The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-04-16
METHODS OF THE A. p. A.
Rev. j. w. Wilson, Of MayflOwer
Church, Tells Of Them.
He Also DiseOurses Upon the Effects of
the Saloon POwer-AnOther Ser
mon OH Good Citizenship.

The attitude OF the a. T. a. and the Sc
cret work it is doing were subjected 10 the
comments. yesterday morning, Of Rev J.
w Wilson. pastor of the Mayfiower Con-
gregational Church. Mr. Wilson also spoke
at some length on municipal citizenship,
dwelling on the effect OF saloon power.
The sermon was in anticipation Of the
series Of good citizenship meetings at Tom
linson Hall. Mr.. Wilson had as a text the
familiar Render unto Caesar the things
that are Caesars. and unto God the things
that are Gods"
He held that politics is a legitimate field
Tor the practice Of Christian principles. one
of the chief duties of the Christian is TO
protect the sanctity of the Sabbath. he said,
then showing that the strong nations of the
earth are those which respect the Sab
bath and enact laws to protect It's sanctity
He believed it to be the duty of all good
citizens TO let their Mayor and the police
officers know that the people were with
them in the strict enforcement Of the laws
Every man should not only have the privi-
lege of voting. but he should be required to
vote. After speaking of the manner of in
huencing men TO do good, The minister re-
ferred to the a. T. a. as follows:
Most OF you have heard of the A p A
It's name IS well suited TO the principles
upon which II claims to be founded, but
IL seems III advised when we consider some
OF its workings. Some of the avowed pur-
poses are opposition TO the union of church
anu state; the perpetuation of civil and re-
ilSlous liberty; the publication of politics
Dy putting only honest and capable men
In Office and the restriction of immigration
70 20, those who viii not be a detriment 10
tHe country. Grand principles. They are
the principles of every loyal American citi-
&c zen; The special reason for the existence
or the a. +. a. is the attack that some
IN fVa.a
institutions. We all know that many Cath
0llc are hostile TO our public schools and
ueSlTe 10 nave their own sectarian schools
SsISppoiIteu az pubic expense. We also know
tnat In some cities thew are using NUM-
cipal machinery for sectarian purposes
Sdthohc policemen i'm Chicago last summer
would not allow Protestants 10 preach on
the streets. 1wo-fifths of our standing army
are Catholics ProbablV thew are air,inSg
to get control of the United STATES and Il
lhey should ProteStants would not always
get justice at their hands. But, serious as
TINS problem sometimes appears il is no
excuse Tor the extreme methods of the
"A. r. A. This country has never received
t K benefits from know-nothing parties
AS one writer says Secrecy will always
pring political society under SUSPICION
Men Will feel that if IL aims at fair play il
need need not work in the dark. The cause of
truth is advanced by exposing the evils
Whlch men are ever seeking TO hide Its
method Is publicity and free discussion
Inc best way is to fight darkness with
daylight. The A. +. A. has also used the
weapon of misrepresentation far too freely
TO give IL the reputation of being move
ment in the interest of good citizenship
l cannot have much confidence in a polit-
lcal organization that is guilty of flooding
the country with such preposterous literary
within the last two years. with the purport
or being authentic circulars of instruction
TO Catholics coming from the Pope and
high dignitarieS OF the church The most
astonishing of these false documents is a
forgery known as an encyccal of Pope
Leo sent out to Jesuits and others"
mil NfGfn dot Id
in which the Pope was purpOrted TO have
urged the Catholics now to take control of
America. as it belonged to them by right
OF Christopher Columbuss discovery.
THE bare-faced forgery has been pub
lished in number of anti-Catholic pa
pers, and the worst of il is that thousands
of American voters have accepted il as a
genuine letter Of the Pope. 1t is high
time for the Christian people who love
such injustices as are being perpetrated
against the Catholics of the country. 1t is
not the part of American citizens TO seek
the perpetua ton of its institutions by
adopting methods that are un-American.
Why should we discriminate against Catho-
lies in employment or at the polls simply
to the spirit of our institutions TO dis
criminate against one class of citizens on
account of these citizens religion. What
If Chicago has a Catholic Mayor? He is
the first one il has ever had, and there
are a half million Catholics in that city.
What If President Cleveland has appointed
n Catholic Justice of the Supreme Court?
He is only the second one to hold such an
office and there are ten million Catholics
in the United States. Why shouldn't
have Catholics among our public school
teachers, If we want Catholics TO give up
their system and join with us in the sup
port of free schools"
Mr.. Wilson then spoke of the influence
of the gamblers and saloon keepers in mu-
nicipal affairs.
Probably not one-half of the saloon
keepers in indianapolis could renew their
licenses If the laws we have should be
strictly enforced. for they could not prove
themselves 10 be Of good moral character.
Let the moral forces of the city combine
and organize themselves into municipal
leagues working for the strict enforce
ment of the law Let them aid the author
tiles i'm the detection of the violators of
the law, and II will be easier then To enact
the laws The most sensible and practical
movement that L know anything about in
the line of temperance reform is that which
has been inaugurated by the anti-liquor
leaguerS.