The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-11-06
NO=NAMER, IN NEW ATTACK ON CATHOLICS, IS. FEARFUL
 OF "'DR[LL" IN CHURCHES
"A F. Az Organization Sends Substitute Speaker to Hartford Anti Catholic Meeting, When MT. Barnett Falls Il-Agitator Says Churches Are Storing Up Ammunition For Use of Knights of Columbus.

were required to preserve order at the entrance to Putnam PhaIanx Hall, last night, where c. O. Pratt of Philadel- phia, who, according to his own state nent, has thrice been jailed for at taclzs on Catholicism, delivered a fiery address at the second meeting Of the Hartford branch of the No-NaIne SO ciety. More than 400 attended the meeting and 45 swore allegiance to the organization. Previous to the ar rival of the police, while the men were filing into the hall, small riot was threatened by about two dozen men, who gathered about the door. A man who was about to enter the door was grabbed by his coat collar by one ged from the doorway when MT. Pratt intervened. N
 Here. what are you doing?'' de- manded Pratt.
 ''I want to get into that hall, said the man who had made the at tempt
 Do you pay any rent for the hall ?'' asked Pratt.
 . "No.'
 At this juncture Pratt led the man upon whom the assault had been tried up the stairs to the hall, the arrival of two policemen que1ling the incipient disturbance, which Pratt later char
 
 Hartford.''
 James A. ~Kirkwood of No. GA Russ street was chairman of the meeting, and after the singing of Onward Christian Soldiers and of America 2 he explained that, owing to an attack of rheumatism or 1nmbago, Rev. Au- gustus Barnett of Philadelphia, who addressed the previous meeting of the sNo-Name society in this city at the South Baptist church chapel, was un- able to be present, bl that MT. Pratt, an equally industrious worker in the cause, had been sent to take his place. MT Kirkwood said that MT. Barnett had notified him as recently as Thurs day morning that he would be present, but that he was greatly disappointed yesterday morning on receiving word to the contrary
 heard the remark passed outside that Dr. Barnett was afraid to come to Hartford again. shouted Pratt later in his speech, That is a delib- crate lie. What has he to be afraid of? Does a Christian need to fearNto come into your city? If so, it sis a greater disgrace to the city than it is ito MT. Barnett. MT. Barnett is not afraid to come to Hartford. He goes wherever he pleaser because he has the courage of his convictions Neither am I afraid to come to Hartford. If
 
 attempt to interfere with me they'd before they could succeed in their purpose
 And if they did," he shouted. "a hundred thousand members of our or der in Philadelphia would be after them This statement was greeted with loud applause.
 Patrols on Duty Inside.
 A number of men, apparently an tagonistic to the purpose of the meet ing tried to gain entrance without tickets before the meeting began, but 1 they were repu1sed by a detachment l of ticket collectors at the door. Those who did enter were watched very closely and, as they took their seats, sharp eyed patrols scrutinized their l faces. During the entire meeting, these men paced back and forth the l length of the room.
 Pratt's first move was to make sure of his ground. 4 ''Is there a newspaper man in the | room ?'' he said, meanwhile staring at his audience. eff So. let him stand up.'' There was no response. : .'I i have no objection to being quoted in the public press if I could be quoted correctly he added.
 'sIs there Catholic in the room? If l there is let him stand up.'' There was no response.
 'Is there any one here whose father is a Catholic? If there is, let him stand 5up.' There was no response.
 'Is there any one here whose moth | CT is a Catholic?r If so let him stand up? If there is one here, for your mothers sake, stand up. A man who would deny his mother would deny his God.''
 'I take it that the men here were all brought up in the Protestant faith. If there are those-of other faiths here, MT. Pratt hen delivered his ad- dress, in the course of which he made i attacks upon the invisible hand of the Catholic hierarchy and called up- on those present to organize to, fight invisible government in order that | the home and the country may be pro- tected. He stood in back of a table draped with a large American flag. MT Kirkwood sat behind him on the platform.
 At the close of his address he asked 1 those who are with us'' to raise their hands About quarters of tn ose in the room did as instructed. Kirk l wood stood in the back of the room l and shouted up! Upl"
 ll sHJoiners'' Asked to Stay.
 Then he asked all those who were | willing to affiliate with the organiza- | ton and to work for it in this city to l stand up. About two-thirds of those | present stood up.
 .FWe ask those who have thus signi- fled their willin gness to remain,'' he said. ito do so and we will have a friendly little talk. It doesn't make any difference whether you have any money or not, whether you have a nickel or not: The initiation fee is s2, but if you haven't it, stay. We want your assistance and your coop ] eration. There has never been a 1 111ovem ent in this country in our time 1 which compares in importance to the Epresent one.
 | Fully half of those in the hall went | out Pratt stood the platform near the door and stared each one ir