The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-04-30
THE sECURALrsT PROTEST.
Ronald and Reynolds ON the Queen
Anne Engine House Matter.


The letter of c. B. REYNOLDS, secretary
OF the Washington Secular Union, protest.
ing against the use of the Queen Anne en-
CINE house for religious services by St.
Marks Episcopal church. which was ad-
dressed to Mayor Ronald on April %, was
met by him with the following reply:
Dear SRI am in pit OF yours of this date
relative to the action of the mayor and the
board OF fire commissioners, permitting "the St
MARKS ehnrch to use the Queen Anne engine
house for religious services for q short time"
wherein you state tina. act is in direct viola
ton OF section eleven of article one OF our state
eonstitut on, ald protest against such viola
ton OF law and respectfully request prompt re-
vocation OF the appropriation by the board of
FIRE commissioners of the Queen Anne engine
housr for religious services"
should lie very sorry, indeed. IL we have o.
such act violated the constitution of our state
The section of the constitution invoked pro-
vidss that "no public money or property shall
be appropriated for or applied to any religious
worship, exercise or instruction"
am unable to see wherein, by the act of
which you complain, any pubic money or prop
erty has bsvn appropriated for or applied to any
religious worship. The words appropriated and
applied. as used in that sentence, have a plain,
legal Specification.
The building is unused by the city for any
have permitted certain persons to use it for q
few days, but we have not appropriated 1t for
religious worship; neither have we applied it to
any religious instruction. and the constitution
does not prevent any minister of the gospel
from applying little religious worship TO it or
any other public building.
We have simply permitted these people to as
semble and speak in IT as a matter OF aecommo-
dation, just the same as we would have done
toward you If you had preferred such a request
as they preferred.
To this Mr.. Reynolds made the follow
ing rejoinder on April 25:
Your favor of the 23d inst received. The Off
GERS and members of the Washington Secular
Union have no desire to be CAP tious. and GER
tainly would not wish any controversy with one
OF your admitted legal ability, especially on a
matter that few weeks will bring to an end,
at least SO far this particular instance is con-
cerned.
1t is the principle involved that called forth
our protest and the defense OF which compells
our rejection OF your conclusions.
You say truly "the building belongs to the
whole people," Decidedly then it should not be
appropriated 10 the exclusive use of a favored
few for the avowed purpose of religious worship
and sectarian instruction.
Had the use of the building been granted by
the fire commissioners for public meeting, as
you say 1--WE simply permitted people to assem-
Die anu speak IN IL, no complaint WOulu ever
have been made of such action by any liberal.
We do not understand that such was the case.
On the contrary, the application was made by
the rector OF ST. MARKS church in his official
character as the representative and minister CT
religious body, and the purpose for which the
building was to lie used was plainly stated aud
indeed offered plea why the request should
be granted nancy, to hold religious mis-
sion services" By thus obtaining the appro.
priation OF public building they save the
money il would cost Tor rent Tor private build
ing. ii II is lawful and right to appropriate
any public building belonging "to the
whole people" TO the OF a religious
sect for the purposes OF religious worship and
instruction for few weeks, II is equally lawful
aud right to so appropriate and apply all public
buildings, when used by the city for any num-
Der of years. Ii no, why not?
In your official capacity chief magistrate of
the city, you should be the especial guardian of
the rights OF ali oitizsns, Jew, Gentile Christian
or Liberal.
Our constitution declares, article l, section /:
"Au political power is Inherent in the people,
and governments derive their just powers from
the consent OF the goyerne 1, and are established
TO protect and maintain individual rights" Why
should the rights OF the Liberals of seattle be
ignored?
You write 1.-The constitution does not prevent
any minister of the gospel from applying a little
religious worship to it or any other building"
| respectfully call your attention to the fact
that while ministers OF the gospel do watch
eagerly Tor opportunities TO iEtrude their 'little
religious worship ON occasions OF laying corner
stones of public buildings, this is a matter of
sufferance ana never OF right