The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1834-01-29

the particular chufcn I'D WHICH '"o S""'~
ter is given. Nowas according in the
general usages Of christian churches the
attendance Of minister is considered
essentials to the proper conduct of pub :.
lie worship, this of course includes
power to tag for his support. But it is
so worded as not TO appear at first sight
capable of such u construction.
! There are few charters which msy
be construed to give the church as sep
crate from the society, a control IN the
choice Of a minister. Your committee
believe that a church ought never to be
recognized in law as distinct from the
society for any purpose whatever; mNch
less TO hold separate property or TO have
a concurrent voice in choosing n minis
ter. In many places where the power
Of choosing "A minister was originally
vested in the mem oers OF the coogrega-
ton at large, practice has been intro
duced aud grown into n custom. That
the minister shall be nominated by the
church, reserving TO the society only the
right oftapproving or. disapproving the
the choice. We therefore think pro-
visions ought to be made by law to pre-
vent this encroachment iE future.
To give the members of the church
legal privileges which the res: of the
congregation do not enjoy, is to make
church membership an object of tempo
raj ambition, and to he sought after for
the sake Of the influence it brings with
it and i, may render liable TO suspicion
the motives ofthos who offer themselves
rs candidates for admission.
There is a provision is one charter,
and passed very lately too, that in case
eny of, members Of the church or so.
ciety, however great tile number, shall
change their present opinions, they shall
----- 49, ..-~..s~.- -.----r. n
property shall be holden by and belong
to the minority, how ever small, who
are declared 70 be the true corporati0f,
and are to enjoy all the righ:s of the
church and society. Thus ifninety nine
out of hundred, when convinced that
they we're wrong, should be honest e.
nough TO avoid it, it would be in the
power of one interested hypocrite to re-
tain the control of all the property; the
honest ones would cease to be members
and he alone would be, it the eye of the
law the true church of God. Your com
mittee cannot find words to express
their adherence of the principle con
,ained in this provision.
As 'error is generally allowed to be
the great cause Of the misery Of man
, kind" and as opinions which appear to
be merely speculative, and especial,
our religious opinions often seriously i1
{ huence our other opinions and conduct
: it is the duty of every legislator to dc
his utmost towards removing all obsia
cles to investigation, and the pursuit o
r truth. Your committee believe tha, M
e funds ought ever 20 be allowed to be dc
a voted to the support of any religious
y creed whatever. Believing in the Ian
f Cuage of our bill of religious rights, tha
"truth is grea, and will prevail, if lef
y to herself; that she Is the proper ant
I sufficient antagonist To error aud ha
y nothing to fear from the conflict, unlcs
C by human in,erposi ion dlsarmed OF he
o natural weapons, free argumeD. and dc
}. bate !" they think that all opinions, re
Iigious as well as others, ought to be lei
!. to depend for their successful propago
|. ton upon their intrinsic truth alone
}. If a creed is true, it needs not the sur
i port of money if false, to support 1t
o to supper, error, and is so far obs,ruc
n ing the progress of the race to MOI
% nearly perfec, Knowledge and happ
RI ness.
a Bu, besides the general objection
$. this practice already stated, it is layir
8, a snare for the honesty Of those in who's
,e control tile fund so given is placed
.r Instead Of forming our opinions BY Ia
20 investigation and comparison Of esi