Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-02-15
Senator BarWise
on Sectarian Fund
Before Mems Club

The banquet held at the Randolph
NJ. l.. church last evening under the
auspices of the Mems Club was a
| success from every point of view
There were III persons seated at the
supper and q fine menu was pre-
pared and served by the members
of the L. o. Club of the church. Al
the program room was made for
about 80 more, and cheers and songs
were given by the assembly, and a
splendid musical program was given
consisting of several solos by Wal
ter Goodwin and selections by the
quartet which needed no introduc-
ton to the audience for their sing
ing is well and favorably known. An
| orchestra of nine pieces also fur
| nished music during the evening.
Rev. A. F. Leigh, pastor pf the
church acted as master of cere-
monies and introduced as the guest
and speaker Of the evening, Senator
Mark y. Barwise Of Bangor. After
paying tribute to Rev. Mr.. Leigh
and the church members for their
reception. Senator BarWise announc-
ed as his subject the Constitutional
Amendment which was before tile
last session of the Legislature
which would prohibit the appropria-
denominational and parochial pur-
poses. During the 125 years proceed
ing the adoption of our Federal Con-
stitution, the mast common factor
in European history was the intoler-
ance of the ProteStants for Catholics
and of the Catholics for the Protes-
tants depending upon who was in
power Scarcely a ship came from
Europe for more than a century, but
what was filled with refugees from
prosecutions on both sides. AS al
most every family in any OF our
colonies had relatives who had suf-
fered from these prosecutions n
Europe. there gradually grew up in
the minds of our colonial ancestors
what has become our settled policy
of the complete separation OF the
church and the State.
Every man at the Constitutional
Convention endorsed this fundamen-
tai principle and they thought they
We're secure in this when they en-
bodied in the Constitution the
phrase, NO religious test shall ever
be required from anyone holding of
nee under the government of the
United States" When the Constitu-
ton was subjected to the several
states for ratification, the greatest
objection was that the principle of
total and complete separation had
not been sufficiently assured, and it
was, only ratified because of a gen
ueman's agreement. The very first
line or the first amendment which
went into effect was Congress
shall have no power to pass any law
IN respect to a religious esta blish-
ment."
Then various religious organiza-
tons began to make onslaughts on
the treasures of the several states.
and the states. one after another
began to pass amendments similar
to the one presented in Maine last
winter until now 80 states including
all the large ones in New England
such as New Hampshire. Cd Massa-
chusetts have such amendments. If
state can take money from the
tS taxpayers by law, and by another
law turn it over to a Baptist, Meth
odist or Catholic institution. then we
can no longer have our American
doctrine of total and complete SEN
aration of church and state. Tie
ideal for which we should all work
! can be no better be expressed than
in the words OF the great ItaIion
statesman Covouir. "a free church
in free state"