The New York herald., 1871-03-14
CHURCH AND STATE.
The Methods. Preachers on soctarian Appropria-
tions-The Principle Good Enough. but It's
Application Bad Enough-Protestant Fear
of Catholic Power and influence.

session in discussing the matter OF sectaran appro
priations which they have had up for two weeks in
one form or another There was far from unanimity
OF sentiment on the part OF the speakers, and they
finally toned down to preamble and resolution
having direct reference to the Methodist Old LADIES'
Home and leaving out every other denominationa
institution. The Rev. Mr. Willis led or In the debate
He doubted whether this was the proper time or
place TO discuss this question He did not want to
see the Methodist Church become the ward OF the
city State, and he would consider II very great
injury to any church to have legacy OF money or
lands left tolt. But the reasons which prompted
the resolutions before the meeting (already puD-
lished IN the HERALD) were not exactly secrarian.
The OLD Ladies' Home is not sectartan institution
but in SO far as 1t cares for the poor Is public
institution. He had changed his mind as
10 the propriely OF Offering this paper and
voting on 1t at this time. He was as ardcntly
opposed TO any union OF Church and State
as any man, and never wanted to approach nor to
appear to advocate such thing. The city has ap-
proprated twelve lots out OF forty plot to this
institution. 1t has no authority to sell this land, and
it must be devoted to public uses. What can the
city do with is 1t can't I'LL 1t with almshouses
orphan asylums and Jais. It
MUST BE DEVOTED TO RELIGIOUS CORPORATIONS,
and the homan Catholic Church will get 1t and own
it all in few years and entirely run the concern
In so far the Roman Catholics build orphan asy-
lums they are right. The donation OF land for
churches or OF money to build cathedrals gives
good plea for opposition, but for the erection and
maintenance Of orphan asylums gives none, and the
Roman Catholics are always ready to admit other
children Than those OF their own faith to their ins
tutions The question now is, as 1t wrong to ac-
cept this grant OF land 10 the Methodist Old Ladies'
Home ?" II the land must be devoted TO public
charities 1t is well put Methodist institution
upon 1t as any other for the support OF the poor
which the city would have 10 support. This paper
looks like thrust at the Old Ladies' Home, and he
was not prepared to sustain it, The remarks made
by MIR. Vail last week were true. He (Willis had
looked over the records, and found that the colec
tions taken up in the Methodist churches altogether
for tie past five years would
NOT SUSTAIN THE HOME ONE YEAR.
We can keep the Home up, said he, IL We Will but
we must show more liberaity than we have done
hitherto. There is money enough among the Metho-
dists Of this city and In their churches to raise
or twenty thousand dollars year for this insttu-
tlon and this sum should be secured before shut
II Off from all State or city aid.
The Rev. Dr. Curry looked with very great dis
favor upon the matter which had brought the paper
before ihem 1t would be great calamity - Mc,hO-
dism In New York should this gift be accepted by
propositions last week. but not with his cOnclusons
and he now agreed with MIR. Wlllis' remarks, but
not with his Conclusions. Nor did ne agree with all
that Is set forth IN the resolutions before the meet
Ing. He deemed the principle Of state aid to church
and benevolent institutions unwise, but not unjust
though with the present st3te of things 1t would be
unfortunate to press it, Considerable may be said
On both sides. He had gone over this line up and
down. and crOsswfse and Ztgzag, for forty years, so
that 1t was not new question at all to him.
THE STATE IS A NECESSITY
as wei as the Church. They are coordinate and
DlOtte0
to our civilization, and In certain things the Church
must acknowledge the State under which 1t lives.
There are certain things which the State can't do
without the aid and cooperation OF the Church, and
this fact should always be kept In MIND. lie was
Church and state shall 30 together, but be would
show now In every wen ordered society the Church
in the land which does not exist under the State.
and every man who goes to church goes there under
ment is that church and State shall be kept as lar
apart as possible. Too close connection OF Church
and State is great calamity and lust in proporton
the Church becomes the stipendiary OF the State
1t becomes corrupted. But In 80 far also 1t sets
itself In aDagonfsm 10 the State 1t prevents the Stale
from adordng that equal protection to all men
which 1t is expected and required to do. The
Church IS and must be corDoration. though il has
spiritual life which can never de- The corporation
and the State may die; the m1!lionnares may pass
away, but the republic and the Church will live.
The greatest enemy to republican insnrntions Is
AN ECCLESIASTICAL CORPORATION,
and this is what we find in the Roman Church Some
OF the relations IN which the Church and State are
Doctor. The judiciary Is largely dependent upon
the moral sentiment OF the Church In its admins
tratfOns. Among the duties devolving upon the
State Is TO for the poor ana feeble ones. This
Is poorly but expenstvely done. 1t costs twice as
and painstaking required here which the State can.
not begin to do. 1t cannot find mothers for found
lings nor sympathetic hands aud hearts for the suf
ferlng and tile dying nor spiritual consolation for
any. And IN order that those higher consultations
may be administered the Church must undertake
to 40 the grosser Things ALSO The Church must
take this work OF charity out OF the hands Of the
state altogether and pay the whole btll or there
moi prepared to say that 1t would be impolilic in
every case for the Church to receive state aid. He
was not opposed TO the law exempting Church pro-
perty from taxation, because it applies alike all.
The assumption OF the law remitting local tax upon
$1,000 worth OF personal property or income is
to that extent. While, therefore, he was not
sweepingiy opposed to State aid the question OF
ExrEDIENCY SHOULD ALWAYS BE CONSIDERED.
II he passed the orchard OF a generous man whom
he knew would give hin an apple IL he asked it he
should not consider 4 stealing to step over the
and thieves with baskets had been in, then he
should question the expediency of going In. And
this is the condition In which our State and city
treasury IS now placed. Who wants to mingle his
Charity with the price OF corruptionS 1t Is much
money or value and then shut your mouth. lie did
not want to have his mouth shut cheaply. Our
present State and city governments are largely
the Roman Catholic Church. This thing Is not
Wrsng per Sc. but IS IN Its circumstances, and he
was opposed to all participation in IT,
Rev. DR.. CROOKS said 1t was q question OF public
policy, and we have now entered upon new Stage
where the Old policy Will not apply. 1t had been
long recognized that the State lad right to aid the
Church and II mad done In the interest Of educa
Iion and beneyolence. 1t has done 1t, toe through
religious associations ii Is proper at all times Ior the
state to aid the Church, but as matter OF pubic
policy the Methodist Episcopal Church should hes-
tare before accepting grant OF tins sort. Evidence
Is coming up every day that one church Is
SEEKING TO CONTROL THIS STATE.
The Doctor Iere referred to the recent investlga-
lion Of affairs OF the Children's Aid Society," aud
Senator NOrtOn's bill Aiming tueroat. ana AIR
Tweed's Senate BILL Mo- removing from religious
corporations all limitations as to the amount OF
property they may hold 1t Is done, he said to feed
the hunger or tie Roman Catholic Church for real
estate, thar 1t may become the landlord OF New
York. Hgiyes sops here and there to other dcnomi-
nations ard to the Methodist Old LADIES' Home
twelve lots. Near his house is property worth
S3c0o,00 owned by the Roman Catholic Church
and occupied by cathedral. orphan asylum. priests
residences. &C.; and he had been informed by law
yer, who had given the subject some study that the
Roman Catholic Church in New YORK owned