Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-03-19
MAINE LEGISLATURE.
CONTINUED from Page Seven.)


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man members of the trustees should
be elected by the church. | nave seen
that system in operation in Canada.
where it happens I have two very
good friends,-French priests,-and
where it worked very smoothly.
agree with every one that all the bust
ness Of the church be under the direct
supervision of the head of the church,
the Bishop; but it seems to me only
fair that these minority members of
the trustees should be elected by the
parish. But l am advised that the
parties in this controversy have come
to an agreement, and that the ma
pority report of the committee on the
judiciary is. satisfactory to both sides,
and it seems TO me very wise that we
who are not Catholics, in this House
should abide by that agreement; and,
however we may feel on the matter,
and however our constituents may feel
upon the matter, allow this new ar
rangement two years trial III at the
end of that time this board of trus
tees, which is provided for in the re-
port, is unsatisfactory, or unjust 1t
can be changed. and the amendment
as suggested by the gentleman from
Van Buren, fMr Violette) can be in
troduced at the next Legislature.
Mr.. Speaker and gentlemen, I hope
that the report will be accepted.
Mr.. SMITH of Presque Isle: I rise
for the purpose of correcting any mis-
apprehension that may come from the
remarks of the gentleman from SkoW-
hogan when he refers to the majority
report. The new draft reported by the
committee on the judiciary was .
unanimous report; and 1 want to state
that the Judiciary committee has Civ
en- this matter great deal of thought
"a great deal of attention and consid-
Grafton this, winter-and, while the
matter was properly before the Legis-
lature, yet we felt that after ali II
involved the question of church gov
ernment--a matter which should be de-
termined eventually by the church it
self. Now the new draft was agreed
upon. and unanimously reported by the
committee; and the gentleman from
Van Buren, introduced an amendment
which changed the new draft in some
respects. / learned, this morning, that
he intended to withdraw it, as he has
withdrawn it, and l hope that with the
withdrawal Of the amendment that
there will be no controversles-no
trouhles-arise over the passage of the
bill in a new draft. 1t is one of those
matters gentlemen, that it seems to me
that as long as the parties have sub
ctantially agreed upon what shall he
done that we should allow ii to go
through as reported under the new
draft.
l regret Very much that some gen
tlemen here, this morning, have APP
parently made some remarks which in
some way seem to reflect upon that
great church known as the Catholic
church. / am sorry that 1t has come in
here. Now / am not a COMMUNICATE of
the Catholic church. | was born OF
Protestant parents, brought up on the
Protestant faith, and always expect to
remain Protestant; but | have learn
ed to have great respect for this great
church which we have heard discussed
here, this morning. For the last 30
years | have lived in a community
where there are hundreds and thou
sands Of the communicates of that
church. Now | want to say, gentlemen,
that l have found them TO be just as
public spirited as myself, just as much
interested in the welfare of the coun-
try as myself, just as much interested
in town matters as ] myself have been.
j have seen, so far as general govern
mehr is concerned, absolutely no dis
tinctions between the people of that
denomination and the people of the
Protestant denomination. so-calleG
More than that, have had some per-
sonal experience. Ny wife is a Pretes-
tant, brought up on the Protestant
faith Unfortunately she was stricken
with serious disease, and found it
necessary one time to send her to that
great sanitarium in the Southwest
Hot Springs. Arkansas; and while she
was there she was suddenly taken sick
with malarial fever, and it became ne
cessary fer her to have treatment III
the hospital, and she was taken to a
hospital under the jurisdiction of the
Sisters of Mercy. They did not ask
whether size was a Cathohc or Prot
estaDt They asked no questions what
ever: but they received her; they min
istered 10 her; they took care OF her;
they nursed her back to her former con-
dition; and from that day to this. gen
tlemen, l want to say that l have a
profound respect for those Sisters OF
Mercy who wear upon their arms the
white cross Of the church. (Applausel
Mr.. PLUMMEK OF Lisbon Mr.
Speaker, it seems to me that part o.
the discussion here is aside from tins
question before the House. l wish to say
IN advance that | have the greatest re
spect for any mans religion, whatever
il may be, whether he be Catholic. Pro
testant, or even heather, so-called
The question before us this morning pre-
sents, as IL seems to me. something tina
is altogether outside of a religious ques
tino as such. IL concerns the ACTION o
the State Of Maine.
If | understand the situation correctly
and / don't know that ! do, but | thin
that ! do-if | understand the situation
correctly. any church Of any denomina
ton can incorporate under the laws o
the state OF Maine at the present time
If that lis true, so far as this state |
concerned, it ie unnecessary for this nes
draft to be passed to enable the Cath
ole church or any other church to incor