Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-02-08
The BarWise Resolve
Continued from PAGE one)

down to the bed rock of our Ameri-
can institutions.
Il would like to remind you that
two or three weeks ago at a hearing
here, the Right Rev. Bishpo Walsh
OF Portland served notice that he was
going to oppose my resolve on two
grounds-that 1t was un-American
and that it was irrational.
Il think l know something. Of
Americanism. -Four of my ancestors
took part in the Revolutionary War
and they were here on the ground
when our American principals were
being discussed. l need not point
out to you that complete American
ism means total separation of the
church and state.
Around colonial firesides this
question was discussed, and the firm
opinion gradually grew up in America
that there should be a complete sep
aration of the church anr State; that
religion and sectarian schools should
be kept private matters. "Now it
has been whispered about this build
ing that the author of this resolve
is an enemy to religion. I am the
friend of all the religions in the
world. Any man, whatever his be-
lief is, has the right to live it and to
maintain schools to teach it; but it
is n sacred. private right and the
State should not contribute to the
aid Of any sectarian institution"
Mr.. BarWiSc called the committees
attention to the fact that the constitu-
ton was not ratified until after a gem
by members of the convention that
tlnrn Shnnld no q cnrnnlntn ip1,
of State and church. He said that the
two master minds of that convention
were Alexander Hamilton and James
Madison; they stood out over all the
other great men who took part in it.
If there was man in the convention
who understood and knew the intent
of that constitution. said Mr.. BarWiSe,
Is was James Madison. When he was
president he vetoed an act of Congress
granting land to the Baptist church of
Salem because it was contrary to the
constitutional provision relating to the
church and state.
Later he said, the states found that
this provision could be invaded and it
was done, but in recent years there
has been change andThesc states had
passed constitutional amendments alb
solutely forbidding the giving of state
funds to private and sectarian institu-
tions or purposes: Arizona. California
Colorado. Delaware. Florida, Georgia,
Idaho. Illinois. Indiana. Kansas, Ken
lucky. Massachusetts. Minnesota. Mis-
sissippi, Montana, Nebraska. Nevada
New Hampshire. New Mexico. New
York, Ohio. Oklahoma. Pennsylvania
South Dakota, Utah, Virginia, Wyoming
and Washington.
These states. Mr.. Barwise said. rep
resented II per cent. of the population
of the United States and they had set
tied this question by the direct vote
Of the people.
An effort was made in Pennsylvania
to evade this provision by forming a
corporation which should receive the
money and turn it over to the secta-
rian institutions, but the court stepped
upon that.
He declared if this measure under
consideration was un-American and ir-
rational because he had introduced it,
then II per cent. of the people of the
country were irrational and un-Amcri-
can.
Now. he said. was the time to take
this step when it would do the least
harm to those institutions which would
be effected. 1t was impossible to
enact any law or any change which
did not work hardship upon some; that
was unfortunate but it was one of the
eternal NcritieS of life.
Rev. Alvin Goddard of Portland. rep
resenting the Federated churches of
Portland and South Portland. was The
next speaker for the Barwise resolve,
He had been sent. he stated, by the OK
foo
opinion vital principle of American
ism. They believed in the entire sep
aIation of the church and state.
Il want to say" said Rev. Goddard
that the organizations in our associa-
tion have institutions which have re-
ceived state aid, but we are willing 10
haTS 1t taken away; are willing to let
them depend upon their own resources.
We believe that the time to stop is now
and not to let tho practice multiply
The Rev. John NJ. Artcrs of South
Portland, district superintendent of
the Portland district of the Method
list Episcopal church. and represent
ing the Methodist Preachers Asso-
cation of Portland and vicinity, was
the next speaker.
Speaking for his denomination, he
'.@'A' W Z AAS III tIitilc dtCoIu WIN
the principles of the resolve under
discussion. I say that, in full view
Of the fact that very recently Claims
for aid have been made upon the
state by an educational institution
of our church.
But inc small amount of money
received from time to time is a mere
bagatelle to the principle involved. 1t
IS an American principle and it
ought to have immediate crystaliza-
tlon in our fundamental law. We are
facing larger claims on the bounty
OF our state with larger emphasis
on sectarian interests. We are in
sisting that in the face of this dan
ger, which is an american dam
ger, something be done to check if.
Senator Hinckley asked Mr.. Arters
II ne recognized anything un-Ameri-
can IN the State rendering aid 10
private institutions that were rcl.-
dcrlng public service, and he admit
Ted that he did not. but he thought
there would be a tendency to run
away with ones Judgment IN this
respect and to mix politics and cnar-
NY. He also admitted that in the.
interests or economy it would be bet :
Ter 1or the State to have It's work
gone where it could be done the
cheapest.
Blshop Walsh asked if th.,e were
any other Methodist institutions III
the state of Maine aside from Bucks
port Seminary which received Stat,
and. and Mr.. Arters replied that he
was happy to state that this was the
only one. Pressed to name some Of
the other institutions he mentioned
kents Hill Seminary and the Italian
| mission in Portland.
missions and churches" said the
hishop. THE Italian mission is
merely a chanel and churcbo, do 80.