Freedom and the Churches

INTRODUCTION

In the early part of the year 1913 a liberal

religious congress was held in the city of Rochester, New York, one of whose

features was a series of addresses by speakers of prominence in the American

religious community on the contributions of American Churches to religious and

civil liberty.

It has been thought that the interest and value of these papers

warranted their publication.

While they have been revised by their authors it is inevitable that they

should in some degree retain the informality of extemporized addresses. This

is, however, atoned for by the freshness, directness and vigor of these

utterances, in which the eminent services of American Churches to religious and

civil liberty find eloquent and convincing expression. Professor Williston

Walker, D.D., has kindly contributed a chapter to this volume in which the

contribution of the Congregational Churches of the United States to the cause

of religious freedom is more fully exhibited.

Charles W. Wendte.