 70 South Carolina