The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-05-14
ROME'S ATTITUDE ID RELIGIOUS LIBERTY, IS TOPIC OF LECTURE Large Audience Attends Lecture at Maccabee Hall
 by Dr. Slattery CHALLENGE ISSUED
 TO REV. JAMES COYLE Speaker Declares Romish Doctrines Are Menace to American Insti-
 tutions, Both Civil and
 Religious

clouS Maccabee hall to it's fullest ca- pacity was present last night when Dr. Joseph Slattery, ex-priest, gave lecture on "Is Rome in Favor or Against Civil and Religious Liberty O. Long before the lecture commenced the authorities refused to permit any more persons to enter the hall and several hundred who came to attend the lecture were turned away.
 The outstanding feature of the lec- ture was a severe denunciation of Father Coyle, who was charged by Dr Slattery with hiding behind women's skirts in the attempt to stop him from featuring in the city He also chal- lenged Father Coyle to meet him in joint debate on Catholic doctrines as set out in the ritualistic books ap- proved by Romish authority.
 The challenge was in the form of a rather lengthy letter in which he took Father Coyle severely to task for try ing to prevent the lecture last night and contained many citations of al- legged irregularities by the Catholic clergy. At the conclusion of the read ing of the letter and challenge the large audience shook the hall with their applause and in response to the statement that if he had the financial assistance he would have 100000 cop;cc of the letter printed and distributed broadcast, a collection was proposed and in a few minutes enough money had been subscribed for this pur- pose.
 pr. O. T. Dozier presided over the meeting and in his opening remarks referred to the challenge of the Rev James E. Coyle calling attention to the 5000 offer to prove certain state ments about the Catholic church. Dr. Dozier stated he had answered the challenge in book form and that he would put up anotheres1000 if jury of i2 citizens who were loyal to the flag and American institutions did not find that he had fully and completely an- swered the challenge of Father Coyle In few complimentary terms he in- troduced the speaker.
 Dr. Slattery divided his address un- der the subheads of free speech the freedom of the press, liberty of coh science, separation of church and state, and the holy Bible. He declared that these principles of American freedom were bitterly opposed by the church of Rome.
 Dr. Slattery is man of command- ing presence and born orator, in- cluding a gift of humor which he used to advantage. He held the close attention of the audience for close on two hours and was frequently ap- plauded
 PILGRIM FATHERS
 In his opening remarks he referred to the landing of the Pilgrim fathers and the religion they founded on the American continent. Along the path of history he told of the framing oi the American constitution and It's of the rights of the piti- zens of this country. In taking up the subject of free speech he stated no better evidence could possibly be given of the attempt of Rome to throttle free speech in America than that of the ladies committee from the local Cath ollie church who last week appeared before the city commission in the at tempt to Stop him from giving his message to the people of Birming- ham. He also related stories of pei sonal attack in the attempt to keep him from speaking
 He spoke of the repeated attempts of Catholic clergy to destroy the free dom of the press, citing many of his own personal experiences. He paid a tribute to the fairness of the news papers of the south, stating that he had been given a square deal by them and that was all he asked
 In speaking of liberty of conscience, pr. Slattery read a number of ex- tracts from Catholic rituals pointing out the charge that all people are heretcs who do not believe as Rome believes, stating that had the Cath olics the power they would compel, at any cost, obedience to their creed and doctrines. He denounced vigorously the Catholic suggestion that the Protest ant marriages were void.
 CHURCH AND STATE
 The separation of the church and state was opposed by the church of Rome. Dr. Slattery stated, and cited the Catholic opposition to the Ameri- can public school system which, he stated, was the best system in the world. He referred to the Pilgrim founding "the little red school houses" and said that SO long as an American flag floated above the pub- lie schools and Bible on the teach CTS desk Americans could always snap their fingers at Romish inter- ference with the system.
 In the course of his remarks Dr. Slattery stated that America was country without king and that no foreign prince or pope had any right to interfere with American institu- tions.
 Today Dr. Mary D. Slattery will speak to ladies only at o'clock and tonight Dr. Slattery will speak to men