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reads: "We the people of the State of Maryland, grateful to almighty
God for our civil and religious liberty, and taking into our serious con-
sideration the best means of establishing a good Constitution in this
State for the sure foundation and more permanent security thereof, de-
clare, " and so on. Thereafter, in our Declaration of Rights, follow all
the great principles which have guided us through the years in our quest
of the ideals of democracy and freedom. There is the freedom to wor-
ship God as one pleases. There is the freedom of speech and debate,
the freedom of the press, the liberty of every citizen to speak, write or
publish his sentiments on all subjects. There is the statement of the
equality of all persons under the laws and the right of citizens to a
redress of grievances. There is the principle of "free and frequent"
elections and the right of all citizens to participate therein. There is
the protection against destruction or deprivation of life, liberty and
property and the right to a fair trial, including a trial by jury. And so
on goes the recital of these great principles.
They are words written by men with an understanding of the impor-
tance of spiritual ideals in the lives of human beings. They are
thoughts that defy the materialistic, un-Christian doctrine that men can
live by bread alone. It is a concept of a way of life which must be pre-
served with great care—recaptured if necessary. This can be done, I
firmly believe, if we turn back to the simple philosophy and faith of
our fathers.
ADDRESS, BALTIMORE ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF
THE METHODIST CHURCH
WESTERN MARYLAND COLLEGE
WESTMINSTER
June 4, 1959
It is always a delight to me to be able to meet and converse with
Methodists. I am told that members of my staff who assist me in the
preparation of speeches are making quite a joke of my Methodist
engagements. I have had so many in the past few weeks that they say
they are going to have to revise the filing system to accommodate the
correspondence and the speeches. But as one's church should be, the
Methodist Church always has been close to my heart, and my associa-
tion with its communicants always has been pleasurable and profitable.
I can think of no institution to which I am more deeply indebted, and
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