The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-02-18
--thc wonder grows.
Than one small head can carry all he know

We read the Bible, but as to the other
documents enumerated by "Velitas" we
confess we know little or nothing about
thom, nor do we see what special bearing
such works can have upon the matter in
dispute The main facts in the case we
presume are these:
The Lutheran Church Council at Erie
dens levied a tax of two dollars on each
male and one dollar on each female mem
ber of the congregation. The Council also
levied tax of two and half mills on the
property valuation OF each member. These
assessments a majority OF the members
were unwilling 10 pay, alleging their
right as citizens TO be exempt from all
forced religious contributions. The Coun-
Gil then appealed to the civil law to com
pei these refusing church members to pay
the tax. A Justice of the Peace al Stoys
town gave decision in favor OF the Coun-
Gil; this decision, the defendants claim, is
unjust, and also opposed 10 the principle
of religious liberty incorporated into the
Constitution of the State. The question,
then, which "Veritds" has knowingly or
unknowingly concealed under a multitude
of irrelevant words, is this When mi
nority of any religious body in our State,
cannot force the majority of that body TO
pay a tax levied by said minority in def
ance of the will of said majority, will the
civil law interfere 10 compel tho payment
thereof? In other words do the Consiitu-
tion and Statute Laws of our Common
wealth authorize Church Councils or other
ecclesiastical bodies, to enforce by the arm
of civil power thc collection. OF church
rates from unwilling members? This is
the point SO carefully evaded by "Neritas'
and the indignant editor ofthe Democrat.
1t is useless for the former TO quote his
mushy theology, or to descant on the
payment Of '.just claims and honest debts. .
Confessions and Formulas may be
wcighty enough in settling disputes con
fined to church walls, but when the con-
tending parties appear within the halls of
civil justice, they must be governed solely
by the laws of the land These determine
what is Just or unjust honest or dishonest.
To these .Justice" in his article referred,
he asked for legal authority, for law and
precedent; and how was his request metz
The courteous editor OF the Democrat calls
him q falsifier and arrant hypocritc, and
"Veritas" magisterically rebukes him for
his supposed ignorance of ''the Standards
Of the Lutheran Church = We are neith-
er prophet nor the son of a prophet, but
we venture the prediction, based upon
little knowledge ofciviI law, that Ii ''Veri-
tas" and his party ever appear in this
Friedens case, in any court in the Com
monwcalth of Pennsylvania, they viii
find to their chargriE that their boasted
Standards" are not yet the laws of the
land Whatever may be the defects of
our civil government, we have 50 far as
State, preserved our religions liberties, and
we do not intend TO thrust our necAs into
the CALLING yoke of ecclesiastical bondage.
In short, we are determined that the Off
GERS of this Commonwealth shall not be
degraded to the business of tithe-collectiDg
for any and every religious sect that chooses
10 oppress its members.
But "Veritas' for once leaves his Stan
dartls, and brings forward the Apostle Paul
TO testify in his favor Many mans cause
has been ruined by his cwn witnesses.
Our friend should have let the aged apostle
sleep in peace When Saul had the ghost
of Samuel called up, il was but to learn his
own impending destruction. Let US turn
to the case in which, as "veritas" asserts,
Paul appealed to the civil power for pro
lection. We open to the place, (Acis 10
3l,) and read the passage cited: And
they said, Believe ON the Lcrd Jesus
Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy
house" Paul and Silas indeed appealed