Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1962-09-13
Spectrum

CONTINUED from Page II
stating: Abel answered the
call of his country during
World War ii by registering
as a conscientious ObjectOr.'
He further cited the fact that
Abel introduced a resolution
before the Maryland State
Association i'm 1860 calling for
repeal Of the law requiring
state employees to take 10y
atty oath. In urging veterans
groups to subject his candid
acy to the utmost scrutiny
Noyes stated that it is hypoc-
risy that this man be cOnsid-
cred as a candidate for the
General Assembly of Mary
land"
The press release bore the
signature of Henry j. Noyes."
As is the custom of netOS.
papers tUhen someone is at
tackled, tUe called AbeU and
asked him tChdt, If anything, he
tUdnted to sag in rebuttdl. He
made the following statement
which tUe reproduce herewith
IN fun:
Il am a Quaker and a member
of the Friends Meeting of Wash
ington, D. c. l was a conscien-
tious objector during the war
because of my religious beliefs.
1 am profoundly grateful to
live in a nation which guaran-
tees freedom of religion and
which protects the right of
every individual to the free ex-
ercise of his religious beliefs.
1t is regrettable to have relig-
ious beliefs injected into this
campaign.
'In the spirit of that basic
principle, Congress during
World War ii provided by law
for alternative religious SER
vice of national importance
for men who held religious
beliefs similar to mine. The
Selective Service System
drafted me for such work
which 1 performed until dis
charged following my cOntrac-
ton of polio in 1914.
eff chosen to serve in the
House of Delegates, 1 believe 1
could reach objective conclu-
sions based upon four factors
by knowledge of the subject, by
the wishes of those whom 1
would represent, by my concern
for the general welfare and by
my conscience. There are many
matters of public policy which
require decisions based on con-
science.
"Cdndidate John r. Kennedy
told the nation that his reIig-
ious beliefs tUere no bar to his
serving as President. His actions
since taking office haze amply
proved the point. / do not be-
lieUe my religious beliefs con-
stitute q bar to my serving in
public office.
with respect to the loyalty
oath, my opposition was also
based upon my Quaker convic-
tons and because the delegate
assembly of the Montgomery
County Education Association
had voted its strong opposition
to the Ober Loyalty Oath Law.
l believe the oath infringes
upon the academic freedom of
teachers and that it is deeply
violative of the principles of a
free society, for the loyalty of
free men cannot be compelled.
"The Idw is inimicdble to the
best interests OF the state for
1t has not resulted in the find
ing Of q single sNbUersiUe but
IL has denied TO the state the
services of such capable and
loyal men as the distinguished
scientist, Dr.. Bentley Glass, Of
Johns Hopkins University, aOho
in good conscience refused an
appointment because his dignity
and integrity 11ere repealed By
oath taking.
Loyalty test oaths are demon
strably offensive to a free SO.
ciety. The words of Thomas
jefferson reflect fully my own
dedication to our constitution
ally protected freedoms: I have
sworn eternal hostility against
every form Of tyranny over the
mind of man.. | leave it to the
voters to determine my dedica-
ton and loyalty to a free So