as to what book is the Holy Bible. The various Protestant sects of Christianity use the King James version, published in London, 18, 1611. The Catholics use the Douay version, of which the Old Testament was published by the English College at Douay, in France, in 1609, and the New Testament, by the English College at Rheims, in 1582. These two versions are called, respectively, the Protestant Bible and the Catholic Bible.

Each denomination maintains that its own version is the most accurate presentation of the inspired Word as delivered to mankind and contained in the original Scriptures. A study of both indicates numerous differences. The Catholics claim there are cases of willful perversion of the Scriptures in the King James translation; the Lord's Prayer is differently presented in both places. The Douay version also contains six whole books and portions of other books which are not included in the King James version. The Catholic Church considers these as a part of the inspired Scriptures, and therefore entitled to the same reverence and respect as the other portions of the Bible, while the Protestants do not regard these books as a part of the Scriptures.

The first amendment to our Federal Constitution prohibits Congress from making any law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. That instrument contains no restriction in this respect upon the legislatures of the States, which are thus left free to enact such laws in respect to religion as they may deem proper, restricted only by the limitation of their respective State constitutions.

Article 27 of our State Constitution (Declaration of Rights) contains this provision:

"That as it is the duty of every man to worship God in such manner as he thinks most acceptable to Him, all persons are equally entitled to protection in their religious liberty; wherefore, no person ought, by any law to be molested in his person or estate, on account of his religious persuasion or profession, or for his religious practice, unless, under the color of religion, he shall disturb the good order, peace or

safety of the State, or shall infringe the laws of morality, or injure others in their natural civic or religious rights; nor ought any person to be compelled to frequent, or maintain, or contribute, unless on contract, to maintain any place of worship or any ministry; nor shall any person, otherwise competent, be deemed incompetent as a witness, or juror, on account of his religious beliefs, provided, he believes in the existence of a God, and that under His dispensation such person will be held morally accountable for his acts, and be rewarded or punished therefor in this world or the world to come."

Under this provision of our law, the rights of the people of Maryland are defined in (a) matters of freedom of conscience, (b) freedom of civil status, (c) freedom of taxation for sectarian purposes.

In some of the States, where the Protestants have been in the political ascendancy, the "Bible School Bill," as it has come to be termed, has been enacted into law. And invariably (with few exceptions) the State Supreme Courts, yielding to mob or crowd psychology and fearing the cry of judicial usurpation, have pronounced the law constitutional. An examination of the Constitutions of these States reveals a similarity to the provisions contained in our own. A careful analysis of the arguments and conclusions arrived at plainly shows a forced straining of the fundamental law of the land and the respective State constitutions; in brief, they adjust the laws to their own narrow interpretations. Usually, high and lofty ground is assumed that "no book is so widely read and respected, or has so great an influence upon the lives and habits of mankind, and, all men whose judgments are of value, even those who denv its divine origin, admit it to be a great historical and literary storehouse and that its teachings are of the greatest value in the world."

In most of the adjudicated cases there have been dissenting opinions indicating that the doctrine of liberty of religious worship and the separation of Church and State have not been altogether destroyed. The majority of judges, however,

have declined to challenge a bigoted majority and have failed to keep aloft the torch of knowledge that was kindled by the fathers of the Republic.

Thomas Jefferson regarded his religious liberty statute of 1785, providing that "No man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship place or ministry whatsoever,' as one of his richest heritages to posterity. Small wonder was it that this man (who was such an inspiration to Thomas Kennedy) should cause this accomplishment to be written on his epitaph as one of his achievements, others being the writing of the Declaration of Independence and the foundation of the University of Virginia.

Maryland-as well as her sister States-needs a new birth of freedom. The torch which Kennedy, Tyson and McMahon have held so high is burning dimly in this decade. What man, filled with the divine spark of humanity and brotherhood, will God send to protect a sorely vexed minority whose rights are being threatened by narrow minds which cannot recognize eternal truths? Human institutions are in constant flux and every age cries out for a deliverer.

"Keep Church and State forever separate!" was the ringing cry of President Grant on September 29, 1875. He was addressing the Army of the Tennessee on that day, at Des Moines, Iowa, and sharply defined the rights of men and the duties of government. How timely today are his memorable words:

"The centennial year of our national existence," he said, to his former soldiers, "is a proud time to begin the work of strengthening the foundations of the structure commenced by our patriotic forefathers 100 years ago at Lexington. Let us all labor to add all needful guarantees for the security of free thought, free speech, a free press, pure morals, unfettered in religious sentiments, and of equal rights and privileges to all men, irrespective of nationality, color or religion. Encourage free schools, and resolve that not one dollar appropriated for their support shall be appropriated to the support of any sectarian school. Resolve that neither

the State nor the nation, nor both combined, shall support any institution of learning other than those sufficient to afford every child growing up in the land an opportunity of a good common school education, unmixed with sectarian, pagan or ecclesiastical dogmas. Leave the matter of religion to the family altar, the church and the private school, supported entirely by private contribution. Keep the church and State forever separate. With these safeguards, I believe the battles which created the Army of the Tennessee will not have been fought in vain.”

CHAPTER VII

DEBATES IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

They were a briliant galaxy of men who fought to bring about religious freedom in Maryland. There were McMahon, Tyson, Breckenridge, and others, with Kennedy as a leader. To read the debates on the "Jew Bill" is to be spiritually inspired, to be mentally stimulated, in brief to sip at the fountain of Scripture. These men who fought prejudice and bigotry, engaged in a valiant struggle; they did not win with one blow; they persevered against desperate odds until reason and logic had found its way into the narrow, provincial minds of the legislators. These men were ahead of their times. They never desisted but battered away until victory was achieved.

The speeches of these giants compare favorably with the utterances of the brilliant masters of government who drafted the Federal Constitution. Few debates in the halls of legislation surpassed them in eloquence of diction, power of analysis, and forceful delivery. Some of the speeches are veritable masterpieces. To permit them to be left in obscurity would be a grave injustice to the memories of these heroes. A failure to gather them together from the dusty, moribund journals, gazettes and periodicals of those days, would be an irretrievable loss to mankind. Who knows but that their perusal and study some day by non-Jews may be the means of bringing forth new champions to espouse the cause of Israel? Just as Kennedy was inspired by. the views of Mirabeau on the subject of religious freedom during the French Revolution, and by Jefferson, Paine, and Adams during the American Revolution, so a great soul-yet unborn -may be stirred some day to great eloquence by his thoughts. The speeches of these men are valuable for their historical