The New York herald., 1876-12-01


Pennsylvania Mr. Jones' address follows:-
THE uoS noRArIo JONES
nR. PRESIDENT MEMBERS ORDER or B'xAI
BERirn-Beore speak OF the great subject which
yoDder marble groap IS designed TO commemorate
wish to thank you for the honor you have conferred
upon me by inviting me 10 participate the ccremo-
MES OF this day. thank you as an American cil-
zen. and thank you Christian For
many years thus question OF religious liberty
has occupied my attention. Ny convictions on
the subject have grown with my growth until now
every other question Of tho aay. Ny people
Ike yours have suffered every Kind and degree OF per-
secution both in Europe aud America 10. their adher
encc 10 the doctrines OF sou liberty" and from tho
earliest times they have proclaimed II OF their
distinguishing principles | can therefore most sin
cercly sympathxe with you In the object which has
called you here to-day. BY some, much regret
during the progress OF the great Exhibition 80 MS 10
show TO our lorcga visitors bow much America Is
ndeo'ed Tor us prosperity ana progress TO me prnci.
pie OF religious liberty But to my mind this day of
national thanksgiving most opcr time Tor these
services and thia ceremony rs fitting and appropriate
climax TO the proceedings winch have taken place
within these grounds during The last SIX months. Wo
have had contributions from Europe Aeia Africa
and tho far.on isles OF the the evidences OF mans
wonderful ingenuity aud skill Here tho
chan.c the scholar, tho painter and tho sculptor
have wed with each other in their various spheres
But all these magnificent structures by which VIC arc
still surrounded-and yonder statues chase anu ex-
prcssivo as they are--a iadc away when compared
WIN the one grand idca which Is iypihod IN this
group from the chsel OF our talented and accom-
plished countryman, Mr. Ezekiel Behold ii-gaze
qnent Were It gifted with the faculty OF speech.
could fancy II as saying:-"I symbolize tho
"a sso1gns' ign, .hs hopes The Joys Tho ASPIRATIONS %
what represent that sustained Mordecai and
Esther at The cour, of Ahasucrus, and enabled
them TO save their nation from destruction aud was
adherence To the same truth which took Daniel from
the dungeon nd raised him to the highest honor II
was tins tina, supported Roger Williams his hour Of
peril, and William Penn when hs founded Pcnnsyl-
vania. without me your civil liberty is worthless.
Chcrish them the principle OF rel gious freedom NJ
q
stability OF your Tree institutions
Mr. President, the doctrine OF religious liberty was
one oi slow growth In thus country Whom irst pro-
claimed by Roger Williams IN Massachusetts Bay,
about 200 years ago, u caused his punishment from
among the savagcs; and he received from them hat
nid and protection which we're denied him by those
who called themselves Christians. As Mr. Arnold,
tho Rhode Island historian. has said, che found
spot IN the painless wilderness where he could rear
temple to Liberty, consecracd to tho Lord Of the
whole earth before whose ample shrnh jew and
Gentile bond ana free. might each worship Tod
cordng TO the dictates OF his own Conscience
THIS was tho first instance OF State founded unon
the principle which we have met TO celebrate. Tho
prosperity OF Rode Island from that day to this has
been onward and upward, and although tho other New
England colonies looked upon II with SUSPICION, IL
not with contempt. because It had no religious cstab-
llshmcnt but permitted people ol all religions and no
religion TO live there perfect equality, yet it has
ever preserved and guarded with most jealous this
corner stone of ITS government Al the present
tmc that doctrine, dctestcd and dreaded,
Is Incorporated IN tho constitution OF the United
States and In that OF cach State OF ths
that very that State will erase from its consltu-
ton the article which permits none but Protcstans to
honor TO Roger Williams the weshman, tho hero OF
soul liberty All honor TO the State OF Rhode Island,
The nursing mother OF this most glorious principle!
All hoaor to tho citizens OF that State Tor their ad.
fast adherence TO this great truth
Aye. call II holy ground.
They have left uns.aIned what thcre they iound--
Freedom to worship God.
During tho recent Exhibition citizen OF that small
Commonwealth Ia rat
proclaim a doctrine when is even now pcrmeating tho
nations oil Europe erected the celebrated Coriss
ginc, which IN Wonder hall, by It's silent but mighty
influence, moved each day eight miles OF intricate
machinery and gave hfe strength and energy 10 every
department OF mechanical pursuit And when, on tho
10th or November, that engine stopped the Inter-
national Exhibition Of 1876 was closed forever. So II
the doctrine principle religious liberty our prog
rcss as Tree nation Will be forever gone.
But, Mr.. President. must not prolong my rem +
aud yet my heart Is full OF this theme and | A1ulA
speak for hours l should hko 10 tell tho poopiS af
America how your ancestors navo stood up tor Is5e
pie, for truth, for righteousness against Egypa9x.
Assyrians, Babylonans and Romans--how they rrt3
conquered and nearly ex,crmnated, and yct--a.a -
have survived them all The oppressors hav{ raes.
pcnrcd frcm the lace Of the carth--many OF ;he
proud capltas cannot even be iound--Dut your esas
are now stronger more powerful than ever s5aA4
like TO tell how they have been prosecuted By res
rors and kings, by sultaus and Moors and 70 I
and also to speak Of their banisbment and ngss fnn
England and France and Spaiu rather thai fis4 "a
their religion. should like 10 name somcIcr S.ae
people who even now occupy high and dist su as4
ana sculpors, and hnanciers, governing In coo
the mghtiesl monarchs OF inc world. But III rasgas
that must not further trcspass your kind
In conclusion. Mr.. President, let me give you my
belief on this subject in few words. feel assured
confident that express tho sentiments OF tho grcat
mass Of tho Christian people OF America believe In
the abrogation OF all laws which bind tho consciences
OF in religious matters l believe In thorough
separation Of Church and Stale. believe that We
should leave religion where It's DIVINE Author has les
II, MS matter between God ana man,
giving TO pagans and Turks Jews and Chris
iians the right TO MI any Office In tho government,
without any religious test Let US have .
let us IN our battle with error carry banner
which shall be inscribed in letters OF living light thu
word ''Ilaruh''--bcrty. And now my fellow citizens,
We must separate. This scene, these ceremonies, this
beautiful group will ever be 10 mo living prcsoncc.
tho most cherished memories OF my heart Should TINS
statue moudor into dust, and these grounds become
desert and our beloved country lose the proud position
now holds among tho nations OF the earth, tho
great principle Of religious liberty will still DO cher
ishcd by every true patriot We may die ana be tor
gotten but that principle can never dc, and when
isious liberty ceases 10 be tho brightest jewel IN our
dndcm, then wc may bid farewell to all free govern
mcnt But beiof In this doctrine calls Tor high and
important duties part.
Ir the words OF the immortal Webster, "Let US
feel personal responsibility 10 the full extent Of
power and influence Tor tho preservation OF the
principle Of civil and religious liberty. Let us re-
member that IL is only religion and morals and knowl-
edge that make respectable and happy, under
any form OF government Let US hold fast the great
truth that communities are responsible as well MS in
dvIduals, that no government respectable which Is
not just nst without unspoitcd purity OF pubic faith,
without sacred pubic principle, ndety and honor, no
mere forms OF government, no machinery Of laws,
give dignity to political society. In day and
generation let seek rasc and improve the moral
that may look, not forta degraded but
for elevated, improved future.n
Again, Mr. President, thauk you and tho members
OF your Order for ihis honor and privilege We shall
never meet again have met to-day, but trust
that the time will come wnen, redeemed and
purified from the sins and errors Of this liic, We
may meet in the everlasting above Of tho
blessed, and there sit down with Abraham and
Isaac aud Jacob--wth the holy prophets and mar.
tyrs--in the presence OF that God whom they
shipped, and who Is the samc to-day, yesterday and
forever
Mr.. Solomon Latz, Of New York, President OF the
Supreme Lodge OF the Order kcshcr Burzc. also
short speech, alter which tho company ads
journcd to the Metropolitan Hotel Tor modest rcpast