National Liberal League (United States)

The National Liberal League (1876-ca.1885) of the United States advocated separation of church and state, and freedom of religion.^[1] The league evolved into the American Secular Union in 1884.

History

Officers included Francis E. Abbott, T.B. Wakeman, Elizur Wright, and others.^[2] Annual conventions took place in Syracuse (1878)^[3] Cincinnati (1879),^[4] St. Louis (1882),^[5][6] Milwaukee (1883),^[7] and Cleveland (1885).^[8]

The league "gave promises of great usefulness in the early years of its existence. In the fall of 1878 its activity was crippled by the appearance of some of those internal strifes and dissentions which seem to be the inevitable accompaniment of the development of all reformatory organisations. To screen personal animosities, always contemptible, side issues were introduced, and the essential aim of the League lost sight of. ... The National Liberal League split on the discussion of the constitutionality of the so-called Comstock law of 1873."^[9] The league evolved into the American Secular Union around 1885.^[10]

References

1. ^ "The Thirteen Principles: Platform of the National Liberal League." In: The Truth seeker collection of forms, hymns, and recitations: Original and selected; for the use of liberals. NY: D.M. Bennett, 1877; p.19+
2. ^ New York Times, September 30, 1882
3. ^ Anthony Comstock. "The Syracuse Congress." In: Frauds exposed: or, How the people are deceived and robbed, and youth corrupted. NY: J. H. Brown, 1880
4. ^ Positiveatheism.org
5. ^ Equal rights in religion. 1876
6. ^ New York Times, September 30, 1882
7. ^ New York Times, September 22, 1883
8. ^ Frugal Bob Ingersoll: how he worked the National Liberal League to his own profic. New York Times, January 4, 1886
9. ^ Radical Review. June 28, 1884
10. ^ New York Times, January 4, 1886

Further reading

• Equal rights in religion: Report of the Centennial Congress of Liberals, and organization of the National Liberal League, at Philadelphia, on the fourth of July, 1876. Boston: National Liberal League, 1876 Google books
• "The Thirteen Principles: Platform of the National Liberal League." In: The Truth seeker collection of forms, hymns, and recitations: Original and selected; for the use of liberals. NY: D.M. Bennett, 1877; p.19+ Google books
• A Liberal League Fight: Free-lovers and Anti-free-lovers Disputing; lively sessions of the National Liberal League - men and women advocating the unconditional repeal of the obscene literature laws - vile epithets bandied about, mingled with yells and cat-calls - half a hundred bolters - new officers elected. New York Times, October 28, 1878
• Funeral Services of the National Liberal League. Christian foundation, or, Scientific and religious journal, April 1880.
• Anthony Comstock. "Infidelity wedded to obscenity: the spouse of the National Liberal League." In: Frauds exposed: or, How the people are deceived and robbed, and youth corrupted. NY: J. H. Brown, 1880. Google books
• Sidney Warren. American Freethought, 1860-1914. New York: Columbia University Press. 1943.
• Robert C. Kennedy. Cartoon of the day: “The Tramp’s Millennium," November 8, 1879, by Thomas Nast. HarpWeek, Nov. 2009. Retrieved 2010-09-15