Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-06-09
Resolutions Uphold Action of
Permanent Committee.
Urge Continuation Of Fight 10
Stop Numerous Abuses
Convention Closes with Banquet :
Speeches and Recommendations

Biddeford. Me. June S.-Resolutions
unfolding the action of the permanent
committee in attempting to secure
legislation for the dissolution of the
Corporation Sole by which Bishop
Louis S. Walsh. Catholic bishop of
Portland, is given complete charge of
the sl6,0o0000 worth of property owned
by the Catholic church in Maine. and
urging that they continue the fight
We're adopted by the delegates to the
annual session of the Maine Cause Ma
tionale TO-DAY. The resolutions In part
follow:
Whereas many misunderstanding
have arisen through the exclusions of
laynlen and being aware the civil
power is competent to legislate In
property rights and that parents have
the right to provide for the education
of their children. and after hearing
the report of the officers of the per-
manent committee of the Fench-
Americans of the State who by virtue
of instructions from the Brunswick
Convention have sought the repeal of
the law creating the Roman Catholic
Bishop of Portland and his SUCCESSORS
corporation. n s x
1T is resolved that this convention APP
proves the action of said permanent, COM
mittee and that 1t recommends a further
appeal to the next Legislature in order
to stop the numerous and crying abuses
of which the French-American Catholics
of this diocese have been and now are
complaining, and of which the Corpora
ton Sole is the principal cause, it is
also resolved that the permanent COM
mittee be authorized to secure the SER
vices of counsel" s.
The adoption of the resolution followed
the reading of the report and an adj
dress by Godfrey S. Dupre of Biddeford,
a member of the permanent committee
who sought the Legislature &c dissolve
the Corporation Sole. It WAS voted to
meet next year at Augusta and then
elected the following committees:
Executive committee-Albert c. Beland.
Dr. George C. Precourt, Dr. Albert C.
Maynard. Godfrey s. Dupre and Alfred
Bonneau, all of Biddeford
Permanent committee-Ernest LABEL.
Westbrook; Godfrey S. Dupre, Albert C.
Beland, Alfred Bonneau. A. C. MAYNARD.
Biddeford: B. T. L'Heureaux, Auburn;
Pierre Gamache. South Berwick; Paul
Thibodeaux. Fort Kent; James Menard,
Biddeford; L. L. DARCY. Watervllls:
Philias Fauche, Lewiston, L. T. La
Fleche. Caribou: Joseph voyer, Lewiston;
Alex Laville. Orono; Thomas Berube.
Rumford; George c. Precourt, Biddeford:
Paul D'Auteiul, Augusta: l.. W Thibo-
deaux Van Buren,, and Ludger Masse.
Brunswick. f$sss&
The convention closed with banquet
this evening 1t which Alfred Bonneau Of
this city was POSTMASTER and the speak
ers included Mayor Albert C. Marcilfe OF
Biddeford, DIR. L. L. D'Argy of Water
Vile and Godfrey S. Dupre of Biddeford.
News was received at the forenoon
session that Bishop Walsh had sent
word to the family of DIR. J. L. Fortier
of Waterville. who was one of those
interested in the work of the conven-
ton. that they might choose between
a funeral service at the. church at 8
A. NJ. tomorrow, without music, ban
ners or demonstration. or services at
the late residence at 10 A. NJ. The
NSNioSo uPOh tnC idllcI al
rangement in order to permit delegates
from the convention to assist.
Attorney Dupre recommended that
the convention resort to the initiative
and referendum in order to repeal the
State law which created the Corpora
ton Sole by which Bishop Walsh holds
and controls all the church property
in Maine. { rsfs.-
We want a share of the manage
ment of the church AFFAIRS" he said.
In every other sort of government
country. state, city and town-the
people are allowed to have something
10 say. and why not In these matters
am sure If Ave men had control of
affairs of the church in this State
they would be able to act with more
ability than one man would AS things
stand now. we have Rt. Rev. Bishop
Louis S. Walsh in charge of s16.00000O
worth of property. and 1t is my f7rfn
belief that there is mismanagement
somewhere. If not. why should not
the revenue from this enormous sum
be made to support our parochial
schools free of charge? What has be-
come of our money!" -
He then continued by saying that
the State of Maine was proud of the
delegates present. He ably demonstrate
ed that there is freedom of the press
Continued on Page Tweiye.)