Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-01-20

ebdicatedtsc churches. Their text in these
Changes of circumstances seemed TO be, NO
longer fay,no longer itreach.--While ma
my of the churches were abandoned by the
clergy, the legislature very properly per
mitted the ministers of every denomination
to officiate in them-So far so good-Yet /
am of opinion the legislature did not go far
enough, they omitted to make provision to
repair the churches ;'in consequence of this
omission, many of them are in ruinous sic
tuation, and stand as Wondering monuments
manifessing to every traveller the prospe-
rity of infidelity or bigotry in Virginia.
say infdelify, because there is too much
reason to fear there are many people in this
state who would heartily rejoice to see eve
ry place of worship in this country conyer-
ted into horse stables or into purposes more
vile. Ialso say 6igotry, because il is noto-
rious fact that although many OF the denomi.
nations of christians have used the abdica-
ted churches, yet they have ungratefully re.
fused to repair them, and alledge excuse
for their ingratitude, tswe haze. no claim
to the Observation-Disclosures of them have
gone further and built meeting houses with.
In a few miles of the churches, although the
churches would have answered every pur.
pose that could possibly be effected by bull
ding the meeting. house |; this becomes mat
{rr of greater establishment when we reflect
- :; one half of the money that has been
.-.vlded in building those meeting houses.
!. sd have put the churches III a complete
,~.te of repair. ,.Eg.1.
" Although 1 impute. the ruinous situation
of the churches to the Indifference of inf
deIs aud to the bigotry or selfshness of the
q uerent denomination of christians, vet
SSnn;t admit that the Legislature. is exempN
from eensure--much censurethey certainly
merit on two grounds; first, for selling the
globes, and 2dly, for the use they have made
o. tie money which arose from those sales.
The gl.bes were originally designed to sup.
port the cause of religion, and that cause
they may still support. do not mean to s "
that they shall be subservient to the inter-
ests IF any particular sort of christians, but
thi TX measures may be pursued by which
they may promote the interest of every sect
In isures similar to the following NAV no
be proper. Let trustees be appointed i'm
every ieighborhood where there is a church
desc ted by the mn listers of the former es-
tab inent. Let these trustees be empow
ere TO rent or lease the glebe to the high.
est bidder, and with the money arising from
the renror lease let them repair the church.
Let it also be the duty of the trustees to
adm { every minister to officiate in them
who shall give satisfactory evidences that
j.
nifty. AS tits customary in Virginia for the
different denominations topreach once eve
~ m >nth IN neighDorhood, the time NAV
be -proporticned that each may have one
Sunday in a month, for there are but few
neishborhoods in the county where more
than four denominations reside. By a plan
OF this kind, the churches would be kent in
repair-the globes would answer the pur-
pose tor which they were originally inten.
ded, and would assist in promoting the cause
OF christianiiy and morality. Not only So,
1t would Danish much of the religious bigot-
ny that now exists in Virginia, for, as the
churches would &c the property of all the
denominations, and the gieDes their COM
mon prisperty, would be used Co keen the
churches IN repair, they would feel res
Pect for the house where they are in the ha :
bit OF ~orshiping, and would ofren Join each
other IN devotion. The good effects of such
plan would not stop here, il would 90 tur
ther ny remoying the odium that is thrown
on the people of Virginia by Foreigners
when they see the present ruinous situation
OF the churches. -
TSecondly. think the legislature have &C .
Sed improperly in the use they have made
OF the money arising from the sale of the
gleoes' The gIebes are certainly the pro.
perry OF the people, and if there should be
.Soies~ hSCCSsity I'd uiSpOSe or them,
the money arising from the sale should be
applied in that manner which would pro
mote the interest of every description of
people In the community, such as building
OF bridges, paying public officers, &c. SC.
But quite contrary course has hitherto
been pursued, and in this course the inter.
esrs OF the poor have been totally disregar-
ded. If number of poor persons wish to
give their children plain useful education
they must with their axes repair to the
woods and build house, and afterwards
pay teacherin the best manner they can
the Legislature never have assisted them to
build the one or pay the other; but il a few
rich gentlemen wish their sons tn learn La
TIN and Greek, they must needs have a
large, elegant house, and a teacher must
De employed, who demands a large salary
TOT MS services; these expenses they are un ;.
willing topay out of their own poi kcts, they
prefer more easy method, which is to peti-
tion the legislature to sell glebe and grant
mem the money TO build an academy and
pay ateacher, the legislature 10 CRAFTY
she'r inclination, Ike Nebuehadnezzar
fompy, Bonaparte, or Dupont, sacrilegious
" Jay their hands on church property, and
do Tor the rich what they are able to do for
themselves. L. doing this, the legislature