Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-12-22
Taxallon Of Church Property.


That any class of property should be seques-
tered to private use, aud net share in the
burden of public support, seems to he a false
principle. And yet the rule that all kinds
Of property must sustain the public burdens
equally, may have its needful exceptions
| For instance, ii would be needless to tax the
property which is owned by the state such
as government buildings, munitions iurii-
ture and stores Of all sorts. II would not di-
minish private taxation at all to increase
the list Of taxable property and increase the
rate Of taxation proportionally. II is some
what so with unproluctiye property that is
used for church purposes. Suppose that the
churches, Of all kinds, In certain town,
should be placed on the list at ono hundred
thousand dollars, and the tax should be ten
dollars per thousand There would be no
diminution Of the taxes of the citizens Of
that town. All they would do would be to
pay a smaller per cent. on a larger list. Five
per cent. on two hundred dollars Of list is
equal to ten per cent. on one hundred. To
put government property, school property,
or church property, which produce no reye-
nue., into the list for taxation, is neither
more nor less than TO raise five per cent on
two hundred dollars, instead Of ten percent
on one hundred dollars. It is Of no earthly
advantage to the taxpayers.
But there is class Of property which is
exempt from taxation that ought to be placed
in the list. There are great many churches
which own large estates outside Of the ed-
fees which they use for worship. These es-
tates consist Of funds, or Of real estate. They
bring handsome revenues to the churches.
The rentals Of property owned 10y churches
are often very productive 1t is very clear
that the taxation of the productive property
Of churches would seriously diminish the
load of individual taxation. Il would be in
perfect consonance with the principles of
justice and equity, that religious aud other
corporations which now hold immense es-
tates for the benefit Of such corporations
that are sources OF ample income, should be
taxed in fact, there is no justice or equity in
this sequestration Of productive property to
the use or enrichment Of a religious corpora
ton. This kind Of property st nds upon an
altogether different basis from the unpro-
ductive church edifce that is used for the
worship OF u particular congregation. But
when church has thousands or millions in
productive property outside Of its non-pro-
ductiye property. by all means it should be
taxed for it. A religious corporation ought
not to have governmental facilities provided
for it to get rich. So long as it is mere
eleemosynary corporation, taxing itself for
the benefit Of others, it may properly be ex-
empt; but when it becomes money-holding
and money-making institution. accumulat-
ing large estates and discussing large revc-
nues, it ceases TO hold the character which
may Justly exempt it from taxation. This
is a very obvious distinction, and is based
upon common sense aud common Justice.
Aud unless we are anxious to repeat the
history of those governments which have
been drained Of their life blood, and Of those
peoples which have been buried in poverty
and ignorance by the huge ecclesiastical cs.
Establishments that have enriched themselves
at the cost of popular prosperity and welfare
we should adopt policy that will provide
for the exemption only Of church edifces,
and for the taxation of all church estates
and revenues. When the Roman church
Withdrew from taxation half the property Of
Italy aud SPAIN 1t struck the deadliest blow
at the Intelligence aud prosperity OF those
nations. The seqnestration of property to
religious uses in Turkey has gone so far as
to imperil the very existence of the govern
ment.
The Roman church has mastery policy
for the permanent increase oil ITS power by
the permanent increase OF its wealth. 1t
has genius for mendicancy and iorrches-
Tor wealth made by heggary' 1t lays chan
mel from every mans pocket to the church.
1t replenishes It's treasury by the myriad
rillS which 1t directs into ITS vaults with
selfish and wonderful Sagaelty, 1t enlarges
It's establishment. ITS resources and its rcye-
nues. There IS no church It's equal IN TINS
accumulation aud concentration OF property
III the hands oil ITS ecclesiastical rulers 1t
would be unfair to the other churches in
tins country winch are strictly eleemosynary
IN their character, and mold nothing but
perfectly nnproductlve property, and tax
themselves continually Tor pubic purposes
that the hoinan church should be allowed Ia
sequester to It's own use, without any taxa
tlon' the vast estates TO Wh'ch II naturally
and necessarily tends by It's ecclesiastical
system Inc government oil ltaly mas been
driven TO iheconhscation oil church property
IN order to ITS own existence Aud II IN our
country the Roman chufch should extend
It's wealth. ny itscralty ahd wonderful mech
ah'sm' until II should come INTO possession
oil the richest estates all over the land the
erect oil the exemption oil It's productive
property from the burdens OF taxation
"ouiu necessarily De the more RAPID enlarge
h'eit Oh us revenues the inpossipilily OF
any successful compe'ltlon win corpora
tioll whose resources were untaN'd' and the
uhuue' oNershadowihg' eorrupung influence
oil an institution "lsluihg immense reVe
MUGS ana powers AT the Nolltion OF a SIN