The Forrest City times., 1895-10-18
4 REMA ARKABLE ORGANIZA
 TION


 Few persons, perhaps, know of the existence and objects of an organlZa ton in the United Stated, which styles itself .'Freethought Federation and American Secular Union." Such an organization exists, however with head quarters at Chicago. and call has been issued for convention to assem be at New York October 256-7. with the object in view of organizing their forces and spreading their pernicious doctrines throughout the land. Circu- lar letters have been sent at random many falling into the hands of promi- 'nent christian gentlemen in every county, requesting their sympathy, at tendance or financial aid.
 The following nine tenets, styled The Demands of Liberalism" accom- pany each of these circular letters, and plainly set forth their remarkable principles
 THE DEMANDS OF LIBERALISM. 1. We demand that churches and other ecclesiastical property shall be no longer exempt from taxation.
 2. We demand that the employment of chaplains in Congress, in state legislatures, in the navy and militia. and in prisons. asylums, and all other institutions supported by public money, shall be discontinued 8. We demand that all public appropriations for educational and charitable institutions oi a sectarian character shall cease. 4. We demand that all religious services now sustained by the government shall be abolished and specially that the use of the i Bible in public scnools, whether ostensibly as text book or aVOwedly as book of religious worship. shall be proh bited.
 ,. We demand that the appointment, by the president of the United States or by the gov ernors of the various states, of all religious | festivals and lasts shall wholly cease. c. We demand that the judicial oath in the courts and III all other departments of the government shall be abolished, and that sim pie affirmation under the pains and penalties of perjury shall be established in it's stead. i z. We demand that all laws directly l or indirectly enforcing the obsery- | anee of Sunday as the sabbath shall be re- 1 pealed
 l Q. We demand that all laws locking to the l enforcement of f"Christian" morality shall be abrogated and that all laws shall be conform ed to the requirements of natural morality, equal rights and impartial liberty.
 2. We demand tbat not only in the COnsti- tuti0n of the United States and of the several states. but also ill the practical adminIstra- , ton ot the same, no privilege or advantage shall be conceded to Christianity or any other special religion that our entire political sy: - tenn shall be founded and administered on a ! purely secular basis and whatever changes shall prove necessary to this end shall be con- slstently, unfinchingly, and promptly made. That such an organization exists in , this Hand of the free and home of the brave." is remarkable, to say the least. and that its forces are on the increase is astonishing, when one considers that no where are church and state more widely separated than here, and that religion of any character is entirely at the option of every American citizen. To intimate or insinuate by demands for separation. that the Christian relig ion or any other, is forced by law or otherwise upon any person in this country IS prepOSterous and ridiculous. when every ochoolboy knows to the contrary.
 There are no donbt secret aud unrp. vealed objects behind this society. and II we were inclined 60 share the alarm ot onr A. r. A, friends. we might be. lleVe that it had It's origin in Rome.
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