AW
THE AMERICAN.
'A Ml. Mi A rK AN H AN t .v.t t i I m ".' A 's i. i I ..! r,i mI . m
tUHvi
I Ml l h I I M t
Votim VIII.
OMMIX, M IHilhK A, IHIIY( IHVI tlM U H. ivx
V in 1 1
.a
a-
A
Vi . YOU ARE SAVED
BECAUSE OF
YOUR FAITH.
Even a Sentinel
Duty if a Spy
of the
Such Is the, Instruction
Catholic Schools Whose Keeping Is Paid by
the United Government.
The present superintendent of char
Mm in the District of Columbia, Her
bert W. Lewi, has Just issued his
first annual "Report on Charitable
tad Reformatory Institutions of the
WlHtrlct of Columbia."
Mr. Lewis, seems to be Just the
right man lii the right place. He htu
devoted a great part of his life to the
management of charities and chari
table Institutions, ha collected a
kandsome library of wroks on cfcarl
Mes, and everything pertaining there
to, whether In America or Europe.
Mr. Lewli li the first superintendent
or charities, who has made a full re
port of the religious, or sectarian
phase of the subject, and this Is the
part which patriotic citizens every
where will rAd with great interest.
A. eopy of this report should be In the
hands of every official who has to ad
minister tbe charities of any town,
nounty or state, and members of pa
triotic societies must see to It thnt
such men itre provided with copies
itftt marked. ',
I quote verbatim from the Report:
ma TEACHING OV RELIGION.
ue of the subjects of the appoint
ment of the Joint Select Committee to
Investigate tbe charities and Reform
atory Institutions of tbe District ot
olumbla was to determine the eitent
te which appropriations for charities
U tbe District of Columbia are used
fer the propagation or teaching of the
special doctrines and form of worship
I particular churches. Tbe report of
tie committee gives a list of Institu
tions which it declares are under sec
tarian or ecclesiastical control, some
ef which receive public granU and are
eebject to examination and report by
tbe superintendent of charities.
It has been contended that certain
Institutions are not sectarian, because
persons of different denominations are
embers of their boards of trustees
Vad participate In their management,
asd becaime no distinctions are ronde
as to the religious beliefs or prefer
ences of the pareats of children re
ceived or of the Inmates themselvfs.
This Is sophlHtn which deserves to, be
set at rest at once and for all the
time.
In order to understand whether
aa Institution is a religious estab
lishment and whether contributions to
kU support are devoted to the more
arm and general establshment of any
particular system of religion, It Is not
accessary to Inquire who manages
Its secular affairs nor whom it brings
within the scope of Us influence, but
what that Influence is. Not who em
ploys the teachers, but what is taught.
It would be naturally expected that
persons who are members of religious
orders affiliated with and subordinate
to certain systems of religion would
teach the doctrines and enforce tbe
forms of these systems In Institutions
administered by them. The asei-mp-
tlon that they would do otherwise
would require the support of evidence.
Hut we are not restricted to the le
soiirees of logical deduction In the In
quiry as to what is taught in the In-
Wwtlone whoso appropriations are
made in the schedule "For charities'
In tbe District of Columbia appropri
ation Mil, and since In institutions for
children the matter Is always likely
to determine to a great degree the sa
Will Neglect His
Hakes the Sign
Cross.
(liven Children In Roman
tire character of the Institution, and
since no account of this important
matter Is given in reports heretofore
published, I here present a descrlp
tlon of the education and religious
work done In ,the child-caring insti
Unions receiving assistance from Con
gress:
House of Mercy. This institution is
conducted by the Association for
Works of Mercy, all members of
which are also members of the Pro
tenant Episcopal Church. It Is under
the superintendence of Bister Dore
thea, a member of the Episcopal sls-
terhood. Inmates rise at 6 o'clock
and have a short chapel service before
dinner they have another very
brief service, and before retiring for
the night a short time Is sepnt In do
votlonal exercises. At all these the
Episcopal prayer book, hymns, ano
forms are used. On Wednesdays the
Inmates receive religious Instruction
from the institution chaplain, who Is
an Episcopal clergyman. On Thurs
days they are present at communion,
but do not participate, except In case
of some who have been specifically
prepared. An effort Is made to pmce
about them suc.h religious influence
as will not only contribute to strength
and stability of character, but w
1h lend to their preparation for
communion, confirmation and Imp
tlsm. Those who express a desire to
receive these sacraments are instruct
ed privately by the chaplain.
Secular Instruction Is given in an
evening school conducted from 7 to
9 p. m during the usual school year
The text books In use are a miscel
laneous lot. discarded in tbe publlo
schools of the city. '
At the Church Orphanage of Si
John's Parish the schools are practi
cally uniform with the city public
schools. Teacher are employed who
have had extensive experience In tbe
best publlo schools. The grades are
arranged In uniformity with the pub
lie schools and a standard of work if
maintained which Is said to be equal
to any done in Washington. My own
repeated observation of it has con
firmed a first Impression that It Is
in every way excellent.
The books used are Appleton'i
Readers, Swlnton's Geographies, and
standard histories and language les
sons, The board of trustees are members
of St. John's Episcopal Church, and
tbe rector of the church Is warden of
the Institution. The Superintendent
is Hlster Surah,
Religious services are held three
times a day and are according to the
forms of the Protestant Episcopal
Church. The warden being much oc
cupied with other affairs, other Kp't.
copal clcrgyment are frequently se
cured to hold special service on Hun
day, on effort Is made to prepare the
children for reception of the sacra
ments of baptism, communion, and
confirmation In the Episcopal Church,
House of the OoodfJhepherd. -At this
institution Inmates rise at 6 a. m.
1 hey have prayers and moss before
breakfast for half to three-quarter of
an hour. t 6 p. m, they assemble In
class rooms and have selected readings
for a half hour. From 6:80 to about
6:i6 they study and recite catechism.
From 7:30 to 8 p. m. they have pray
ers. The catechism In use Is one tiro
pured and enjoined by the third ple
nary council of Ilaltlmor'" ind pub
lished by ecclesiastical authority. All
forms of worship are those of the Ro
man Catholic Church.
The Sisters of the Good Shepherd
say that teaching (meaning secular
teaculng) is not port of the voca'lon,
and tbe Inmates of the "Penitent" i
are r (i I ,t u. i,.iim in l
!- f !.. Hi II ! Mi tf
tH et !nf.n ! l
ii
. himA t .!.. ti t t-4 !! ii l l
It-" rilt.. ' ! ., In t .l
"t ! ! lt!1l' U U 'M S
U t,'t in Mtt it I tl t I n'
j l'-- t'ti -1. . f.ttuttn Ms
!,.!.) ljtV, tHlut HHitll
H ! lb H n't r
(ijiilil ! 1'itituilli I lt- f tra in,
ItMi hells I i - , i rli 1 1 , ati.t lf
an-! 1'iil t Ki Hlim lie w ivn I
(l III Ih !.. Iflllj llic mli'lir.) -li.
t fe In IM repoit.
At PI lli'sfd Iti'lit-li ll 8 htxd (lit
r.liH ntliitiHl stvAtilsKi an f t tit
ly a l boiim' wilti tf viil lo
ftuily aiiil riM Itiiiinn lUily.
A hue variety f luniks of mtil.n
IiikImh (Ion aie itted, sntotig hih
ttro Holmes' Kihncl ltcmlers; F.lcnten-
I lury I'li llii', by KcIIukk; Mi(i leH
of Our Coiintry; Ameilcan lllt.t,n
Htoi ltM, fiotu llie I'.iltii ntlimul I'tiblhll
InK t'ottipany, of HoHton; AtnbTitiu's
introductory 1 1 In! i ; ('iinipinil b
Ki'Utlliig Slid Dli'talluu I'xei'clscM, fit' I
Mrs. Lincoln's Cookbook.
The sinter In charge of the U.ol
work apiteMrs to be a numt capublo
woman, end her account of It woul I
lend one to the expectation that iin-h
would be accompllNhed In this lino In
a short time.
Religious Instruction Is given dally
In various services or exercises, us
ing the forms and ceremonies of tlio
Roinuu Catholic Church. The girl
attend tuuHs In the ItiMtltullon on Huu
diiy. I asked us to the ealecblsm toted
Bud taught, and tlio sister replied that
It was oue adopted by the plenary
council of llultlmore.
St. JoncphV Male Orphan Asyium.
This Institution Is administered by
the SlHters of Charity, lis bourd of
trustees being a private corporation.
The school conducted for cbl'd tn
who are Inmates of the institution Is
very poorly supplied with books and
such accessories of a modern school
room as are usually considered csson
tlul. The series of renders In use Is Sad
ller's Exeeltdor Series. The woik Is
nioxtly primary, extending only to
the simplest combinations of numbers,
and such language lessons as would
find their counterpart !n the third j
grude of the city schools. The toadi-
Init is mertiiirilcul nnd shows lack of
profCHlonal training.
In what Is culled the "duy school, '
that Is tbe school, which Is coiiducto l
for children residing at homo and pay
Ing tuition, the rooms are much better
furnished and better supplied, I am
informed that the children who attend
this school do not receive supplies
purchased from the funds of the In
stltutlon; so that the only part of It
maintenance to which the Oovernment
contributes Is the support of the sis
ters who teuch and the expense of
keeping tbe rooms warm and fit for
school purposes,
One of the best rooms In the Institu
tion Is fitted up as a chapel, having
the usual means of Impressing relig
ions lessons, such as an altar, images,
crucifix, pictures, lighted candles, tc,
All children are bnptlxed upon re
ception unless that matter has re
ceived attention before. All are to
gether in classes Instructed In the cut
eehism, doctrines, and forms of wor
ship of the Roman Catholic Church.
If the parents or relatives of any chil
dren object to their recelvlg such in
struction, the children may sit qtilat
ly in the cIuhs without taking part,
and are not given the usual special
preparation for confirmation and the
reception of the first communion.
No standard of secular education
has been established to which all who
are capable must attain before they
are eligible for transfer to family
homes or other Institutions, hut ..11
nust be prepared for end receive con
firmation and communion, except
those found incapable or In regard to
whom objection Is made by parents,
The school readers adopted and usd
In the House of the Good Shepherd
and St, Joseph's Orphan Asylum are
Bailor's Excelsior Cat hollo Series,
The title page announces that thoy
are by a "Catholic teacher." The ioI
lowlng Is w.e Initial statement from
the preface of the Third Reader of
this Scries:
Surely no period of human life Is
more interesting and critical than that
in which observation and study first
exert their modifying Influences upon
the pure and ready fnlth of dawning
youth. It has neon faithfully said
that "the ml ml of the child Is like
wax to receive Impressions, but Uk.
marble to retain them." Hence it Is
essential that during this placid per
iod religious Instruction be frequently
and attractively presented; that thus
the earliest impressions may also be
the most beneficial. This principle
Continued on page 8
ITIPOSITION ON
TEAH OWNERS
Because of a Honopoly Voted by the
City Council toflcDonald they Can
not Haul Their
The Supreme Court Seems to he Pl.yiiui Very
Poor Politics-Will it
of the Office of Mayor
porationsAn Omaha
Thoc seems to be a very unsatisfac
tory state of tbltiKs In Omaha with re
liitlun to (he disposition of garbngo
The council bus entered Into it contract
with Alexander McDonald f n a term
of years which gives that gentleman
a monopoly and the city has undertak
en to protect him In his enterprise
I'nrter the garbage ordinance no ne
has the right to dispose of nor even
bun I his own gurbiige to the authorized
dumping ground, but h tmiHi notify
the contractor and pay him for the
hnullng as well as the "dumping" In
the river or on the cars to be hauled
a few miles Into the counirv where
It Is burned In the open ground by
slow fires. There are hundred of men
living In Omaha who keep horses ind
do hauling for a living wh.i ought to
have the right to haul their own ma
nure at least to the city "dump," but
they are deprived of that right and
their tesms must remain idle wl.lle
they are compelled to pay for Its re-
moval. We know of one gentleman
, I . mi.,.. ,.i ,nm in
who employs a number of (reran In
express and moving work In the city
uh. i, compelled to pny m blg'i us
$i;8.00 a year for removing the monnr
from his bams while his teams rermtln
Idle In his barns, This Is a hardship
which ought to be corrected . once,
There Is no one responsible for iMs
except the mayor and city council. The
dully newspapers of the ( My have lieen
silent, and but few of our citizens knew
the real condition of things. Spotters
dally throng the city looking for "In
fringements" on the MclKmald con
tract, and when an offender Is found
he Is promptly arrested and taken If
forTthe police court and fined and the
expense thus Incurred amounts to more
than tbe cost of the servbe when per
formed It the contractor: and In this
way the latter is protected In his iro
nopoly while the cltlxen and taxpayer
must suffer.
With the organlxatlon of the new
board of education there Is liable to be
an effort made to correct Ihe abuses
In the awarding of contracts for school
supplies which has been In vogue In that
body for several years It Is evident
from the way the people spoke in the
primaries preceding the recent elec
tion that they expect better things
from their representatives In that body,
There ought to be a thorough house
cleaning, No man Is titled to a life
tenure of office as secretary of the
board or as superintendent of build
ings, and It Is now time for those gen
tlemen to step down and out and make
room for other equally If not more ca
pable men, The reported connetbon
of the present secretary with several
questionable transactions of the board
do not lend lustre to his ability as a
public servant and the people are tired
of having their employes consort with
contractors and others who are Intent
upon robbing the taxpayers, whose In
terests they are paid to protect, Th
secretary I not alone blamoble; but
the superintendent of buildings Is also
entitled to his share In tho condemna
tion of the people. We do not Intend to
particularize at this time, but merely
speak of these things In order that the
new members may acquaint themselves
before the time comes to act.
In the campaign of 1M7 It was com
mon report that the American Hook
Own Garbage.
Deprive W. J TiroMcd
to Please Certain Cor
'Momo Pule" Scheme.
roiiip.iny was fooling Out rniiipnigu ex
penses for various rnndldutif for mem
bers of the hoard of education, suit tbe
agents of that company have sine? that
time In en lavish In the line of money
In vii rliiiiM ways In win favors from the
hoard. Hiniijuets have been given and
It Is said presents bestowed snd ms a
result the Amerlinn Hook comnsny
liove received a fnl contrail from the
Isiard which if allowed to stand w ill re
sult In fleecing the taxpayers and loot
ing the school fund. That this Is In
direct bribery the people will readily
understand. In this way the n:cm!;crs
who voted for that contract have be
come directly Interested. With refer
ence to mcmlicrs becoming directly or
Indirectly Interested In contracts for
supplies the extract from tbe report
of the grand Jury of 18U2 published
In this paper last week, Is pertinent
and timely. It said:
"We nre advised that this Is Illegal,
though not Indictable, aa the law pro
vides no penalty In such rases. Hut M
should not rcoulre PcnoJ clause to
prevent members from violating the
law. The position of members of that
body Is purely honorable, without the
slightest emolument. Every member,
by renson of his ofllce, Is a prominent
character In the minds of the children
! nd Ihelr parents throughout the city
i Jf wnU.m ,h, irfM.I)t f
. obedience to law while the child does
nor nsve to iook oinsiun me nony
whli It controls nl dally tnimtiU M
find eiatntiles of viols tlon of Uv.
Members of Ihe board who wish to con
tract with that body should reslien
their positions, snd we commend the
subject of a revision of the law to Ihe
legislature."
From this It Is plainly seen that tint
school laws are sadly In need o' revis
ion and It is the duty of our legislators
to pnss laws that will speedily correct
these abuses and mete out proper pun
ishment to violators.
There Is said to be a move on fot
to give Omaha a new charter fash
ioned after the "home rule" idea. The
people are thoroughly disgusted with
the manipulations of the t harter.which
have been carried on for years and
will gladly welcome anything which
has a semblance of honesty of pur
pose. The custom of giving tbe mayor
the appointive power of the heads of
various departments will not be ac
ceptable to the people, as they elve
they have the right to elect whom they
wleh.and this should not lie overlooked
In making the new charter. The fire
and police board, board of public
works, engineer, attorney, park board
and the head of every other depart
ment should be elected by the people,
If they are to have "home rule," thy
want U In the broadest pisslble seric,
The supreme court In ordering a re-
hearing in the llrontch-Moorcs rase
on Thursdsy of last week ral!1 for
argument on the question as lo wheth
er Mr. Hroetrh was the rlxhlful suc
cessor of Moores or not. The point in
volved Is purely a technical one, suTIs
supposed to have been disposed of by
the decision already rendered, during
the progress of the case through the
supreme coiiiO. When the final decis
ion was made the people of this diy
breathed relief, and the re-openlng of
the rose at this time wilt be a llsip
point ment to the people who have been
In a state of suspense under tb rule
of a convicted defaulter for eighteen
mimths.
The court already Intlmstej that Mr.
Moores cannot hold the office, and Out
tbe only question now open Is as to
who shall m his successor. At most
the only comfort which Mooren csn
get from the ruling is the privilege
of holding possession of an office which
he was never qualified to hold until the
court shall pass upon this last point
Hut even this may serve the purport of
certain corporations wlio know that
Mr. Hrostch's reinstatement v, III loose
their grip on Omaha's city government.
M a in m k it i i.ivN'
X '! ( . . ti . 'I :. - t t t
llt'l) '! It t llnlt
UM N ft II,.. It. i JU,
' l tti, (I II.Ml.tn. M, H
" ei'M rxfc.tl'r e illr. ,4
l in (I " hllt.le r. t ( ml nf
a h-,.h -, ( ho i i nit
iiMl.l on tW r It It. rlui t.
f llil- lt-tl . I'nUi.,!! I i h !,, Cu
tis M Ihe l'!tH e!t- Me ;...d
I t i m It, 1 1, in n ill Ki,. i , ' t (
U.I Mulit ttt ,.fill (.f bU Vu'elti.-fiW.
m!"ljt t Hip p. six Ciii
Ii. ni Ihn ! of ti ni iitui' t. bfii
liml.t Sllttixiith tie li.l lold their
n ie in, i to timlt t r'ulton ll -e
linnl si Ulmp lid-, s Inlnlns tl'lU
littir Hilti, l.iBt lilslit, Nittily eutif
loiil lnlller l a ChMii.Mi i iii !
fieietfil t,ilein til l hlib (lie t'liili
idle tmK ii(T ne, mih .m s jirtie, not
In fe Ht thelu. 1, peei-; tied, A It'll
nn luiiiiliieiil Slid the sillhorllles un l
ed (hp lerliirn slriiil)',
An i iiltoli left lliu bull a knot of
inltii-is liemm i) pelt lillli With lilllipit
of coul. He fled Slid Was hotly pur
sued. He kiis struck In the bm k and
on the h"nd by pines or conl, knocked
down and painfully brulied, tfoimi
()ninseiiiin who tried to protect him
were seHtleied by Ihe molt, tin flimily
niillwiKeil to em iipo to Ills hotel, Wlo f
his hurts were dresNwl by a physician,
He leaves Hydney si. once.
TO All) ROMIfl,
In the senste of tho United States,
iH'ceitiber 7. 1HIIH, Mr. Tettus Intro
duced the following bill; which wiu
read twice and referred to the commit--tee
on the Hlslrlct of Columbia :
A Hill exempting church and other
property situated in tho Hlstrict of
Columbia from taxation and assess
ment, and for other purposes. He it
enacted by the senate and house of
representatives of the I'nlted Btatee
of America In congress assembled, that
from and after the passage of this Act
all churches and sclusil houses, and all
buildings, grounds, and property ap
purtenant thereto and used In con
lint Ion 1 1n v-e wlili, and all grounds
owned by any religious denomination,
society, or church, and held for the
purpose of i ni t lug church buildings
or bonnes for places of pub) In rellg'oua
worship In the IMstrlet of Columbia,
shall be exempt from any and all tuxes
and iisst-sHiiii-nts, national and munlcl
psl. . , ,
( Kectloii 2, That so much of the Act
of Congress npproved August seventh,
eighteen hundred iwid ninety-four, en
titled "An Act msklng appropriations
to provide for the expenses of the gov
ernment of the District of Columbia,
for the fiscal year ending June thirti
eth, eighteen hundred and nluety-flve,
and for other purposes," as has been
construed lo repeal prior Acts of Con
gress exempting church property from
assessment for special Improvement
where such property abuts tbe im
provement be, and the same Is hereby
repealed; and the Commoxslonere of
the District of Columbia be, and they
hereby re, authortxed and required to
refund to the trustees or other proper
officers of any church or tburchne
which paid such assessments as may
have been smsessed against the prop
erty of such church or churches for
the Improvement of streets or alleys
upon which fhe property of such
chimb or "hurches may abut
Ol'K KIUKNDB AIUS ANHWKRINO.
Morris, III., Dec. 13, is!). American
publishing Co. -Gentlemen: Please
find enclosed money order for $2.00 for
American for !W!. Please send last
week's paper, Yours respectfully,
K. S.
Chicago, IW, 12, IH'JH. American
Publishing Co., Omaha, Nob. -Gents:
FmeloMCd please find a money order
lir 2.00, being fir a year's oubscrlp
tton of The American in advance..
Yours Respectfully, E. S.
Omaha, Neb , Dee, 10, ISM. Krieuil
Thompson: Kncloeed find $2, being
my subscription for "American" for
im. I trust you will have a prompt
renewal from many, It to most Impor
tant that we have a foarloHS, outspoken
champion of truth and freedom, and
this part of the central wt can con
gratulate itself upon having that In
The American- Wishing you pros
perous New Year and the compliment
of the season, Yours truly, II. R. II.
t e
San Pedro, Cl Dee. 8, lJ'H. Amer
ican Publlshtaig Co.: Tblr.klng my sub
scription to The Amerlesa must be
nearly out and as I don't went to miss
one of the pupe-s that I think so much
of reading, I herewith mall you two
dollars for my next years' subscrip
tion. FSvcn If It could be had later
on for less money I don't begrudge the
two dollars, as I think the paper le
worth more than that to any one that
(Continued on Page 4 )
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