Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1840-11-25
And the taxable mem

her members pay. And the taxable mem
bers all know, or should know, that accord
ing to the customs of business men, min
ister-a sexton, and others must pay IN
terest on their debts after specified
time; and in this section of country from
six months 10 year, is the extent 10 which
merchants, and other men will sell articles
without interest. IL they wait longer, they
must take the interest in higher charging al
first. So that if members Of a church fail
Of paying their just proportion towards sup
port of Gospel preaching, at the time il be-
comes due, they are as much under obliga-
ton TO pay the interest, as they are tbe
principal But the individual who had so
much TO do in geuing matters Strengthened
in certain church does not recollect of but
few members being willing to pay interest,
where taxes had stood from months to 5
years. Ifthese men were taxed too high,
the correction should have been made in
season. But if mol, it was species OF rob-
berry TO keep back the interest, while they
acknowledged the principal TO have been
justly due some years previous. There are
difficulties in the way Of managing the pc
cuniary affairs ofassociated bodies, especial
ly when some Of the members are so heed
less or dishonest as TO rob the collector of
ten or twenty dollars worth of time, need
lessly, in collecting the rates, and then to
robthe creditors Of the association, or the
association itself, of the interest. But such
] believe 70 be the case with quite TOO many
churches, whose members profess to be the
light Of the world. And ir professors Of re-
ligion will not do as they agree, what must
we expect Of those who look to them for ex-
ample? 1t seems to be the opinion of some
jealous professors that if a man can be con
rerted-if his heart can become right, his
actions will be right How far this is true,
| know not. | however suppose that the
nearer right the heart, the greater the pros
pect Of right action. But if this opinion be
correct, | think we have abundant evidence,
that but a telD of those who nave already
become professors Of religion, and members
Of churches, have been converted, so that
their hearts are right. For but small pro-
portion pay their debts as they agree But
a small proportion as vet, in this country,
are clear of Stare holding, either as princi-
pals or aceessories-and but few are clear
Of other practices which are injurious in
themselves, although all may not see it
And can see no other way, than TO speci-
fy the different immoral practices, and ap.
ply the principles of the gospel to them.
have no doubt that many shareholders feel
as much justified in holding sldres, as did
Saul Of Tarsus in prosecuting the church
But should they be enslaved in turn, they
would be apt TO think the Bible did not sane
tion slavery. And if a man is so full o
zeal in converting sinners, or proselyting
that he cannot pay his honest debts, or il
going TO religious meeting should have hi
l eye so exclusively fixed on the meeting
house, as to drive over and injure his neigh
Dor. he might with some propriety eranin
his religion, and ask himself whether h
would like TO b. kept out of his just dues, @
be run ov'r by his neighbours team in hi
zeal for the Lord.
hope Mr. Miller, and all other minister:
will examine the bearing on community, {
the different practices of church members
and where they have an injurious tendency
call them by name and apply the golde
rttEe to them. ]. HoLcoMB.
Brandon, Nov. %, 1910. = ..-....