Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-11-26
PROTEST IS SOUNDED
Sons of Revolution Denounce Ban
 on Christmas Carols.
TIME FOR AMERICANS TO ACT
Methodist Clergy Condemn Proposed Elimination of References to "Chrst" From Songs and Exercises of Public SehooIs-RooseveIt Blamed.

From Songs and Exercises of Public
 SehooIs-RooseveIt Blamed.
 New York, Nov. 26.-A note of pro- test against the action of Jewish New York insisting that Christmas carols be left out of public school exercises this year marked the banquet of the Empire State Society of the Sons of the American Revolution at the Wal dorf.
 The Rev. Dr. Nehemiah Boynton of Brooklyn and National President Nel- son A. McClary of Illinois led the criticism, which was heartily applaud ed.
 "In the next hundred years" said the Rev. Nehemiah Boynton, pastor of Clinton Avenue NJ. E. church, Brook lyn, i've are going to have 400,000,00O of men and women under the stars and stripes. You can take it from me that not all of them will be sons and daugh- ters of the American Revolution.
 Tt does not matter whether these newcomers are desirable, like my friend, pr. Aked, here, or the unde- sirable class of which we hear so much complaint, we must reach them through social sympathy. Through such spirit we must reach their sym pathy.
 Then when group of Jewish gen. tlemen arise and declare we are to have no more Christian carols in our schools and that the name Christ must not be mentioned in schools, then is not time for the sons and daughters to get mad. We don't want to stand on our splendid superiority and tell them if they don't like it they'd bet ter go home.
 "We should meet them with a pur- pose as sincere as their own and show them the narrowness they are advocat- ing is not true Americanism.
 "One of the truest things we need in this country is patriotism that has an independence of its own because it has seen highly, nobly and clearly. Then we shall have the dawning of a new day in American national life"
 President Nelson A. McClary of the National Society of Sons of the Revo- lution, criticised the New York board of education for yielding to the de- mands of Jewish parents and eliminat- ing all Christian references in school songs.
 He asked if 1t was not time for Amer jeans to rise and call halt. He said, however, that it was New York's ques- ton. not that of Illinois.
 He referred to several dangerous phases of the great immigration now pouring in and admonished the mem- hers of the society to use every effort to instill ideas of American freedom In the newcomers.
 By far the most radical action was taken at the Methodist ministers meet ing at 150 Fifth avenue. Nearly hundred of the members were present. They went away pledged to preach on the subject of Christmas in the schools this Thanksgiving or on the following Sunday. In anticipation of the discussion there was an unusually large attendance. Unexpected demon strations appeared when the Rev. Dr. Charles L. Gooddell of Calvary church. at Seventh avenue and One Hundred and Twenty-ninth street, introduced the following resolution:
 Whereas, We have heard with great regret of the action of the committee on elementary schools in the city of New York to revise the songs and ex- ercises of our schools and to eliminate all references to Jesus Christ and Christmas and to abolish all celebra- tion of Christian festivals;
 Resolved, That we protest against this feature as a misapprehension of the rules against sectarian education and utterly out of harmony with the underlying principles of a Christian nation:
 Resolved. That we hereby appoint of seven to formulate our and to cooperate with any similar committee which may be ap- pointed to plan for a great protest"
 The reading of the resolution brought several we'll known cIergymen to their feet. and the Rev. pr. Fields Har- nance was the first to get recognition.
 This action by the Hebrew rabbis against our schools" he exclaimed. would never have taken place had not President Roosevelt assumed author ity to remove from our national coins the motto In God We Trust"