Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-03-10
Exempsisn Of Chureh Property frsa

At meeting Of the Baptist Social Union last
question, +" should church property be exempt
| from taxation 2" was discussed. The char,
Mr.. j. ii. Patrick, announced the subject, and
referred TO the principles Of their denomina-
ton, among which was " soul liberty and the
| separation of church and state, and closed by
| suggesting the point whether, as the Baptsts
believe In q total separation of church and
| state, it was proper TO accept a eratuity from
the state in the form OF the exemption OF church
property from taxation.
| Prof Mason thought the church has no right
| to subsidies from the state. The acquisition OF
/ wealth by the church was contrary to the spirit
| Of Christ. We should 'srender unto Caesar that
Gods" The Baptist church should never say
/ TO the outside, "Come join US, and we shall
have all church property taxed" We should
loss rather than have our hands tied by the
| patronage of the state. This was the spirit OF
| Roger Williams.
| Hon. j. NJ. s. williams, of Mass, remarked
/ that Harvard College had more than million
/ of property not taxed, and the question in Mas
sachusetts was discussed both in q collegiate and
| religious view. He thought the government
| should not tax church property which benefit
/ ted so many people. 1t was better to have any
religion than none at all, and he favored the eI-
emption of the Mormon church from taxation.
| Salt Lake City was the most moral city In the
world, which was due to the restraining infiu-
| ence OF their religion. In the West, wherever
As Baptist, he had subscribed for lot for
the purpose OF erecting a Congregational
church. Any of the railroad ompanies would
wilIngly grant lots for churches or school
houses. The church and the school improved
the community; and this was the principle that
underlaid and justified exemption of church
property from taxation. In Iowa the liberallty
or me state in establishing churches and schools
had been chiefly instrumental in promoting the
prosperity OF the state.
Mr.. Z. Richards was in favor of the exemption
or church property from taxes, because such
property increased the value of surrounding
property. The people thus benefited should be
willing to pay the taxes. There was one denom-
nation-the Catholic-thst was largely investing
II property in this city, and in view of these ex-
tensiye acquisitions, he thought the exemptions
were unequal and unjust. He thought gorgeous
churches a curse, and IL church property was
taxed according to its value the churches would
be built in accordance with the spirit of the
gospel.
Rev. Mr.. Nelson said that church property
should be taxed like all other property; no man
should be taxed to support religion; il should be
In all cases supported by voluntary contribu-
lions.
DIR. Ray, late United States consul at Valpa-
raise, referred TO one of his lectures in Europe
on civil and religious liberty, wherein he al
luded 70 the vast amount of church property
exempt from taxation in this country, and then
proceeded to assail the Catholic church in
Europe.
DR.. Cuthbert said it was very pleasant to re-
ceiye kindness, and he would be very glad IL
the Board of Public Works would repair the
alleyway near his church. But he claimed th at
the exemption of church property was not in
favors, like the shirt of Nessus though pleasant
would prove poisonous.
Mr.. j. C. Lewis thought we should pay taxes
upon upon church property above a certain
valuation. III the Board of Public Works
chose to improve An alley that benefited
church property, he should have no scruple
about it. Schools and churches should be taxed
in proportion TO their value.
MI King claimed that the exemption law
operated unjustly. He would not advocate an
unjust principle because Ii operated against the
Catholics. III knew
spected them, but he had no sympathy for their
religion. They were buying up property large
ly. The speaker referred TO the wealthy con-
gregatiOn OF Trinity church, New York, aud
saw no good reason why they should not be
taxed. The strength of a church consisted not
in wealth. The Baptists were stronger wears
ago than they are now. Show and extrava-
gsnce in building fine churches were doing
great harm. The speaker was glad to see no ".
ever, that though there were gentlemen of
wealth in this congregation, they wOrshipped
in modest church.
The New National Era EmbrogIIo.
ANSWER OF MEssRS. W. z. AUGUSTA AND @. ID.
JOHNSON TO THE DOUGLASS BROTHERS.
In the case of Cook sgt. the New National
Era and Citizen Publishing Company, (hereto-
fore noticed in The starr Messrs. w. e
Augusta and George ID. johnson have fled
their atfidsvits in behalf of the complainant
They state that at the preliminary interviews
between Greener. complainant, and the Doug
lass brothers there were several parties present:
that at no interview was any agreement made
with an inducement held out to the Douglass
brothers that the patronage of the Freed mems
Bank TO the amount OF s36 600 could he sec1rad
or controlled exclusively by the new company
and the statements in regard to such induce
ment made by the Douglasses are false. Thew
deny that any more money was promised than
was paid, or that the averment OF the DOuglasses
a. to 81 800 working capital was ever made
and say IL twas never heard of until
the publication of their answer in the
cause, and is wholly and bssely false "a touch
ing the interviews, = and is believed to be
a fabrication from beginning TO end" They
sllege that the statements of L. and F. Dug
lass that they were allured and enticed into the
formation of the corporation, are wholesale per-
versions OF the truth. and charge that they did
ali the entlcing and ersnaring; that at each in
terview they pressed the necessity for immedi-
ate formation of the corpor alton, and urged and
begged the payment Of $500 cash at once to
satisfy their landlord and prevent the attach
ment and sale of their property. They further
stated that the Douglasses have been exercising
the same control Of the affairs Of the corpora.
out regard to authority; that there was no
change in the positions of the Douglasses by the
formation of. the corporation. "Being en-
sagef in % the publication Of a paper, and
admit, johnson, Greener, Tompkins, Augusta,
Boston and Cook gave them about 500 in cash;
brought them work from the Freedmsn's bank,
amounting to $500; became canvassers for the
paper: largely increasing its subscription here
and elsewhere, and gave them Greener and
Cook, who lsbored as associate editors for four
who furnished the major portion of the edito-
rial matter" They say further - that they are
anxious to be relieved from the tender embrace
OF said l.. II! and +. Douglass, jr., in whose
management Of said paper the stockholders
have now no confidence; that these deponents
are unwilling, being in law responsible for the
debts of the corporation, further to impoverish
themselves In laboring to continue the man
ayers in employment, and are anxious to have
said corporation dissolved and the affairs wound
up, and all the other stockholders are anxious
to secure the same result. AID they firmly be-
lieve that If the injunction Is dissolved and the
efcers placed in charge, the stockholders will
be at the mercy of the said officers, the present
Indebtedness will be increased, and the stock
holders subjected to suits"
To-day the case was called in the Eauity
Court, Judge Wyle, and Mr.. Riddle read the
answer and argued the motion to dissolve the
Injunction and to rescind the order appointin
q receiver, which was resisted by the Complain.
ANT MT j. ii. Cook. Judge wylie stated that
ne would give his decision to- morrow
INF PROMINENT OF AZ STREET.-The Board
on Public Works have determined to have Az
street concerted from Pennsy lvania avenue 10
the -senal gate. This street was mac adamiZei
last seas1u, but the work being very unsatisfac-
tory both - the board and the property hold
ers il is nece,sary that this should be done
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