The New York Herald Newspaper, December 23, 1875, Page 5

| Okr- ve tae Continued Excitement Over the Or- der of American Union. INDIGNATION OF PROTESTANT CITIZENS. More Interviews with Leading Members of the Order. DENYING WHILE ADMITTING. Pend The Mode of Trying and Punishing Offend- ing Members. THE RULES OF ORDER It was bat natural to suppose that the revelations contained in Tuesday’s and yesterday’s Henan, with regard to the O, A. U. secret society, would not only Produce a great sensation among the public, but also create a considerable flutter among the members of the society itself It is not often that the journalistic bunter comes upon sich a quarry as this, Among the covey flushed by the Heratp sportsmen was the Chiet Magistrate of the United States, Postmaster Jewell and several minor notabilities. The consequence was that Defore noon on Tuesday people were buttonholing one another all over the city, and asking whether the thing rit and letter of their have been a civil war in obligations, this land. I bel ost solemnly that the first gun it's iaeiahag' er he Ga at Sumy was fred at the bi hier y of the South. But we will not be slaves in this country ; we are ali freemen and mean to exercise our rights as such, not as politicians or barga! but in that spirit of patriotic duty which becomes ry onde “orig if inutely from Mr. Munn as e reporter inquired minut ‘om Mr. ‘ to the method Sopond So used hy the Order of the American Dalen so sepek the advances of Catholicity, but did not elicit anything definite. In response to the question as to whether the members of the Union con- fined themselves exclusively to the subject of the schools, Mr. Munn admitted that they did not. Our meetings, said Mr. Munn, are just like those of a debat- ing society. When the Catholics start anything in their attempt to gain an ascendancy, we discuss it among ourselves, and it we find in it anything tendin, to aggression we propose tnéasures to meet the dif- fieulty. The veperter, then showed to Mr, Munn the manner in which the grip was given by members, but that gen- tles persisted in denying Vhat there was any such thing as a grip at all in connection with the organiza- tion, The most that Mr. Munn would say was that the initiation was much the same as in other secret organizations. He thought that there were about 8,000 members of the “0. A. U.” in this city. members acted up to the there never wou! DR, NEWTON, SPEAKER OF THE* LEGISLATURE. The reporter uext called on Dr, Robert Newton, of No, 137 West Forty-seventh sti wthe President or Speaker of the New York Legisfayure “0. A’ U.,” a different style of man altogether from Brother Munn, Dr. Newton, as is well known, has been very actively engaged for some time past !n advancing the interests ofthe American Common School League, and wasa prominent speaker at the church meetings which have been held inyghis city. When Dr. Newton was asked about the “0. A. U,’ he at once admitted the existence of the organization, but limited the sphere of its opera- tions to the school controversy, and to its benevolent obligations to members and-others, The Order, he said, is a very old one, probably dating back some sev- enteen years. Like the Order of United Americans and some other kindred organizations which have sprupg up from time to time its purposes are purely patriotic. There is no intention to make war on any sect or creed, nor is there any attempt to be made to bring on a social or political warfare in this or any other community. The members are neither opposed to Catholics nor to any professing Christian on account ot difference of re- could possibly be true. They were anxious to have some further corroborative evidence, and to this the Herazn, as induty bound treated them yesterday, This addi- tional and unexpected supply of information had the effect of thoroughly convincing everybody in regard to the intent ana purposes of the organization, Even the least discerning of the gentlemen who mean so kindly toward their Catholic fellow countrymen must have seen the very awkward position in which the society was placed by the Heratp’s exposure. So many of them, to use a sporting phrase, “harked back,” de- nied the secrecy of the organization, denied its anti-pa- pist tendencies, denied the accuracy of the constitution printed by the Heratp, and gyrated in a universal denial of everything. There was much boldness in these tactics, but those who run their head up against facts butt against very hard things, Perhaps the most ‘important § denial was that which involved the accuracy of the constity- tion of the society. It will be but sorry consolation to these patriotic protestors to know that the Herat is obliged to inform them that the copy of their constitu- tion was printed from an original copy of the constitu- tion, verbatim, commatim, semicolatim and periodatim, To say that the Heratp’s reproduction is inaccurate is pur@childishness, for the pamphlet was given our com- positors, cover and all, and there were of course no in- terpolations, for the yery good reason that the docu ment was bad and wicked enough as it stood, But further than this the readers of the Hera have the promise of some real fun in the correspondenco which is beginning to flow in. The tone of these com- munications is varied, as will be seen from the letters given herewith, and there is little dogbt that before the holidays are over the general public will havea great deal of entertainment. How the dignitaries of the United States involved in this business feel is quite another matter, Itis quite evident that the exposure of this secret anti-Papist organization has had the natural effect of disgusting all Protestants who believe in the liberty of the human cowscience as provided for in the constitution of the United States. This large. influential class of our citizens, holding, as they do, tho Valance of power in our political organizations, will, it as quite certain, act with decision at the polls on any future election, for the purpose of defeating the ne- farious design and aims of this 0, A. U. Society. Their love for the jnstitutions of the country, whether they be uative born or adopted citizens of the United States, will no doubt cause all fair dealing and fair minded Prot- estants to set their faces strongly against any secret society organized to proscribe men because of their faith, SENATOR MUNN. It was with no little difficulty that Mr. Munn, said to be State Deputy and Senator ol the organization, was found. The Manhattan Gas Company is well scattered over the city, and it was inone of the workshops of that company, at the foot of West Eighteenth street, tbat Mr. Munn was discovered, the Heranp reporter baving traced him from the office in Irving place. Mr. Munn is a gentleman seventy years of age, but does not look to be more than fifty, When the Hxratp re- porter inade known to him that he desired some infor- mation about the organization known as the Order of the American Union Mr. Munn expressed his mability to comply with the request, for the reason that he was not an official of the Order, being merely a simple mem- ver, and neither a State Deputy nor a Senator. “Did you read the Hrratp of Tuesday?” ‘Yes,’ answered Mr. Munn; “I did, and it is just the same as it was with the Know Nothing organization und ali other secret organizations inteaded to do good. The newspapers get hold of an idea and then go on to talk about it, not knowing.anything about the real facts pi the case. 1 bave never yet seen a single thing writ- ten about the Masonic Society, or the Odd Feliows, the Order of United Americaus, or the Order of the United American Mechanics, especially of the Masons or Odd | Fellows, which in the least Lb any of their wecrets or their method of working. Kuow Nothingism was destroyed by the politicians, but it would be rather aifficult thing now for a politician to get admission into the Order of American Mechanics. Now, as to the Order of the American Union, 80 far as 1 know, it is a benevolent organization, whose object is vo protect American institutions as they are and not allow them to be tampered with, Ofcourse the schools are an american institution, and we will strugelo with might and main to preserve them as they have been handed down to us. “Is the difficulty the retention of the Bible in the schools?” “My dear sir, when we found an effort being made to lake the Bible out of the schools we knew at unce what was coming. That would be, had the Catholic hierarchy succeeded, merely the entering wedge. The Catholic pricsts wanted, and still want, to get control of the teaching of our youth. We are resolved that they shall not, We bave no unfriendliness in the world against our Catholic brethren, I am datly associated with Catholics, and | esteem them and they esteem me. We do not wish to interfere with them inthe practise of their religious worship. But you must remember that they ought to take things as they found them. This is a Protestant country and was when our forefathers founded it. When our Catholic brethren came hero from Europe we opéned our arms to them and received them with welcome; opened our schools and they were glad to enter them. ' Fifty years ago when | was going ‘0 echool I had Roman Catholics for my school fellows, We never clashed, and yet the Bible was in the schoois then, Why should the Catholics seek now to throw it out’ Is it not plain that there is some occult purpose which is not explained and which cannot be explained except on the theory that the Church of Rome wants to gain ascendancy over our school system? That we will bever permit. I notice and other Americans notice that this attempt on the part of the Church of Rome has deen made just at the time when European governments have been’ successfully fighting against the connection between Church and State, We are resolved upon hav- ing no union between the State and any religious de- nomination whatever. We will not have bere tho ecenes of persecution which occurred in the old countries and which drove our forefathers hither to seek a home, Look at the countries in which the schools are at the present moment under politico-religions —domina- tion, and then look atour schoolsat home, These ‘schools are superior to any form of public education in the world. A leading object of the Order of the Ameri, ‘can Union Is to mhintain them intact, to preserve them for our children as we ourselves found them, and to and them down to posterity as a national inheritance, ” “T notice in the published statement that there is considerable hostility manifested toward Catholics tn -the initiatory formula of the organization,” said the | ortery uh ‘0 far as Tam personally concerned, “T bave never heard anything at all lik sented,”’ is there not an implied agreement of hostility toward Catholic citizens in matiers social and polit. | cal??? “Not in the least. I have never heard of any such thing. The farthest we go is to promise to prowot our American {nstitutions against all aggression from Rome or anywhere else, for we believe them to be the best and grandest in the world. At the same time, #0 far as 1 am personally concerned, I believe that the Church of Rome would subdue us to its ways if it could. 1 am persuaded that that Church hi within rasp the influence of the politicians, and that it eds a determined stand to stop at the very threshold this advance,upon the schools. Had the old Order of said Mr, Munn, © what i repre- Know Notbines never been broken uo, apd had ie ligious views, nor have they, as a body, the slightest ill- will toward Roman Catholics, and least of all would they oppose the right of the latter toa free and un- restricted practice of their religion. But one thing they are resolved upon—the Bible must be retained in the public schools, If the Roman Catholic hierarchy choose to raise ® question upon this point no one wil dispute their right to do so. The Catholic priests have the right, if they can do 60, to carry their point in regar to the school question; for, it is their business to advance, as seems best to them, the interests of the religion they profess, and that is just what they are doing. But remember that the Catholics in this entire country aumber only 5,000,000, while the, Protestants of all denominations number about 45,000,000, Now the question is a very simple one and does not possess such gigantic pre ope jons and dangers as at first mig) be dpa The difficulty is an old one, but has been much exaggerated, for it is plain that five cannot control and command forty-five in a matter of such great interest to all the people, “But,” said the reporter, “there seems to have been asturdy fight going on and something of a scare.” “It is true that there has been much anxiety; but it ‘was only needed to arouse the attention of the eapie to the subject in order to maintain the long established custom of having the Bible in the schools. I speak of what I know when I tell you that the Bible wijl remain in the schools of this country beyond ail doubt. I know that at this moment such are the influences which are at work, ready for immediate action, that the very first serious demand by the Catholic authori- ties for the abolition of this revered association of our school system as it has come down to us, that the re- sults might be very serious and tobe deplored. Ono thing you may rely upon, I repeat, is that the Bible will be retained in the public schools of this country, The people will demand this at all hazards,” . “It is said, Doctor,” inquired the reporter, “that President Grant is a member of the ‘O, A. U?’’” “I am in a position to be able to deny that emphati- cally. The President is not a member of the orguniza- tion. But he is sound on the school question. ie be- lieves that the Bible ought to be in every school in the land, in accordance with the custom which has pre- yailed ever since the common school system was estab- ishe “Do you think the school question is to be mixed up with the third term ?’? “lam si I don’t know, but Grant will fight it out if he goes into the battle in favor of the Bible in the schools, beyond all question,” “‘It is also said that ex-Speaker Blaine is a member of the organization, ? “Why, that is too funny. Blaine is the ablest Speaker, perhaps, 4he country has ever had. He is one of the astutest politicians and would not dream of joining such an organization at a time eo critical to his political fortunes. No, Mr. Blaine {s not a member.”? “What do you think, Doctor, of these statements in the ritual of the Order which contain so much bitter- ness toward Roman Hares bagi “Oh, that’s a mistake. 6 organization is almost solely devoted to the question of the Bible in the pub- lic schools, and there is no more feeling in the whole matter than to prevent any tampering with the tusti- tution of our schools as it has come down to us, That secured, there is no bigotry. I may also add that in regard to the meetings of the Order there is really very little secrecy. Our meetings are held in a room in Livingston place.” BENJAMIN ¥F, POWELL. Mr, Benjamin F. Powell, Assistant United States Ap- praiser, residing at No. 447 Grand street, who was re- corded as being the President of Columbia Council, No. 18, which meets at No, 117 Broome street every Friday, was next visited, Mr, Powell was asked by the reporter concerning the organization called “0. A. U.,” when he suid he knew nothing about itand never was a member of it and would not be a member of any organization which. would mix politics and religion together. RerortkR—Do you not belong to any organization of this kind? Mr. Powxtt—The only organization I belong to, the ‘principles of which appertain in any way to the organ- ization we are speaking of, 18 the “Common School League.” So far as that is-concerned I am in full sym- pathy with the “0, A. but I do not believe in bringing the third term movement into any organiza- tion of this kind. I belong to five or six organizations, politicat otherwise, but I did not know anything about the “Order of American Union” untill saw my name in the Herat. EX-GOVERNOR MINOR, OF CONNECTICUT, ON THE PRINCIPLES OF THE ORDER AS DEVELOPED BY THE HERALD EXPOSE—THEY HAVE HIS HEARTY COMMENDATION. Stamrorp, Dec 22, 1875. Hon. W. T. Minor, ex-Governor of Connecticut, at a personal interview to-day, sald that his attention had been directed to the Heratp’s article of Tuesday relat ing to the Order of the American Union, so called. , He bas read the Hsna.p’s reports on the subject with some care, and from them he finds that the two distinctive PRINCIPLES OF THR ORDER appear to be—first, inflexible opposition to the union of Ciurch and State in any degree, and, second, deter- mined opposition to any sectarian interference with our American common schools, come from what quar- ter it may. These principles have his hearty commendation, whether held by an organized Order or not. They should be so dear to every American citizen and ould so predominate in our Republic as to require no secret associations for their propagation and defence. He warmly indorsed Grant's Des Moines speech, and said it struck THB KEY NOTE of a public sentiment which the enemies of our com- mon schools will be compelled to respect. He believed in the principles of religions liberty to the fullest ex- tent, and the law—the State—should know no differ. ence in holding {ts protecting hand overevery des nomination alike, but our American: ‘ SYSTEM OF POPULAR RDUCATION is essential to the permanence of our form of govern- ment, and must maintained at all hazards. The principle of absolute divorcement between Church and State is hardly less nrg Speen | and no infringement upon it by any sect can be permitted, If to maintain and defend these principles is the object of the U. A. U., dhen, go far, he is in entire harmony with it COMMENTS OF THE PITTSBURG, PA., THE ORDER, Pirtsscre, Dec, 22, 1875. Most all of the public journals im this city to-day com- ment on the ventilation of the doings of the American Union by the Heray. The Leader says:— That there has been and is a concerted effort to create an anti-Catholic excitement as a political issae cannot well be denied. A simultaneous agitation of the Bible in the school question; stories of Catholic plots; the alleged attempts of Catholics to obtain contro! o! the school funds; the President’s Des Moines speech; the Methodist Bishop Haven’s prayer for the renomi- nation of Grant as the only means of assuring public gatety, and, finally, the published letter of John T. Foster to Speaker Blaine, telling him that he ought to join the anti-Catholic Order—all these things do seem to point to the existence of a widely ramiued secret Order of this sort, ‘Tho Catholic Journal says of this Order:— What a sad commentary on the centennary of the United States’ independence! 1 is difficult, from the tenor and spirit of the project, to imagine that we on- joy any more stable conditions than the South Ameri- can republics, ‘The Dispatch say: Secret organizations of such sort as this mentioned by the Hrrap are so manifestly repugnant to the spirit of American institutions that they can never succeed in doing anything else than bringing contumely upon the persons who may choose to identify themselves with them. Liberty of conscience, I hed what spiritual Gith man may please, is one of the fundamental princi- PRESS ON | ples, the very corner stone, Indeed, upon which our Bational structure rests. TRIALS AND PUNISHMENTS. In the legislative constitution of the 0. A. U., pub- lished on Tuesday, certain portions were omitted. In artice 17 the mode of trial for offending members is laid down, together with the punishments to be awarded, but the latter are ambiguously stated. For instance, section 3 reads that:— When charges have been preferred against a brother, in proper manner, if received, the case shall be referred to a special committee, who shall, with as little delay as Possible, summon the parties to appear before them, with their proofs and witnesses, The committee shall keep full minutes of the evidence and their proceedings and rt the same, with their decision on the charges. Should such d jon be one of acquittal it shall be final. Should the decision be one of conviction the committee Shall also determine what punishment to recommend and submit a resolution for that purpose, In section 4 we find it provided that:— When the committee shail have reported adversely to the accused the body offended against shall dx atime at which to take final action in the matter, of which time ample notice shall be given to the accused and all the members of thatbody. At the time appointed the body offended against may proceed to consider the mat- ter, whether the accused be present or not; if be be preyat when the vote on the subject is taken he shall e requested to retire, The trial being over in star chamber style, this re- ligious court martial is authorized by section 5: To consider the report and recommendation or reso- Jntion of the committee, provided tor by section 3, it shall determine the question :—‘Will the con- cur in the report of the committee?” Should the question be sustained by a here irgt of the member present, itghall be adopted and the penalty enforced; ut should the recommendation of the committee not be approved by the Legislature, if the trial in the first instance should be had in that body, the committee may appeal to the Senate, and to the State Executive Committee or the Legislature, if trial be first had in a council, : By section 6 ‘‘any brother” feeling aggrieved by the decision can appeal to the next higher body in the Order, But if he refuses or neglects to stand trial when summoued section 7 provides that:— The committee shall summon the accused a second time, and if he still fail to appear the committee shall report him guilty of contempt of tbe body, which report shall be conclusive, and the punishment sball be expulsion, and in case the brother preferring the charge, when duly notified of the time and place of the meeting of the committee, shall fail or decline to ap- pe the case may be referred by the committee to the Xecutive Committee of the Legislature for such action in the premises as shall in their judgment be deemed for the best interest of the Order, without prejudice to either party. In section 3 we find that when a member (or, as they term it, brother’) prefers charges which he is unable to prove, or fails to appear and prosecute, the commit. toe shall decide and report on the case, and, “if their Teport be adverse to the accuser, the body offended against shalt inflict punishment according to the enormity Of the offence.” This is very ambiguous, for it is not stated what kind of punishment is to be inflicted. It might be a good flogging or even a shameful death, In order to show how complete the organization is it will be only necessary to give the text of the following articles in the constitution, omitted yesterday :— ARTICLE XVIII. REPORTS, Srction 1—Each Council in this State shall, on the first days of January, April, July and October, in each me make and transmit to the Secretary of the Legis- lature a report showing the number of candidates admitted to membership within the preceding three months, the number of members on its rolls, and also any change of officers or delegates, or of the time or place of meeting of said Council, together with such other information as may be desired. And a like report shall also be made to the County Deputy, who shall in return report to the State Deputy. Sxc. 2.—It shall be the duty of the Secretary of each Council, within ten days after the annual election of officers, to report the same, together with the residence or address of each officer elected, to the Secretary of op any question in the event of which be is directly in- terested; or in any case where be was not present when the question was put. 12, Every member who shall be present when a ques- tion is put shall give bis vote unless the Legisiature, | for special reason, shall excuse him. 13, No motion sha!! be debated until the same shall be seconded and stated from the Chair; and when a motion shall be made and seconded it sball be reduced to writing, if desired by the Speaker or any member, before the same shal! be debated, 14. After @ motion has been stated by the Speaker it shall be tn possession of the Legislature, but may be withdrawn at any time before an amendment, 16. When any question is under debate no motion shall be received but, first, to adjourn; second, to lay on the table; third, for the previous question; fourth, to postpone indefinitely; fifth, to postpone toa day certain; aixth to commit, and qeveuth 4a amend; which several motions shall have precedence in the order in which they are arranged. Motions to adjourn and to lay on the table shall be decided without debate, In Biling blanks, in any motion, the longest time and the largest number or amount shall be put first. Mo- tion for adjournment shall always be in order, except while a member may have the fluor and is speaking. 16. The Speaker shall put the previous question in the following form:—‘‘Shull the main question be now put??? ana all debate upon the main question shall be Suspended until the previous question has been de- cided. One-fifth of the members present shall be nec- essary to order the previous question, After the adoption of the previous question the sense of the Legislature shall forthwith be taken upon pending amendments in their regular order, and then upon the main question, 17. All incidental questions of order arising after a motion for the previous question shall be decided with- out debate, except on appeal, and on such appeal ne member shall be allowed to speak more than once with- out leave of the Legisiature. 18, If the previous question is decided in the nega. tive It shall not be again in order until after an adjourn- ment, but the main question shall be left before the Legislature, and disposed of as though the previous question had not been put. 19. When a question is postponed indefinitely the same shall not be acted upon during the session. 20. Any member may call for a division of the ques tion when the sense will admit of it, 21, A motion for commitment, until it Is decided, shall preclude all amendment to the main question) and all motions and reports may be committed at the pleasure of the Legisiature, 22. No new motion shall be admitted, tinder color of amendmen, a @ Substitute for the motion under de- ate. 23. No vote shall be reconsidered, unless the motion for reconsideration be made by a member who voted with the majority, nor unless on the same say on which the vole passed, or on the next day on whic! the Legislature shall be in session. 24. When the reading of a paper is called for, and ob- jected to by any member, {t shall be determined by a vote of the Legislature, and without debate, 25. The Legislature may resolve itself into a commit- tee of the whole at any time, on motion made for that purpose; and, in forining @.committee of the whole, the Speaker shall leave the chair, and appoint a chair man to preside in committee, THE SECRET CIRCULAR, New York, Dec. 22, 1875, To tHe Epitor or THe Heranp:— Thave read your exhaustive expos? of the secret so- ciety known, now, as the “Order of the American Union,” and I have read the particulars and facts gath- ered by Aid reporters with great interest. I am neither a Romanist nor an anti-Romanist. I consider the existence of any such organization as the one ex- posed a public misfortune, I have as a private citizen mingled to some extent with bigoted and stubborn Protestants, imbued with a fierce hatred of their Catholic brétnren, and have gleaned from such inter- course that it is a set purpose to attempt the organiza- tion in this city and in other cities throughout the country of another and more bitter Know Nothing party to take the place of the defunct organization of that name, These people are not, however, to be con- founded with the large body ot intelligent and thinking Protestants who can and do exercise @ spirit of tolera- tion, and who are not, I believe, prepared to condemn any form of religion because not in direct harmony with their own peculiar ideas. They are simply fanatics, The following circular, which has been extensively distributed among those upon whose silence and zeal in the ‘good cause” entire dependence could be placed, speaks for itself:— CONFIDENTIAL, Dean Sin—In view of the intolerant, persistent, aggres THE OFFICIAL HEAD TO NOTE PAPER. The following is a fac simile of the printed heading used on the official paper of the Order. It is printed on ordinary note paper and ruled :— Cnsrshenaniartocnepreniabeicrenseopietparichiedantbapshenlaeneanipraetones eiensoesesiootesepeelionencieten Pegislature of New {Jork, 4). A. a. SECRETARY'S OFFICE, | Gira Bite cdheccedatreednotetactcatere eu Yosh, 487 ODO OO ROO NELL BLED LODE REDEDEEOLEIDOE DS, PORIEICOOOLODEOOLOLE OE BOLOLELEDESELOLOLDION: LOLOL DEDEDE @ the L. and tothe County Deputies of their respective Counties, ARTICLE XIX. BYLAWS POR COUNCILS. Each Council, in this State, may make and adopt, for its own pirernnine eek bylaws as it shall deem fit, provided the same sball not, in any manner conflict with the Constitution of the Senate or of this Legisia- ture. ARTICLE XX. ORDER OP BUSINESS, 1. Opening of the Legislature. 2 Calling Roll of Officers, 8. Reception of Credential and disposition of the same. 4. Reading the Minutes of the previous meeting for correction and approval. 5. Reading the Minutes of the meetings of State Executive Committee for approval or disapproval, 6. Reception of Communications and disposal of the same. 7. Reports of OMicers and Committees. 8. Unfinished business, 9, New business, ARTICLE XXI, AMENDMENTS, This constitution may be amended or altered only by atwo-third vote of all the members of the Legislature present at any regular or special meeting thereof, and on condition that the proposed alteration or amend- ment sball have been submitted to the Secretary of the Legislature, in writing, at least one month prior to action being had thereon; and, in such case, it shall be the duty of the Secretary, in notifying members of the meeting of the Legislature, to state that notice of a proposed amendment to the constitution has been filed with him, RULES OF ORDER. The following rules ot order are also found among the printed documents issued by the “Order” :— 1. The Speaker shall take the cbair at precisely the hour to which the Legislature may have adjourned, or at the hour for which a meeting thereot shail have been called, and shall at once call the members to order, when, after due opening, he shall cause the minutes 0 the previous meeting to’ be read for information, and when, if they were not approved at the said previous meeting, the matter of correction and approval of the same shall be the first and immediate business in order. 2 The Speaker shall preserve decorum and order; may speak on points of order in preference to avy other member, rising from his seat for that purpose; and shail decide questions of order, subject to an appeal to the Legislature by any two members. All questions before the Legislature shall be put by the Speaker, and each member present shall signify his assent or dis- sent thereto, The Speaker shall rise from his seat to put a question, but may state it to the Legislature while seated. 8 Ail Cmmittees shall be appointed by the Speaker, unless otherwise directed by the Legislature, 4. The Speuker shall vote on no question except the Legislature be equally divided, when he shail give the casting vote. 6, The Speaker shall havo power to substitute any | member to perform the duties of the chair, such sub- stutution not to extend beyond an adjournment, 6. When any member i8 about to speak in debate, or deliver any matter to the Legis! he shall rise from his seat and respect(ully to the Speaker. 7. Ifany member transgresses tho rules of the Legis. lature, the Speaker shall, or any member may, call him to order; im which case the member s ed to order shall immediately sit down, and the question of order shall thon be distinctly stated from the chair; and, in all cases where a member shall bogalied to order for uttering disrespectful words, upon request of any member, the words objected to shall be reduced to writing by the member go calling to order; after which the member go called to order may explain, and the question shall be open to de! other cases, and decided by the Speaker, whose decision shall be sub- mitted to, unless an appeal be made to the Legislature by a member, in which case the only question shall be “Is the Speaker's decision correct?” which shall be decided without debate, If the decision be in favor of the momber called to order, he may proceed; if other- wise, and the case may require it, he shall be liable to the censure of the Logislature, 8. In all cases tho member first rising shall speak first, When two members rise same time, the Speaker shall name the person to speak. 9. Nomember shallspeak more than twice to tho same question, without leave of the Logislature ; nor more than once until every member choosing to speak shall have spoken, nor longer than tive minutes at any one time, 10, While the Speaker is oe od question or ad- dressing the Legisiature no one shall walk out of or across the room; nor in such case, or when a member ja speaking, sball entertain private discourse; nor, while a moinber is speaking, shall pass between him and the Chair; any member leave bis seat while the yeas and nays are calling. 11. No member shail vote. excent in case of a ballot, sive efforts of Romanists, their avowed determination to sub- vert the government of the United Stutes, and todestroy our civil and religious liberty, I desire to subinit to you the ful- lowing questions ‘ak, Ate you ® Protestant from principle und from choice t newer. 2. Are you in favor of preserving constitutional liberty and muiitaining the goverment of the United States? newer, §. Do you regard Romanism .as the enemy of civil and re- ligious liberty ? Answer. 4. Is it not, in your opinion, unwise and unsafe to appoint to civil, political or military office in this country men who owe allegiance to the Pops of Rome and who buve sworn to obey him? Answer, 5. Are you in favor of maintaining the principles of one general unsectarian free school organization? Answer. 6. Are you opposed to all attempts to use the public funds for any sectarian purpose whatever? Answer, Are you in favor of putting itn, office honest and tr patriots, who are best qualified to fill the positions, regard- ess of political parties? Answer . Are you willing to be governed by these principles in your future political actions Answer.” een 9. Are you willing to unite with @hers who hold these principles, and henceforth devote yourself, your fortune and Your sacred honor to the protection and perpetuation of civil and religious liberty, and this great American Union ? n yon, upon your sacred honor, without eqnivoca- tion ot mental reservation, answer all these questions in the affirmative? Answer. 2 11. Can you furnish the names, ages, residences and ocen- pations of men who are willing to, become orguntaed and be governed by the above principles | Answ: If you are desirous of obtaining further information on the subject referred to in questions nine and eleven, please communicate with the person from whom you receive this circular. Please consider this circular, its contents and its source, strictly private and confidential, The Catholic of this country have shed their blood on many a battle field in defence of the Union, and the attempt to prove that “Romanigm” js likely to “sub- vert the government of the United States” and to ‘de stroy civil and religious liberty” in this land is a wicked and preposteruus libel JW. aw THE FIRST MARTYR. Mr. Fritz A. Meyer, President of the Council at Union Hill, N. &, isaJew, At his motion, ashe did not believe in the Bible, and by his efforts, aided by other Jews and liberal men, the Bible was taken out of the schools, and only the reading of the Ten Com- mandments permitted. The most bitter sectarian feeling was aroused among the Protestant portion of the people of the town, many of whom withdrew their children from the ‘godless schools” and sent them elsewhere, This is the very thing which the Catho- lics are blamed for doing. It was then given out that Mr, Meyer was a defaulter, His business dropped off on account of the slanderg raised against him. His accounts have now undergone two examinations and been found absolutely correct, but his business is ruined and he is compelled te sell out and leave the town, This is tho teaching of the Master; this is bist sie liberty, And yot Protostant divines tel! us that the Jews don’t ob- Ject to the Bible in the schools. Who is the next can- didate for the stake and fagot? FAIR PLAY. A BIG BONANZA, New York, Dec, 21, 1875, To tne Epitor ov tHe Herarp:— Whata big bonanza you have found! If you will only give us the same amount of space you have to-day wo will cheerfully grant yourself or any of your re- porters, even though he be a Mick with hair on his teeth, admittance to our councils at any time, Allow me to thank you, on bebaif of the Order, for your valuable notice of to-day 0. A. UW NOT TO BE BROKEN, To THe Epitor ov THe Heratp:— Allthe powers you could bring to bear could not have the slightest tendency to ‘‘break"’ the Order, 0. A, UO. THE FENIAN ORGANIZATION NOT SECRET. Naw York, Dec. 21, 1875, To tix Eprror ov tne Heraup:— In your issue of this day, in your editorial condem- nation of the “U, A, U."’ and secret political societies in general, you do an injustice to a national movement of an entirely different kind, which I feel certain was not caused by any spirit of unfairness, but which is cer- tainly not warranted by the facts, I refer to your ra. marks as to why the Catholic Church condemned Fe- nianism. You class Fenianism with Ribbonfsm, Orangeism, and, by implication, with such organiza tibns as the “0, A, U,"" Now, in ihe first place, Fenianism was nota secret society In anv sense of the word as it existed im NEW YORK HERALD; THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1875.—TRIPLE SHEET. : 5 America, and could not, strictly speaking, be called so even in Ireland. Its object was avowed and pro- claimed to the worl published; its pla of meeting were never conceale: it bad no sighs, grips or passwords, and every member | avowed his membership and preached his principles | every chance he got, These facts cannot be coutro- | verted. How, *hen, was it a secret society? | ‘The objects of Fenianism were neither sectarian por Sectional. It aimed to elevate Ireland to the position | of an independent nation, with equal rights and liber- | hes for all, irrespective of creed or class, with no estab- lished church and no privileged classes, Protestants, | Presbyterians and all other denominations, as well as | Catholics, were free to enter its circles, and not a few | of them did so. No movement that ever existed in | Ireland bas done 80 much to break down the barrier of | and wrt te — intoleranoe which was created glan ghte c Ree eet ee eae nslund and bas blighted and cursed In Ireland the Irish Republican Brotherhood, which was the name of the home organization, was simply a | private organization, bound by an oath, but haying no sighs, grips, passwords or any other characteristic of a eret order. Its privacy was necessitated by the fact that it had to contend with a foreign government which holds possession of the country, and that its ob- ject was neither more nor less than the overturn- ing of that government and the uprooting of every vestige of it from the land it would be simply ridiculous to talk of such a movemeut exposing its workings to public gaze, You might as weil say that @ general about to make an important movement on which the fate’ of his army depended should publish all bis plans go that the enimy imight learn them, It is hard for Americans, born and edu cated under @ free government, to comprehend the hecessity of secrecy when an oppressed people are pre- paring for a struggle with tyranny; but lot any Ameri. can wo is even superficially informed of the state of things which exists under some European governments place himselt in the position of a Polish patriot, anative of Milan or Venice under the rule of Austria, or an Irishman who wishes to throw off the English yoke, and what course will be open to him? He must either passively submit or secretly conspire. He can protest, of course, and do many things tn public, but he cannot prepare openly for armed resistance, Either he is not Justified in resisting, or ne must prepare in secret for rebellion, and the justice or injustice of the object settles the question us to whother secrecy is justifiable or not. One word more with regard to the Church, and I have done, The Catholic Church, as @ body, has never con- demned Fenianism, but it ‘is beyond ‘all doubt that certain very powerful Catholic dignitaries nave done so, But these equally oppose every open or; having the same object. It ts the object itselt—the de- struction of an established government—they oppose, and not the mode of effecting it. Every public club ofa nationalist tendency, every public meeting for the advocacy of national principles, every newspaper hostile to English domination—in short every means of expressing the desire of achieving independence by force of arms is met by the same persistent, bitter and unrelenting opposition from the ultramontave portion of the Catvolic clergy, 80 that your statement that it is on account of the secret character of the movement that Fenianism is ‘condemned by the Church," is om- urely incorrect. The reason why it is and always will be opposed by those persons this is not the place to discuss, Hoping you will give insertion to this necessary cor- rection of'a very grave error, I am, truly yours, JER, O'DONOVAN ROSSA. FATHER GRACK’S INTOLERANCE, AFFIDAVITS BY DE FRAY AS TO THE FACTS—THE STATEMENTS IN THE HERALD A¥¥IRMED— THE PRIEST FLATLY CHARGED WITH UN- |THE THIRD AVENUE Ba the names of 4% officers were | | secure a dividend on NK. INTERESTING DEVELOPMENTS—OVER SIXTY THOUSAND DOLLARS MISSING--WHY THE TRUSTEES HAD 4A SPECIAL LAW PASSED AND WHAT If CONTAINED, Mr. S. H. Hurd, the receiver of the Third Avenue | Savings Bank, is still busily investigating the affairs of this suspended institution. He yesterday, in answer to the inquiries made of him by a Hnato reporter, stated that, in bis judgment, so far as he had been able to arrive at the condition of affairs in the short ex- amination Le had made, the depositors cannot hope to the amount of their individual deposits of more than from twenty-five to thirty cents on the dollar, The books, he sald, show, beyond question, that there has been for years systematic misrepresentations of the condition of the bank, if’ nothing worse. He could not, be said, find any clean and true statement of the true facts since the year 1864 Since that time its annual statements appear to bave been cooked up, or other- wise manipulated, so as to show a surplus where there Was ap actual deficiency. He bad, he said, noticed, on making au examination of the books, that in Septem- ber last the sum of $66,617 had been charged to profit and loss on the general ledger, What this item con- sisted of, or how the loss had acerued, he had at pres- ent been unable to discover, but he intended to get to the bottom facts in the ease, Accompanying the en- try, which was made by Mr. Carman, the late secretary and receiver, was a note, say. ing that” from tnformation he had obtained from the clerks hehad found that there was a discrep- @ncy or error, amounting to the sum named, of which no entry had ever been made or any satisfactory ex- planation arrived at, but which they had known of for years, Mr. Hurd has examined the books from 1864 to the end of 1866 and back trom 1875 to 1871 without dis- covering where the fault is, It must, therefore, be found between the years 1866 and 1871. The accounts for these years are now being gone through. Perhaps some of the former trustees could help the receiver to explain this little item, as well as some others of ques- tionable character to which reference has already been made in tho Heratp, The boud given by the trustees for $115,000, which was set down aé worth its face, it now turns out will likely be another source of loss, for it has been ascertained that several of the parties who sigued this instrument have either failed or are on the verge of bankruptcy, The esti- mated amount that can be collected on this bond, which is a several one and nota joint and several ove on the of the trustees who subscribed to is, is- $75,000, otice in a legal form will at once be given to the trus- tees whose names are on this bond to pay up the r which they are bound. The sum for which and bonds held by the bank would sell on the market would be probably about $45,000. Out of this it is becessary to pay the taxes and assessments which have acccumulated on the property belonging ta the bank, amounting to nearly $30,000, 4 CURIOUS PACT. One singular fact which has not hitherto been made Public is that the trustees in 1867 secured the passage of a special law by which they were enabled to exerci almost unlimited control of the funds deposited wit! them, without any regard to their charter or the gen- eral savings banks laws previously passed, For the in- formation of the depositors aud others concerned, the sections of this law bearing particularly on this point are given as follows :— TRUTH—BISHOP HENDRICKEN APPEALED TO, Newron, R, 1, Dec, 22, 1875 ‘The Providence Journal of to-day contains a lengthy statement by the Rev. Philip Grace, concerning his re- fusal to officiate at the tuneral of Geneva De Fray, in which he takes exceptions to and pronounces as libel- jous the heading ‘Priestly Intolerance’’ to an article which appeared in the Heranp on Thursday last Upon hearing his story read, Manuel Do Fray, the futhertof the child, went before a justice of the peace and swore to the following affidavit:— 4 . AVPIDAVIT BY DE PRAY, I solemnly swear, belore God, that I went to Father Grace, on Friday, the 10th inst, aod intormed bim of the death of my daughter. He, without rising from his chair, asked, “Did she see a’ priest*” I answered in the negative, explaining that I had no idea that her sickness would prove fatal He then asked what school ghe attended and 1 answered the Protestant “Phat will do,”” he replied; “I understand it.” 1 then asked if I should bring the child to the church to have prayers read, ‘You can have no priest, neither bring her to the church nor haye service at your house, You are a bad man,” was his auswer. I then begged to have his assistant, Father Clinton, perform the burial service, ‘telling him that if he would allow it I would send a carriage ‘or him. This be also refused. 1 then asked bim what I should do, feeling keenly the peculiar situation I was in, and bis reply was, “I will allow you the privilege of a burial in the Catholic cemetery, but you can’t huve the clergy.” Finally, aiter refusing to say anything further to ine, he raised his hand and pointed it to the door, signily: img that he wished me to depart, THR HERALD STATEMENTS APFIRMED, “T also swear thatthe statements made in the New Yorx Heraty were substantially correct and were fur- nished to {ts representative by myself and family. I swear that Father Grace took the above course for no other reason save that my daughter was allowed to go to the Protestant school, I further ewear that he refused the mother of my cbild the sacraments of the Church at two different times on account of her allowing Geneva to attend the public school, His statements as regards myself are false, and he knows them }o be. MANUEL DE FRAY. Subscribed and sworn to before me, James G, Por. wast, Justice of the Peace. State or Ruove Is.ano, Newrort, Dec, 22, 1875, It will thus be seen that the Heraup’s report was ob- | tained from a reliable source, and a careful reading of Father Grace's statement will show that the heading, “Priestly Intolerance,’ was what caused hifit to write the article, Fathor Grace gave the HERALD correspondent, the day following the appearance of the article, all he had to say in justifica- tion of his action, and it appeared in these columns last Saturday, With this he stated that he was satistied, and that 1t was allan honorable journal could do, and he would let the matter drop. Appeuded to his statement was one by Mrs. De Fray, and this is probably the rea- gon why he took the opportunity to assail the Herato, Upon receiving the above aflidavit inquiries were made as to DE FRAY’S CHARACTER. His neighbors were importuned, and those for whom he had worked for many years, Il joined in giving him an excellent reputation for truthiulness, sobriety . He has resided where hie now lives for the past twelve years, He has one daughter who goes to the Catholic academy, and for whose schooling he pays the usual price, Geneva would have been sent there if she had tivet. The distance from the Catholic school being so great was the only reason why she was ermitted to go to the Protestant school, Mr. and Mrs, e Fray allege that Father Grace has always been down on them for the reason that they have not paid up the dues of the church, and for this reason he has never called uvon them but once since he has been settled over St. Mary's church, AN APPEAL TO BISHOP HENDRICKEN. Bishop Hendricken of this diocese has been ap- aled to in the matter and an answer is expected tron im in a few days, when itis hoped this unfortuvate affair will be settled to the satisfaction of all concerned. SENTIMENTS OF LEADING CATHOLICS. ‘The leading Catholics of the place regret the oceur- ance, and state that they are sorry it ever worked itself into print To their credit be it said, they have no ill feelings toward the De Fray family in this, their trying hour, and would do all in their power to’ bring } about an amicable settlement between them and Father Grace, BROOKLYN DEMOCRATS. Since the defeat of the democrats of Kings county at the polls last November, the leaders—Hugh McLaugh- lin, George Herman, John Delmar and W. H. Osborne— have been taking measures to bring about a more satis- factory basis of representation in the General Commit- tee, It has now been determined that the delegates shall be increased from the present number—seven from each of the twenty-five wards—to ten. The Committee on Patronage will also be increased, 86 as to have one member from each ward and county town. An in- crease is also to be made in the Execative Committee, This plan will, it is thought, tend to give more satisfac- tion to the heretofore discordant elements in the party, and, should the right class. of men be chosen to the General Committee, success will dawn upon the now fallen party in Brooklyn. The primary election to select delegates will be held in the latter part of Janu- Ye STATEN ISLAND ELECTIONS. The foliowing officers are to be elected at the town elections in Richmond county {pn February. For each of the five towns a Supervisor, three Town Auditors, a Town Clerk, a Collector, @ Justice of the Peace, two Assessors, eight Inspectors of Election, five coustables Sealer of Weights and Measures, KAILROAD ENCROACHMENT. To Tn Error ov THe Herauy:— Will you please allow me space in your valuable paper to protest against the action of the Hudson River Railroad Company in making Eleventh ayenuo in the vicinity of Twenty-eighth and Twenty-ninth streets, a delivery place for the very large quantities of produce which it brings to this city? On very busy days it 1 almost an impossibility for persons doing business there to receive or deliver goods owing to the very great number of wagons on both sides of the a tracks, Heretofore the delivering has been don the compan: rd, at the foot of West Thirty-second and Thirty-third streets, it is impossible for us to know by what law or right that corporation can occupy the public streets in front of our doors and to our great in- convenience for its private use, As your journal has always shown a disposition to have fair play adminis- tered to all classes of our citizens, we trust that you ‘will insert the foregoing, so 4 the attention of the proper authorities will be called to it. LUMBER MERCHANTS, New York. Deo, 20 1878 Chapter 783 of the Laws of the State of New York, passed April 25, 1867, entitled “An act in relation to the Third Avenue Savings Bank ot the city of New York,’”? provides as follows:— Bxotion 1. Tt shall be lawful for ings Bank W loan the funds and money received on deposit upon tho stocks and securities of the State of New Yor! of the United States, or upou any other stocks or securi in which it is, by the laws of the State, applicable to saving banks or savings institutions, permitted or directed to invest suid funds or moneys. Séc.2 In all cuses of loans upon the public stocks or securities of the United States, or of the State of New York, or of the city and county of New York, under the provisions of the first section of this act the same may be wade upon & margin of ten per cent upon the actual cash market value of the said securities at the time of making such no loan shall be made or permitted to remain thereon for # larger amount. In alt cases of loans upon any other siocks or seeuritics, the sae may be made upon a margin of twenty-five per dent, upon the actual cash market value other stocks and sec- rities at the time of making such loan thereon. and no loan shall be made or permitted to remain thereon for a larger oun siiee, S The trustees of the said bank may, at their disere- tion, keep an acaivane fund not ling nethird of the whole amount of deposits, to meet the current payments of said corporation, wiitch, fund may be Kept by them on de- posit, on interest or othercise, im such available form as the. trustees may from time to time direct. Skc. 5 provides that the Board of Trustees may require » curity from the officers of the bank, and may pay them suc compensation fur their services as it may deem proper. It will be seen from a perusal of the above sections that although section 1 conforms to the general laws of 1863 and 1858, which expressly define that the funds of savings banks shal! be louned only on United States socks, Stocks guaranteed by States of the Union, or cities or town bonds of this State (New York) authorized by the Legislature to issue such stock, on a margin of ten per cent, yet section 2 immediately does away with the restriction and gives tree scope for the Investment by the trustees of the depositors? money in any kind of security or stocks they please, as will be seen by the italicized portions of the section as above given. The general law also only allowed the trus- tees to keep on hand for immediate use twenty per cent of the whoie amount of the deposits, directing that the * remaining eighty per cent should be invested in secu- rities already defined, Section 3 of the law of 1867, ag above, gave the trustees the right to hold one-third of the whole amount of deposits, which at this time gave them the pretty little sum of about $2,000,000, which they could invest’'as they saw fiton any kind of secu- rity. This resulted, it 1s said, in the loanin; ot nearly half a million on Atlantic Mail stock an other equally risky securities. Intact, the whole bis- tory of the bank since its removal trom 'the old prem- ises under the Bull’s Head Bank tends to show thatthe utmost recklessness prevailed in the management and that the depositors’ money was frittered away and lost in a most disgraceful manner. The new bank building ‘Was pat up Without any necessity, and the officers were paid large salaries, notwithstanding that no necessity existed for these extravagancies, while, as previously stated, the statements have for the past ten years been cooked up to deceive the public and the depositors, THE GERMAN UPTOWN BANK. LETTER FROM MR. CLAUSEN, THE LAST PRESI- DENT, TO THE DEPOSITORS. Mr, Henry Clausen, Jr., late President of the Germat Uptown Savings Bank, addresses a long leer to the depositors of that institution in regard to the suspen- sion and its causes, He says that ‘after the failure of the’ Third Avenue Savings Bank there was a heavy run on the German Uptown Savings Bank, and that the directors arrived at thecon- clusion that the “ran” has resulted chiefly from the financial embarrassments of the President, Mr. ©. Schwarz, Mr. Clausen’s letter goes on to explain how he «t other directors began to realize that | Alabama State bonds, of the town of Springport, } Cayuga county, and North aud South Carolina bonds, | were compuratively worthless, He then refers to the fact that Mr. Crimmins had acknowledged that he had collected $2040 belonging to the bank and appropriated it+ to his. own use, In conclusion Mr. Clausen says:— ‘mn con- Junction with some of the directors, used my best efforts to secure the appointment of a receiver who would conscientiously administer the affairs of the bank for the best interests of the depositors, Mr. D. Crimmins and 1 then called upon General Uhl, who, after considerable hesitancy, consented to accept the receivership if appointed by the courts,’” | Mr. Clausen advises depositors not to dispose of their bank books, as the receiver will wind up the affairs of the bank as rapidly as possible, for the best interests of the depositors. ‘In connection with the failure of the German Uptown Savings Bank the most surprising | fact is that securities euch as North and South Carolina aud Alabama State bonds, which b: long been known to be absolutely worthless, should bi been counted bs the assets of the company at the values assigned to them, ‘A meeting of tho heavy depositors of the German Uptown Savings Bank was heid last evening at No, 1,037 Third avenue, Mr. Lows Reiss presiding. About $100,000 was represented, the largest single deposit being $5,500, A plan was submitted for consideration recommending the depositors to stipulate to allow at least fifty per cent of the amount to their credit in the bank to remain untouched for one year, 60 that the institution would byt into bankrup: Ac- cording to the inventory of the receiver the amount duo the depositors is $838,888, The aggregate of the reduction would be $1 62 ‘The plan further sug- gested the propriety of making an application to the | next Legisiature to change the mame of the institu. tion; that a board of trustees be selected fromamong the depositors, a committee of which should tke all the questionable securi | aod doubtial claims: now held by ie | bank, and when $20,000 should be realized from the collection of these claims or the disposal any securities that may come into their han a dividend pro rita to be added to the books who had made a reduction in their original claima, Mr, Michelbacher, one of the trustees of the bank, made @ statement showing the actual deficiency to be $20,000, and that the institution might still go on with its business if the depositors would agree to | oy per cent A vote subsequently | taken showed that # majority of those present were in favor of continuing the business of the ik, and about thirty-dve of thom placed tl names on record as favoring that proposition, but the plan above mentioned was not adopted. THE CENTRAL PARK BANK. To ta# Eptron ov rar Heratp:— Will you kindly give space in your paper to these few remarks concerning the Central Park Bank, Fortys eighth street and Thirdavenue? When that institution failed it was intimated through some of the daily papers that the Trustees were about making good to the depositors whatever the deficiency might be, Yet there seems to be nothing done in the matter by them. There has been a receiver by the State about two weeks and yet bo state. ment ared to show the condition ofthe bank, — think itistime that the depositors should take action in the matter and have it thoroughly invostigated. AN EAST SIDE DRPOSITOR, Deckwamr. 1875