The Detroit times., 1910-02-17

rights, privileges and powers as the
Methodist. Presbyterian, Catholic CT
any other religious denomination.
twenty-five state associations, each
one OF which is composed OF many
local societies. are its auxiliaries. az
OF which are working under charters
granted by their several states, and IL
this proposed enactment should be-
come a law. no notice OF their meet
ings could be published in any news
paper because IL would subject suCn
newspaper TO first-ciass postage II sent
through the mails II would prohibit
the distribution OF spiritualistic liter
oture-of which there are tens OF
thousands OF volumes--as the postage
would then be four times as much as
10 is now. and four times the amount
paid by any other denomination. THIS
would mean the prohibition OF me
literature Of the Psychical Research
society OF the United states. and i;
would be driven out of business. The
forty great camp meetings OF the
spiritualists--in which are invested
many thousands OF dollars OF the
money OF the ci,Zens OF this country
would be reduced TO bankruptcy. as
they could not advertise their meet
ings: the Michigan State Spiritualist
association. as well as all other such
organizations. including the National
Spiritualist association, would be pro-
hibited from publishing the notices OF
their mass meetings, annual and other
conventions, as well as denied the
privilege OF sending notices OF meet
iEgs and other literature necessary TO
the business Of the local societies:
even the local societies of this and
every other city in the United States,
though holding charters from their
several states granting them the prlvi.
lege. would be prohibited from notify
ing their people through the press OF
the time. place, etc. of their meetings
and the newspapers and printers would
lose their patronage.
IL is not enough for the authors OF
this bill 10 seek 70 strike the religion
OF spiritualism q Death blow and TO
rob its believers OF their sacred rights,
| but 20 make their effort more efectual
they viclously couple its name with
fortune telling" with evident intent
| to prejudice the public mind against
lit Everyone who understands modern
spiritualism knows that it has no more
lrelation % fortune telling" than true
Christianity has to the acts of the
! hypocrites and mountebanks who
| falsely pretend to believe and practice
| its teachings.
Is this christian country? Is the
presentation OF this Infamous bill in
iCur congress a christian act? II 30.
lis christianity TO be measured by such
act? Is the presentation OF this I'M
1 iust and un-American bill to our con-
gress the act OF true Americans whose
/ forefathe,s fought, bled and died for
human freedom ana religious liberty?
I The hand that Is thus raised against
modern spirituaism and its millions Ut
ladherents Is raised against the consti-
tuition of the United states which
grants absolute religious freedom 70
taTT or fts ctttzerrs and every tFtfe-ati'i
| loval citizen of this republic, whether
spiritualist. christian. agnostic, mater
lialist. infldel or pagan, should vigo"-
louslv protest against such a high.
handed attempt to overthrow the re-
ligious RIGHTS and privileges of any Ct
the citizens OF our boosted land ~
tho free and home OF the brave
Petitions 10 congress protesting
against the enactment OF this bill are
Ileing circulated anG signed by loyal
citizens of this city and of many other
cities and towns throughout the United
States.
REV. +. W. SPRAGUE,
psi West Canfeld-aye.