The Portland daily press., 1892-10-20

and King of the League, for the Pro-
lection of American Institutions.
The meeting addressed at Baxter Hall
|9last evening by Rev. DR.. j. M. King OF
New York, was largely attended and
very interesting. Dr. King is secretary
of the League for the Protection of
| American Institutions, and is continually
engaged in making addresses for the
purpose of bringing to the attention of
the american people the objects of the
League.
James P. Baxter, ESQ.,, presided. Mr..
Baxter said that from what he knew of
the League he could bid it a hearty
ssGod speed.'' He would not attempt
an. exposition of the purposes of the
League, leaving that for the gentlemen
who were to make the addresses. But
he would say that the matter was one OF
the highest Importance to the American
people.
MT Baxter read letters Of regret from
Rev Drs. Dalton and Blanchard, General
Neal Dow, Rev. T. B. DEMO, of Bangor
Theological Seminary, and Rev. Leroy S.
Bean OF Gorhau.
Mr. w. III. Parsons of New York city,
vice president Of the League, was first
introduced He said it was expected
that Mr. James McKeen, prominent
New York lawyer and native of Maine,
one of the Leagues board of managers,
would be present. But as he was una
BILE to come the speaker took his place.
Mr.. Parsons said that the League had
sought to secure the cooperation OF
those AGENCIES which mould public opin-
ion, rather than to promote popular ag,
itation. Weswage no sectarian war, and
propose no sectarian influence in political
,,Iaslis. we oppose any attempt in the
direction of union between church and
state We oppose any appropriation OF
public money for Indian schools or 9th
erwise. which is for the benefit of any
sectarian agency. The League further
proposes a sixteenth amendment to the
constitution, which is now before the
Judiciary committees of the House and
Senate. and which is as follows:
No state shall pass any law respecting an
establishment of religion, or prohibiting the
free exercise thereof, OF use us properly OF
tNNUeAOAA - 49,
thorize either to be used, for the purpose OF
founding, maintaining or aiding, by approprl-
alton, payment for services, expenses, or other
wise. any church, religious denomination OF re-
ljgioiis society, or any institution. society or
undertaking, which is wholly, or in part, under
sectaf'iah or ecclesiastical control.
Parsons next read the action
taken nv the General Conference of the
Methodist Episcopal church, the con-
Veiftioif iof the American Baptist Home
Missionary Society, the American
Baptist Publication Society and the
General Assembly of the Presbyterian
church, eall;of which favoredthe adoption
of the proposed sixteenth amendment
and endorsed the purposes OF the
League. ~
Rev. DR.. James M. King of New York,
secretary of the League, was next in
PRODUCED. He said it was pleasure to
him to meet so large an audience in this
goodly city in the state first on the roll,
and in such a magnificent structure,
under THE presidency of the man, who,
BY his gift, had shown that he thought
of his neighbors as well as himself.
f Applause.] DIR. King then went on to
discuss the relations of church and
state: The clause of the United States
constitution relating to religious estab-
lishments showed that the first thought
of the founders Of the government was of
the dangers of ecclesiastical interference.
Or. King said he supposed that all
would admit the correctness of this fun
damental proposition:
1t is the duty of civil government to
protect itself by guarding the intelii-
gence of it's citizens.
The corollary of this is the preserva-
ton of the common school.
DC hoe C0fd hot thka
greatest danger which besets this gov
eminent is political ecclesiasticism.
Next to this, said DR.. King, was the Or
ganized. liquor interest, and the one often
buttresses the other. /.
Latin civilization did one good thing
for us. IT. discovered us, but thank
God. that was the end of its services.
Applause The crowns of CASTLE and
Aragon established the 'inqtlisition that
took IL, 900, oooliN and deluged Europe
in blood. .2@ .tsSe
DR.. King then related the. effort made
in New x ork State to throw open the
public institutions of the state so that
the wards of the state might be brought
under sectarian care. Alarmed by this
movement the opponents of sectarian
control first formed a committee to
watch the legislature at Albany, and
from that has grown the League for the
Protection of American Institutions
The public school is. the keystone of
our institutions, and around that for its
preservation good citizens must rally
We are attempting to carry on a Republi-
can,form of government with compos-
lite population. Take New York city for
instance. About SO per cent of its inhabi-
tants are foreigners or the
children of foreigners. We
are opening our ports to immigrants
from all over the world; and it is essen
tial for our safety that the children of
these foreigners be educated in the
American public public school in the
English language.
Dir. King pointed out the fact that in
the constitution of Maine there is not a
single clause to prevent the appropria-
ton of public money for sectarian pur-
poses.
The speaker said that the League was
not an anti-Catholic organization, not
an anti-Judaic organization; not an anti
Protestant organization. 1t is protec-,
tive organization, and has occasion
sometimes to oppose all the denomina-
+;opc aud Sacts