The Irish standard., 1913-06-07
Illinois Tribunal Hands Down an
Important and Far-Reaching
Decision.
Inmates of State Institutions Are
Entitled by Law to the
Privilege of
Practicing Their Religion and to.
Have Opportunity Granted
For Doing Same.


by the Illinois Supreme Court which
affects directly the status of the
Church in that State and promises to
extend it's effects far beyond the con-
fines Of Illinois. Religion is made a
concern of the State and National
Government. but in accordance with
American principles of religious lib
erty. Some time ago the authorities
Of tho Archdiocese Of Chicago attempt
ed to provide means to practice their
religion for the Catholic inmates of a
Poor Farm. Permission was asked to
erect on the ground of the Oak Forest
institutions q chapel to be used for
religious worship and funeral services
The request was ignored and the mat
ter was brought into court and in the
course Of time it reached the highest
tribunal in the state of Illinois, which
handed down the following decision:
5. The Decision.
Following is the decision of the SUI
preme Court:
'The bill In framed on the theory
that the adoption of the report. to-
gether with the selection of the par
ticular location and the erection of
the building, constitutes a grant or do
aot ~ 1or tn Fnr q
sectarian purpose. The county parts
with. nothing; it acquires a building.
The Church acquires nothing; it has
a license to erect a building. The
Constitution prohibits the county from
giving the land to the Church, but
there is no prohibition against the
Church giving the building to the
county, and that is what the adoption
of the resolution by the county board
provides for. There is no question of
any grant or donation by the county.
May the county permit the use of the
building for religious worship and fun
eral services?
THE Constitution does not prohibit
poor persons who are unable to earn
a livelihood and whose care and main
tenance the county has assumed from
meeting together in some building or
room on the Poor Farm for the wor-
ship of God. In return for the care
given the body the state does not ex-
act the surrender of all care for the
soul. The Constitution Is not violated
II the county at no expense to itself,
permits priest or minister or lay
man to say prayer at a funeral or If
q fiendless pauper Is allowed q bur-
ial with the religious ceremony usu-
ally observed by civilized nations in
the burying Of the dead. The Consti-
tuition does not absolutely prohibit the
exercise Of religion, but, on the con-
trary, provides that the free exercise
and enjoyment of religious profession
and worship, without discrimination,
shall be forever guaranteed. No per-
son can be required to attend or sup
port any ministry or place of worship
against his consent. and no preference
can be given by law to any religious
denomination or mode of worship.
This does not mean that religion is
abolished.
No Right Affected.
'"The state undertakes to provide
for all the wants of the unfortunate
wards whom it has collected at the
Poor Farm: Food. clothing, lodging,
medical care and attention, occupation
and employment must all be provided
for, and the extent and manner of
their provision is committed to the
county boards, with whose discretion
the court will not interfere unless it
10 exercised in a manner clearly H.
legal If the county board deems it
advisable to establish a reading room
or library for the county's poor there
is no constitutional limitation to pro-
hibit 1t. So lecture room might be
established. II charitably disposed
persons wish to hold religious serv-
ices in the lecture room or reading
room occasionally or regularly, no
constitutional right is interfered with.
Religious privileges are brought to the
Inmates, which may be awaited of by
! each according to his own wishes. No
one can be obliged to attend or to
2 contribute but on one has right to
". ?. washbura, Pres. IA. Donaldson, v..P
Frank elsssnsr, Treas Peter Thorhaug, Sec.
eLESShER- wASHBURN co.
IA 8atl9 Incorporated
HOUSE FURNISHERS
AND UNDERTAKERS