New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-04-07
PROXIES.

A correspondent--who seems TO be pulled nearly
apart BY his reason and his devotion to hs sect
says:
"If country members do not care enough about the
societies TO which they belong to attend their meetng
why should they be suffered TO override the will OF
those upon whom falls all the trouble of holding the
meetings, making arrangements, &c, THIS the
Proxy bill gives them power TO do, and what this
but an infamous invasion Of the rights Of Chris
'tiansP"
SO much for his fidelity to his sect, or rather,
to his sect's organ-now let US make an appeal to
bis reason: ..,.
The persons whose right to voice in themauags.
ment Of our great Religious and Benefceut Assoc-
atoms is affirmed by the Proxy bill are not outsiders,
not iniruders, not bogus associates, nor invading
enemies, but regularly chosen members of those As
socatons, who have paid their money into their
respective treasures, and whose right 10 vote in
their meetings is beyond shadow of question. No
one disputes it.
But, says our correspondent, "if they do NOT
care enough about the Societies to which they be-
long to attend their meetings, why should they be
suffered" TO vote in their meetngs' Scare
enough" SIR correspondent! How do you de-
duce the fact that pastor of small rural congre-
CATION who promise him $500 or $500 year, and
pay it in green frewood and soggy potatoes doesn't
"care" about the management and welfare of the
Tract or Home Missionary Society Of which some
friends generosity has made him life member,
from the circumstance that he does not see it TO
spend $50 and fortnight in journeying from bis
charge in Aroostook or Minnesota to attend the An
niyersaresl May be he wants that $50 TO pay for
q COW, or buy few indispensable books, or fit bis
son for college, and has been carefully saving eyep
marrisge-fee and odd quarter that came into bis
hands throughout the past year, to that end. May
be be hasn't the $50 at all, and knows no one will
ing even to lend it to him. What worldwide g.
sumption from the naIrowest shred of premise our
correspondents don't carel"
There may be prudential reasons for keeping the
management of these corporations in the hands Of
the few who habitually attend their meetings but
none occur to On the contrary, we believe that
they would be benefited by the greater publicity,
interest ard efficiency thus insured to their marriage
ment, and the consequent detection OF long-hidden
abuses, if such there be. We know that Others
think differently and we freely concede their night
to their own opinion. We hold them mistaken
we do not stigmatze them as corrupt or dishonest
1t may be unwise or impolitic to allow votes BY
proxy to those members of religious or charitable
society who reside so far from its focus as to DO
unable to attend its meetings; though we do not
think so; but it manifestly is not "an outrage
it is not " iniquitous," nor "abomnable, and the
vituperation heaped upon the measure by i@
uorfOQ
of the press. We see not how that portion which
styles itself par excellence religious should Be At Nv
erty to indulge without rebuke in rolling hle .,
fiagranty abusive calumnies, and we DO MOI in's0a
hat il shall be. '.afef