DOCUMENT No. 14. BOARD OF ALDERMEN, JULY 29, 1844. The following Communication was received from the Commissioners of the Alms House, which was laid on the table, and ordered to be printed for the use of the members. The Commissioners of the Alms House have just received the following communication from the Board of Assistant Aldermen, and have sent them the following reply. Resolved, That the Commissioners of the Alms House be directed to report immediately to this Board, by what authority the Ministers of the various religious sects have been excluded from the institution, and the inmates thereby prevented from worshipping God agreeably to the right of conscience." In answer to the above, we beg leave to call your attention to the following Resolution passed November 22d, 1839. "Resolved, That the application made by the Catholics to hold religious services at the Alms House, Bellevue, be granted, and that the use of the chapel be assigned to them between the hours of half past seven, and half past nine o'clock, on the morning of each Sabbath, for the use of the inmates only, subject to the general rules for the government of the institution. Passed, four voting in the affirmative, and one in the negative.' Mr. Schureman desired his name to be recorded in the negative." And to the following, passed June 28, 1844. "Resolved, That the resolution passed November 22d, 1839, granting special privileges to the clergymen of the Catholic Church in the chapel of the Alms House at Bellevue, be and the same is hereby rescinded." From the above it will be seen that the only action of the Commissioners in the case, has been simply to abridge a special privilege enjoyed by the Roman Catholics, that has neither been sought for nor claimed by any other of the different sects. The institution is provided with a regular Chaplain, who has for many years officiated in the several departments of the institution. The Commissioners, desiring to establish good order and government among the inmates, and to reform existing abuses, found themselves imperatively called upon to prevent the continued in terruption to labor, occasioned by visits of both clergy and laity without permission among the paupers in the work-shops, &c., to pass the following resolution : Resolved, That no person, neither clergy nor laity, be permitted to have access to, or intercourse with, any of the inmates of the Bellevue Alms House under any pretence whatever, without permission from the Superintendent, or one of the Commissioners." But in no case has permission been refused to the clergy of any denomination to visit the institution, and clergymen are invariably sent for to attend the sick, permitting the patient to select a clergyman of his own choice. All which is respectfully submitted on behalf of the Commissioners. JOHN R. WILLIS, Chairman. The Commissioners of 1839 were JOHN V. GREENFIELD, DOCUMENT No. 15. BOARD OF ALDERMEN, AUGUST 26, 1844. Resolved, That the Comptroller be requested to furnish, for the use of the Common Council, the monthly statements of the accounts of the Alms House, Bridewell, and Penitentiary, as directed in Chapter XIII, Title II, Section 13, of the City Ordi nances. To the Honorable the Common Council of the City of New-York: The Comptroller, in compliance with the foregoing resolution, makes the following Report: |