The Northern star, and farmers' and mechanics' advocate. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1830-1834, 1834-02-01

djspensable TO general happiness, and W,
need not 60 great way from home te
make the discovery, that law religion and
morality are two very different things
An attempt TO make religion a political
engine, contrary to the express design OF
its founder, cannot be expected to end in
any good.
On reading the annexed list ofreligious
corporations, It will be observed, that they
cannot be reduced to any general classes.
Some ofthe charters contain noiimit what
everto the power to hold property; some
have a provision to empower to tax for
rsPe:rs, and some power to tax the pews
for the support OF a minister. This pow
er il is believed was never granted until
Of late years. 1t ought to be mentioned
that ia almost oil the cases where the So
cicty bave power 10 tax the pews, they
have power to advertise and sell the pews
ofthose who do not pay the tux. Ii this
is not introducing compulsion into relig-
ion, we do not understand the meaning oil
words. wM
There are several charters which en-
power the Society to tax the pews, to pay
all the expenses OF supporting public wor-
ship, according to the usages Of the par
ticular church to which the charter is
given. Now as according to the general
usages oi christian churches the attend
ance OF minister is considered essential
U the proper conduct OF public worship,
this Of course includes power to tax for
his support. But it 10 SO worded as not
to appear at first sight capable Of such a
construction. =.
There are a few charters which may
bo construed to give the church as seper-
ate from the society, control in the
choice of q minister. Your committee
believe that church ought never to be
fscognized in law as distinct from the So
ciety, for any purpose whatever; much
less TO hold separate property or to have a
Concurrent voice in choosing minister. -
In maRy places where the power Of choos-
ing q minister was originally vested 10 the
members of the congregation 1t large, q
pfsctios hss been introduced and growf
into custom, that the minister shall be
ucminated by the church, reserving 10 the
society only the right Of approving or dis.
EapprovIng the choice. We therefore think
ipse vision sAsgIst 70 DO made by law to pre-
vent this ehcroachmsnt in future.
To give the members Of the church any
legal privileges which the rest Of the con-
gregatioa do not enjoy, is to make church
membership On object Of temporal ambit-
ion, and to be sought after for the sake Of
the influence il brings with it; and it may
fender liable to suspicion the motives oi
those who offer themselves as candidates
Tor admission.
There is provision in one charter, and
passed very lately too, that in case any OF
the members OF the church or society,
however great the number, shall change
their present opinions, they shall cease to
fbe members thereof, and all the property
shall be holden by and belong to the mi
jaority, however small, who are declared
| to be the true corporation and are to en-
Joy all the rights of the church and socie-
lty. Thus il ninety-nine out nf a hundred,
twhen convinced that they were wrong,
should be honest enough to avow 1t, it
would be in the power of one interested
lhypocrite to retain the control OF all the
property; the honest ones would cease to
be members and te alone would be, in
the eye OF the law, tho true church ol
God. Your committee cannot find words
to express their abhorrence Of the princi-
pie contained in. this provision.
As 'error is generally allowed TO be the
great cause OF the misery of mankind
and as opinions which appear to be nerel,
speculative, and especially our religion:
opinions often seriously influence oul
| other opinions and conduct, it is the duty
Of every legislator to do his utmost to-
wards removing all obstacles to invest
cation, and the pursuit Of truth. You
committeo believe that no funds ought
ever to be allowed to be devoted to the
support Of any religious creed Whatever
Believing in the language Of our bill OF
religious rights, that "truth is great and
will prevail, If left to herself that she IS
the proper and sufficient antagonist to er-
ror and has nothing TO fear from the con-
llct, unless by human interposil'on dis
armed of her natural weapons, free argu-
inent and debate !" they think that all
opinions, religious as well as others, ought
to be Left to depend for their successful
propagation upon their intrinsic truth a
lone. III creed is true, it needs not the
suppor, of money II flse, to support II
| is TO support error, MS and is so Tar OBJ
struc,ing the progress Of tho race to
moro nearly perfect knowledge and hap
|piness.
But besides the general objection to
this practice already stated, Il is laying
snare for the honesty Of those IN whose
control the fund so gwen is placed. In
stead Of forming our opinions by fair IN
ves,iga,ion and comparison OF evidence