The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1906-12-21
Catholics Resent the Present
Attitude Of the French Gov
ernnent.

ernment.
Last Sunday ia ST. Johns Cath
Ollie Sunday school rooms. Il large
number of the male members of
the congregation gathered for the
purpose OF preparing and adopt.
ing II memorial To Congress on
account Of the recent diStuI Dances
in the French Republic in which
the church has a vital interest.
The object of the meeting was
to show To all the citizens of the
United States that the Catholics
of Maryland. especially the Cath.
olicS of Frederick County, were
entirely sympathetic with the ac
tIon of the Roman atholic au-
thoritieS, in Offering passive re-
sistance to the efforts OF he French
Government to coutiScate / he
property Of he church in France
unless the congregations of the
Catholic Churches. through their
authorized heads, should submit
to the drastic laws recently passed
by the Government,
In Offering a memorial to the
Congress of the United States it
was believed that such action
would call the attention OF Con
gresS to what iii effect amounts
to persecution in France. and
to show by the united protest of
the millions of Catholics in the
United States, that such action
is uuwarranted in law or Justice.
The idea that religious organiza-
tiOnS should be compelled to bow
to the unwarTanted acts of an
athelstlc government, and in the
event of noncompliance with the
drastic laws passed 10y sucn
government, should be prevented
from the Worship of God accord
ing to the dictates Of each indi.
Nldual conscience, Is one that no
true, liberty loving American cit
izen, irrespective of religious be-
lief, would tolerate.
Justice j. Francis Smith was
made chairman, al d after stating
the object of the meeting, said:
"It seems emiuently hitting we
should take the initiative in this
matter First as Catholics, we are
members OF St Johns church, the
first church in the United States
that was cOuSorIated to our holy
faith. Many other churches are
Older, but ours has the unique dis
tinctiOn of being the first conSe
Grated. As Frederlcktonians, for
the people of Frederick county
have always been brave, liberty
loving people. IL was here ia our
court house where the twelve 'im
mortal judges gave the first blow
TO the Infamous British Stamp
Act-the first blow for freedom
from oppression. AS Maryland
ers, for We belong 10 the oldest
Catholic hierarchy of the United
States, and because Mary land first
proclaimed for religious toleratiOn.
In an age when every country and
State had an established church
and tolerated no other, Maryland
had no established church, but
tolerated Ill. Under the Catholic
CalvertS, she pronounced her fam
Gus rel giOus toleration procIama
ti0u, which tOleration was intro
duced into and forms one OF the
strongest bulwarks of our grand
national constitution. assuring TO
| all who seek our shores freedom
to worship God according TO the
dictates OF their own cOnscienceS. ."
Father Kane said: "Under pro-
cess of law the Government is
trampling upon the sacred rights
of those whom it assumes to pro
iect. AS Christians breathing the
unadullerated air ofreligious Tree
dom in a republic, not in name
only but in fact. we should extend
sympathy TO our felIowmen across
The sea writhing under the des
potic heel of a Government that
ignored both the rights OF God
and man. Even though the Con
greSs may he unable to take action
i'll the matter, yet We feel justified
III lending ou neral support to
our distressed brethren"
a committee to draft he me
mortal was appointed as follows:
John Francis Smith, chairman;
Harold DIXON, secretary; Michael
McCatf'rey. Joseph L EiSenbauer
and Dr. Lewis A. Burck The
committee submitted the follow
ing, which was unanimously adopt
ed:
10 the Congress Of the United
States:
"At a meeting OF the men of
Saint Johns Catholic church of
Frederick. Mary land, held on Sun
day afternoon, Decem Der 10th,
A. d., 1906. the following me,
mortal 10 the Congress of the
/ United States was drafted:
.W hprpaS The uniust traat