National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-02-05
LIBERAL LEAGUE.
THECREEp 1T TEACHEs.

~ ~ THE CREED IT TEACHES. ...
Last night about thirty of tho 4so-called Liber
alsts Of the city met in council. in Lyceum hall
under the title Of the Liberal League Of Wash
ington, D. &. -G ..a. r.. p. ,isr< .rage
. This league was formed on Sunday night, Jan.
aary 2s 1874 after Jamfeson's lecture on the life
and character Of Tom Paine. At that time fifty.
I'VE persons signed the constitution. md elected
as, 9ee, I psesident Burr ,reasurer
: Mrs. i. +. Crawford, secretary, IragsfiN o..
These 1hfty-fye adopted the following expires.
sion Of sentiment and declaration Of purposes:
.sEUr CT rHK DEMANDS OF LlBKRALIsA. = .
- I. We demand that churches and ether eccle.
siastical property shall no longer be exempted
= :. We demnnd that the employment Of chap
,IaiDs In Congress in State Legislatures, In the
navy and militia, ard in prisons, asyluns and all
= other institutions supported BY public money,
shall be discontinued. ..EaH. ..G.'s- - T
+, 3 We demand that oil public appropriations
for sectarian educational and charitable insutu-
4. We demand that all religious service. now
sustained by the Government shall be abolished,
and especially that the use Of the Bible in the
public schools, whether ostensibly as a text book
or avowedly as book Of religious worship, shall
be prohibited.
s. We demand that the appointment, by the
President OF the United States or by the Govern
Of the various States, of al religious festivals
o. We demand that the judicial oath in the
eourts and in all other departments Of the Gov
ernment shall be abolished, and that simple af-
Srmation. under the pains and penalties Of per-
Jury, shall be established in its stead. a.!
q. We demand that all laws directly or indl-
rectly enforcing the observance Of Sunday as the
9 We demand that oil laws looking to the en-
sorcement Of "Cbristian" morality shall be sbro-
gated, and that all laws shall be conformed to the
requirements of natural morality, equal rights
and impartial liberty. -
.. we demand that not only in the Constitutions
II the United States and Of the several States but
~sio afn ,fU sfrafi n gar
no privilege or advantage shall be conceded TO
Christianity or any other special religion; that
administered on purely secular basis, and that
whatever changes shall prove necessary to this
rnd shall be consistently, unninchingly and
The president, who was the youngest person in
the room, not seemingly Of age, bat ayowediy so,
read the constitution and Commented on its al:
legged generous and bcnehcent purposes, stating
that the league represents no an.i-Christian or
tnfdel movement, but only an advancement Of
the purposes OF .7--..
CIVIL LIBERTY. . r- rr-
He read several editorials from TIE NATIONAL
REPUBLICAN, and other papers Of enyiable rePu-
.ation. in opposition to eNempting church prop
srty from taxation, adverse to the spirit OF the
Constitution. and sought TO illustrate from these
the growth and development Of the doctrines Of
.he Liberals. He also re. / extracts from the
State constitutions of Maryland. North and South
:,arolina. Mississippi, Tennessee and Pennsyl-
sana fer6idding the holding or ONCE BY atheists;
as these we are banded together. -
The league then. by formal vote, adopted BY
laws, determining that the league shall meet on
The hrst Sabbath OF each month, tsp. m; that
the funds for rs support be raised by voluntary
contributions; that no debts hey md the cash In
She treasury be permitted: that special meetings
be held en- one weeks notice by call of executive
committee. .rH. n.. r.... III
Upon The proposal by Mr.. Burr that the meet
.nrs be held on sunday, Mr.. Samuel Elicit, who
was slightly charged with benxine, pied with the
meeting ..-. T..r fI..s
"PoR cons SAKE! Be-. -aii--a#
ion't hold the meetings on Sunday. You don't
believe in God" He expressed himself in entire
opposition to the league, and WAS, OF course, ruled
su.. 49,. -r. -. 80 !.
Mrs. J. f. Crawford, the only lady present iden.
ihed with the league, rendered her resignation as
secretary, which, II may be said to her credit, she
accepted under protest. She Is q lady of appar
Snt culture and fine sensibilites, and we congrat
ilate her quitting this ignoble cause in Its In
Printed petitions, to be circulated for sigma
;ures were then distributed To- volunteers, about
dozen Of whom we're found, mem0rializing Con
press to abolish the provision Of act OF June 1870
sxempting church property in the District OF %
sumbia from taxation. -s',.fi. ="
In conclusion, several of the members, includ.
Ax the president, called attention 70 the melan.
sholy apparent .lnkevarmness" on the part Of
he league, az manifested in the slim attendance
adding: I'VE want to take the platform and
ureet corners" and argue this question before the
Seople. - Z, :
broke up, ..- TED a..I... Il = 81 -