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.