New Britain herald., 1930-07-05
HITS LAWLESSNESS
 AND MODERN BIG0T
South Church Minister Speaks at Patriotic Exercises

In the Bill of Rights authority tc abuse citizens of religions other than their own, Rev. Alfred Henry Rapp of the South Congregational church spoke of the present era in the United States at exercises. held yesterday morning at the Civil War monument in Central park. He said that both types were harmful to the nroper development of America Other speakers were T. C. Cava- naugh and Carl s. Neumann.
 Three of the members of Stanley Post G. A. R. were able to attend, and 65 years after Appomattox they faced the. July sun for a half hour in testimony of their respect for the nations birthday. They were William E. Latham, Dr. Thomas Mulligan and Charles H. Whaples. Illness prevented the attendance of Commander S. H. Wood.
 Mir. Cavanaugh.> opened the exercises with strong appeal for public recognition of the inn portance Of such Independence Day observance.
 Mir. Cavanaugh said in part; "The purpose of these exercises is to com memorate the adoption of the Dec laration of ependence. which so clearly sets forth the birth of a na- tion.
 We cannot oVerestimate the i'm portance of this and similar meet y,x Lof 1l F., hn country. The future of our institu- tions and what they stand for is of vast interest to every man, woman and child in the nation.
 Empires and republics have arisen and passed away. Whether whether we as citizens shall keep alive the underlying principles em- bodied in our constitution"
 Reads From Historical Document
 Carl s. Neumann dealt with the Declaration Of Independence and the Bill of Rights. Reading in full the first and second paragraphs of the Declaration, he touched upon the chief points of the grievances of the American colonists; and again read in full the concluding sections wherein are recited the efforts Of the colonists to obtain redress from the king, the existing state of war. and their final resolution to form an independent nation.
 AS he read the so-called Bill of Rights {thc first ten amendments to the federal constitution dealing with religious liberty, freedom of speech and Of the press, the right Of assembly, etc. Mir. Neumann pointed out that their adoption was inspired by popular distrust of pos sihle abuse ot power by the central government; and that they are con- strued as limitations of the author itv of the federal government. Most of the states, he said, have incor- porated practically the same proVl- sions in their constitution He cited the constitution Of Connecticut as an example.
 Significance of Declaration
 Rev. Mir. Rapp, speaking on The VI Independence and Of the Bill Of Rights" said;
 The pages of history are filled with accounts of nations struggling for independence from tyrants and emperors and pretectorates and dic- tatorships of every kind and descrip tion. And perhaps the mostNlnter- esting thing about this endless quest after independence is the variety 'n kinds of independence sought for. Within as brief period as a single century, one nation has struggled for economic independence from heavy taxation. another has sought political independence from a pro- tectorate. and still another has fought for religious independence from dictatorial power. And while these may be only the most general fields in which independence has been sought, we must be consid- crate. as well, of the countless forms which it takes in these several fields.
 Today we cekbrate the occasion Of the signing of a Declaration Of Independence which this nation, of which we are a part, struggled long and courageously to effect Yet this self same independence, which we now enjoy. suffers grossly from mis- interpretation and misrepresenta- ton. The worthy purpose and lofty hope which gave rise to the Declar- ation of Independence of the United States of America in 1176 today are prone to be ignored, if not for gotten, by many of our so-Called pa triots who shout the loudest from the highest housetops. And 1t is VIC. who are the rich heirs of this price, less inheritance of independence, who must needs face the confusing and insincere elements of our pres ent time with fearless and unyield- foundations of our independence as we understand them.
 We cannot be blinded to the fact that selfish motives are a common factor entering into the misinterpre- tation of our stewardship of inde- pendence. And we therefore need to show an active interest in and respect for whatever bodies of con- scientious citizens there may be in our midst, whose sincere purpose it is to inform and instruct the public mind in a correct understanding and use of these~great privileges which have come to us from the wisdom Of our forefathers.
 Consider It Personal License
 Unfortunately there are those persons and groups of persons in our land who interpret the Declara ton of Independence as a personal license to them to be independent, not through the constitution of the United States. but rather from every moral. or ethical, or spiritual obli eation which devolves upon every -t,y1t f,, f,ifi of ,ofi hpir