The menace. [volume] (Aurora, Mo.) 1911-1920, 1916-12-09

"HE following letter was mailed TO Col.
Xxi Callahan, head Of the knights Of Column
6l- bus so-called Committee on Religious
Prejudice, on November 25, 1916, by Hon.
j. !. Sheppard, Secretary Of the Free Press De-
fense League:
November 2j, 1916.
Col p. II. Callahan.
Chairman Committee on Religious Prejudice,
Louisville, Kentucky.
Ny dear Mr.. Callahan:
BY vote Of the Board Of Directors Of the Free
Press Defense League, at a session held in this
city November cath, 1916, am instructed to
address you as Chairman Of the Committee on
Religious Prejudice Of the Knights Of Columbus,
seeking your cooperation in securing the adop-
tion Of House Joint Resolution No. 26i, intro
duccd by Congressman c. a. Lindbergh Of Mime
sofa, July 18th, 1916.
The Free Press Defense League is an organi-
zation whose primary purpose is to do what it
can TO protect and preserve invioae, certain rights
indispensable to liberty which are granted by the
Constitution Of the United States.
Tells Prejudice Expert Where Trouble Lies
Your committee has been widely advertised as
having the purpose in view Of removing prejudice
against the Roman Catholic church. As We view
it, there is no prejudice among the people against
the Roman Catholic religion, for all recognize the
right Of every man and woman under the Consti-
tuition Of the United States, to worship God as
he or she chooses. The i'll feeling you take ex-
cepton TO among the people Of our country is
caused by the pernicious activity of the Roman
Catholic hierarchy in attempting to substitute the
papal theory OF government for our free democ-
racy. When the cause is removed, prejudice will
disappear. But it needs to be distinctly under
stood that this nation cannot long endure, half
papal and half free. Either the autocratic sys-
tenn you represent must be defeated or free gov
ernment will perish from the earth.
The Free Press Defense League is in a posi-
tion TO aid you in removing religious prejudice
by removing the cause therefor and it desires to
do so. In the resolution introduced by Mr.. Lind
bergh, II. J. r. No. 264, we make the following
charges against the papal system of which you
arc a most distinguished advocate and exponent ::
1.-The pope of Rome is a foreign sover-
eign, claiming allegiance in temporal as we'll as
spiritual matters throughout the world.
"1I-The papal system Of which the pope is the
head is opposed to, and seeks to destroy our free
institutions, to-wit:
Our public schools,
2-The free press,
3-The right Of free speech and public as
sembly,
4-The right Of freedom Of though. in mat
ters Of conscience,
5-The principle of separation Of church and
state.
"III-The papal system in America which con-
ists of the Roman Catholic cardinals, bishops
priests, the Jesuits, Knights Of Columbus, Feder-
alton of Catholic Socie'iAS ~ Ancient Order Of
Hibernians, and other Roman Catholic societies
together with the Roman Catholic press, seeks to
substitute for our democratic system of govern
ment, the monarcIial or papal system.
"IV-The Roman Catholic laity in the United
States of America, is taught, influenced and
commanded, by those in authority, TO yield i'm
plicit obedience to the teachings of the popes Of
Rome and to blindly obey all their orders and
DEGREES, even though said orders and DEGREES con-
fict with the constitution and the laws Of the
United States Of America.
"V- The Roman Catholic organization in
America is perniciOusly active in politics, and
although having but few votes as compared with