Religion
1. March 23, 1804
“Would an equal toleration of all religions be beneficial to mankind?”
Decided in the Affirmative.
This question reveals the lack of discrimination against any minority groups that existed in the Philomathesian Society. The group resolved that tolerance is the most beneficial path for mankind to take in dealing with each other. Their acceptance of all religions was a trait of the Society that carried over into their views on race.
5. November 5, 1836
“Have we reason to apprehend more danger to our Civil and Religious Institutions from the Roman Catholics than from the Blacks?”
Decided in the Affirmative.
Irish and Italian immigrants during this time suffered extreme prejudice from more well off Americans, and it was largely attributed to their Catholic heritage. This stigma was similar to the racism experienced by blacks in other periods of American history, and the Philomathesian Society’s resolution to agree that Catholics were more dangerous to America’s institutions show that it was not race that they chose to discriminate on. It did not make a difference to them what color a person’s skin was, as the majority of Catholics during this time were white. However, this debate still illustrates the sentiment at the time that blacks and other religions did pose a threat to American society.