Evening star., 1949-04-22
PriestCharees
Protestant Plot
In ST. Marys
Secret Meetings
Reported. He Soys
Al Tolerotion Rites
D, J 7 k.kAesl
sS.s.sa css--.~~~s~~' - p. s.~,

ST MARYS CITY. Nd Arstl
y Charges thai srere, meetings
are eelng held Ii 81 Marys co4anty
10 plot cQFtAllFaent g. CAinnaae
teachings and that members q.
The Roman faith fsNat q state
church acre made here Yesterday
during ~F1ecaotn Of Conscience
Week ceremonies cosnmemerat-
lng The s0oth anniversary cs an
Rci establishing religious toleTa.
ton
An Act Covering Religion xas
approved ey the Colonial Assembly
here only q fr~ Yards from tae
spot where the Engllsh sitter.
landed in 1884 /, granted Tire
rtght Of free worship to inoSr who
profeSsed a belief in Jesus Christ"
and vas the frat legislative guar
antee Of religious freedom enacted
by any large country Of the ~ofld.
While its PROVISIONS did not In
ciude members Of The jewish faith,
mutual understanding hetween all
creeds was so widely practieed that
the measure became known as TIE
Act Of liberation
Lane s speaker,
Charges by Catholic and Prot
Astant leaders came IN the course
Of ceremonies In the Music Rali
Of ST, liarys Female Seminary
here. after Gov. Lane Former
Senator George L Radcliffe. and
ST Mafys County States Attorney
John II. T. BrtNcoe had urged q
solemn rededication TO the rfinei"
pal Of religious freedom
The ceremonies began without
an invocation.
While the state Department.
Voice OF America prepared 10
broadcast the speeches 10 the
world. the Rev. Louis A, Wheeler.
s J.. pastor OF st, Aloysius Church,
Leonardtown, read hia charges
from a prepared address,
After telling an audience Of $50
adults and ~ many public and
parochial school children that
The Most Rev. Patrick A.
o Boyle. D. D. Arehelahop Of
Washington. has sent me 10 spesk
as q Catholic priest on this oc-
occasion" the Rev. Wheeler SAID.
We are faced today with ter
rihle revolution against rellgiois
teaching and practice"
Plot 10 Changed.
Even In our can county al
st. Marys. which u sacred soil.
on which o Catholie colony ad-
mitted Protestanta and Jews on
equal footing. IL seems that there
ID today o group tof, men, mainly
from outside Our county and
State. who plot 70 curtan the
Catholic Church and her pafe-
ehiai schools, -. -. -
To-day our very Catholic eouf-
try. where generally ~e live IN
amity and peace and friendship
with our Protestant and Jewish
brethren, ID disturbed by secret
meetings in q certain place OF this
haiiowed soil that tend 10 plan an
intolerani procedure toward their
Catholic brethren"
Father Wheeler did not ampllfy
his charges. but said that "toleT-
ant protestants are the sources OF
our information that viii ever be
kept confidential. "
Striking against Suprems
Court decision prohibiting rsii-
gious teaching In public schools.
Father Wheeler said. May all men
and even that august body TAXA
heed and reverse that decision In
the MccoIlurn case. and thsir
novel Interpretation OF the hrst
amendment Of our Constitution.
Protestant Pastor Replies
Speaking for Protestants. ths
Rev. Asbury Smith. president.
Council of Churches Of Maryland
and Delaware. said. Separation of
church and STATE. desirable and
successful In the United States.
was pioneered In Colonial Mary
land by the Catholic calseru.
Il know OF no Protestant group.
he declared. that wishss In any
wise 10 change the American policy
of separation OF church and state.
Il is q fact that today there 10 0
vigorous campaign on ths part of
our Catholic community 70 ensnss
the American pattern 10 As 70
allow tax support 10 paroehial
schools"
Il regret that olr Catholic
friends feel IL necessary TO Try 70
break with our Ions tradition of
separation OF church and STATE.
I think they are mistaken In pfin"
ciple. Their policy has already
encouraged anti-Catholie orssn"
nations as wen aa anti-Catholie
speaking and writing.
Lens Dispste Feared.
IF Our Catbolie friends perxss.
In this matter. ! think we VIII
enter q iong period Of contention
Such contention 10 not 70 the best
interest Of religion. or liberation.
or of national welfare "
Mr.. Smith said Prosessanta
have many sins 70 confess. In
our history we have noarnfaed
such yipers as the American Pre-
tectiye Association. the Know
Nothinss' and the Ka Klux Khan.
Az individuals and In groups, ne
have often displayed pgeIu6ics.
ignorance and ifl-wiu.
But In spite Of the fact that In
1890 Protestarlsa wege % per cent
Of the popuiataon and that today
Protestanfs are % per cent Of The
population. ne have made ex-
ceed.nsiy litti~ Use Of our political
power 70 sxpicai cur CATHOLIC os
Jewish neighoors
BaItims~s kabhi speaks.
Rabb. MaTr.s L1soernan 81
Baltimore Hebrew Temple re-
.erred 10 the act M truly sas-
nifscanf. sternsiiy important. and