, 1881-10-02
THE LIBERAL LEAGUE.
Second Days Proceedings OF the
National Convention.
The Secretary Congratulates the So
ciety on It's Growth.
L General Platform in Paror Of tue "'1loral
Emancipation Of Man and Noman."

Hershey Hall ut 10 o'clock yesterday morn-
ing, A1r. Elizur Wright, Of Boston, Ill
the chair In his opening address AIR.
Wright brought before the League the sub
jcct of tree-culture and the protection OF
forests. lie pointed out the climatic changes
which have followed the development Of
forest-planting in the West, and asked the
League to consider the matter and before
adjournment pass resolutions In reference
to it.
Secretary Leland read long paper with
regard to tile prospects Of the League. Last
year the outlook was very gloomy, but It was
not dead. The detection consequent upon
the split Of lasty year had not hurt the League
after all. There had been an increase OF
fifteen auxiliary societies, 1c6 annual and
twelve life memberships during the year.
Twice as much money had been received in
to the Treasury as during any previous year.
A League paper had been started and had
done some good service to the cause, being
confined strictly to League movements. re-
ports, and affairs. The Secretary estimated
that there were about fifty active auXlllarles.
125 local organizations meeting occasionally
and reporting FROM time TO the National
Secretary, and fifty which made no repor4s
at all, and were in Il state of total inactivity.
Mr.. Abbott, founder of the League, held his
first congress in Rochester in 1877, with
eighteen local auxiiarics. At Syracuse, III
1878, there were sixty-four local societies,
and now the National League is Mt least
twice as strong rs it WAS in that year. MIR. U n
derwood, editor pro TEN. of the Free Religious
Indcr. had pronounced the League Il
"wreck," but it was an unc0nlmonly. lively
wreck. It WIS only o-yeaf-oid chlla' a1la
WAS GROWING EVERY YEAR.
Creeping babes should not be denounced as
wrecks because they had not yet learned to
walk. A good start had been made, ana
there was a fine seet-bed in which to plant
more Liberalism and out Of WHICH to gro"
more auxiIiaries. lndiyidual Liberals were
would only lold together and induce others
works worthy Of It. The speaker was
strongly in favor Of organization, and II me
League wanted him for that, and would lqt-
was with them. It mnst be run OIL business
principles, and would pay good dividends,
not in cash. but in power, character, anu
standing, in the diffusion OF truth nnu
Of Church and State down to the last yestige
Mr. r. b. Waterman, Treasurer of the
League, presented his report, showing that
the receipts for the year were s9sot g IT, alo y,
leaving a balance Of S.S3 Is due the Treas
.urcr. The report was adopted.
The Committee I'll Nomlnatfons reportea
the following names: For President, I; :.
Leland Of New York; Treasurer, Cortland
Palmer of New York; Chairman Of the ES-
ecutive Committee. George Lynn ct Illinois;
Chairman Of Finance C9,nnittee, Mrs: II. 5.
proved, and the officers, elected rs recon- recon-,
.incnded It was stated that Mr.. Ellzur
Wright had been earnestly solicited to allow
his name to be used once more, but his IN
creasing years and intirmities prevented him
from accepting the, Office. The list OF wee.
Presidents was read and amendments made by
the substitution Of names here and there,
one Tice-P1esdent being selected from each
State. Some verbal lamentations were rec
commended to be made In tine constitution,
and the report on that subject was Made tile
special order for the afternoon.
AT THE AFTERNOON SESSION
it was decided to hold the next meeting of
the League at St. Louis. that benighted
town being the only one which extended an
invitation to the crowst. Iwo or dhree rel-
the motion, and complained bitterly Of the
fact that the Chicago press had given truth
full reports of the League meetings, thereby
rendering the crowd ridiculous
to the constitution gave rise to great !leai
OF trouble 1t had been suggested that there
should be four Or five different classes of
membership, including annual, life. fellow
having more rights than others. \ delegate
made violent attack upon the scheme. say
ing that # was utterly opposed to the princi-
Piles OF Liberalism.
The Secretary said the scheme was dc
signed simply 10 bring cash INTO the treasury
| Of the League.
Mrs. Severance said If they were going to
sacrifice fundamental principles in order to
secure funds. the League had better die
rsht The ady was oM%y nnpauaea
"downed" "by 4 large majority.
Mr.. W. ". Hall, of St. Johns, I'LL, spoke
in favor OF secularist Snllday-schools. say
ing that if they could do no good with the
from learning the harmful doctrines Of
Christianity. lie wanted the League to suu-
port their paper; the Man, and to assist as
far as possible III the propagalldlsm OF 1nfi-
Next in order came the report of
forth that the objects of the National Liberal
League were to totally separate Church and
church property, the total discontinuancc Of
religious instruction and worship in the pub
liz schonls, the repeal Of all Sunday laws. the
.'abolisien" (sic) Of all State-paid ChapIains.
THE SUBSTITUTION OF AFFl;nATIoNs
for oaths in all courts, and the prohibition Of
public fnStS anu flayS Ol prayer appointed Dy
Executive authority. Further, the League
wanted the formation Of auxil-
iary clubs and everything which
| locked to the .'noral emancipation Of
man and woman" including the establish
ment of 4 liberal lecture bureau. The
committee affirmed that the time was not
ripc for decided political action, and pro-
llounced i'll favor Of the movement to nay u
.ssallery" (sic) TO the Chairman of the EN-
ecutlye Committee. This would take S., 000,
and the committee thought the go local
leagues should be called on for SO each to
meet the bill The, committee pronounce!
| further that the seceders OF last year should
he allowed to return to the fold without be-
] ine asked to bow to the will Of the majority.
| 4 dozen speakers jumped to their feet at
the moment the reading Of the resolutions
was concluded. Sume llOwieu for a fight,
and declared that the 1ngcrsollian gang
should crawl on their bellies in order to get
| hack into the League. Others held (the
names Of none of them were announced)
| that the door should be opened wide and
| the straggicrs brought back into the fold,
| without tests or qualifications Of any kind
| The resolutions were adopted by u rising
| vote.
| WHEREAS The leading political parties are
destitute OF any principle which affects The well
+ora of the masses. and exist OufT on Official