New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-12-18
CHURCH TAXATION.
HOW THE PRESIDENTS SUGGESTIONS ARE
RECEIVED.

GRANTS MEssAGE-THE WAY IN WHICH THE
PRINCIPAL DESIGNATIONS LOOK UPON THE
PRESIDENTS RECoMMENDATIONs-rHE AMOUNT
or PROPERTY OWNED BY TIE VARIOUS REII-
cIous BoDIEs-OFTNGONs OF CLERGYMEN AND
OTHERS.
When President Grant in his message to
Congress suggested that al church properly shall bear
ia own proportion OF taxation he clothed with national
mportanc proposition which has been the subject dis
.sion among ali religious denominations during tie last
hyevears Tie free ious bodies and certain evaugel-
zeal ministers holding advanced views have attempted
sror time 10 time ac1tate the question publicly, but
have mainly failed to draw tie hre OF their adyersares.
me latter have not been inactive however. ana it
matter OF public obseryaton confirmed by interviews
which reporters OF THE TRIBUNE have had with leading
.lerymcR since the publication Of the Pre- sdents
sage thai the most opposite views held by clerymen
n The same denominations IL is thought by lead
ss OF these opposing views that the heated discussion
which is expc,Ad to follow, and quickly. will have at
least two striking aspects. la the drst place the lib
srals" viii b. arraycd bodily against the orthodox
churches and their prevailing views against church tax
soon; and secondly, this opposition. which might be I'm
pued In part theoo gca differences. bids TO be
surpassed warmth by the discussion which will arise
within the orthodox churches themselves, especially If
those orthodox ccrgymen who favor church taxation
find themselves strong enough to carry with them any
eonsdera 3 number OF laymen. Sufficient evidence OF
this will be- found the words OF clrgynen subjoined,
and ia the from the religious press and lew
pulpits within tine past five years.
Al the outset two questions generally raised con-
ccrnue the Presidents recommendation" What does
he iae4n and his figures aud deductions correct r.
The Presidents language, some ccrgymcn say, is clear
enough N itself but ms statements slightly dverge. In
one place be saws he would al church and corpora
ton property "exempng only the Last restn place OF
tie dead. and possibly with proper restrictions church
euaces" But In lis summary the President recon-
Hr rf1f fFe nm
portion Of taxation" Some light thrownon the Presi
ccus meaning by brief conversation held between the
Rev d. Tiffany OF Chicago and tribune reporter
Unit. recently DIT EGAay pastor OF the Methodist
church az Washington, OF which President Grant is
trustee but not a church member. Dr. Tiffany said thai
he had frequently talsed with tie President on the
subject OF church taxation, aud that they were
agreed 49, importance of IT, lie dill not feel al lib
erv 20 give any porGn OF the Presidents views cX
pressed him; bat n answer 10 tie question If he Dr
Tiffany would favor o. taxing church eddces, he
replied that he would be, necessary 20 tax al 10
order prevent abuses and 10 secure taxes on al other
descriptions Of church property. The Presidents Tau
cIage possibly md with proper restrictions Oe re-
st-icuons" supposed by many to mean taxation on
church edifces above fixed vaiuataul leaves tile
room FOR doubling that the Presidents private conyic
tons expressed in is summary, when he says that
al church property should be taxed.
Il is strongly doubted II the Presis nts cures
rect. The United states eensus r. acknowledged by
clu~rbncn 20 De as accurate statistics procurhlc
Of tine valuation OF church property. only few de-
nom ma On, include the value of even church euhces IN
their yearly summaries. The President doubtless
rect n his figures up 20 1850. The census FOR 1870
places tie value church property in the United states
az S35f.4s3.5Sl, and while the accuracy OF those
nguros vouched for by the statsti'ian Il
nav be doubted Il they comprise more than the
value Of church edihces, az the outside lndud-
ms parsona-cs. The President assumes that
b. TIE asst i've years this value has increased almost
treoold or 20 81 600 900 OOO The accuracy Of these
figures yari0usy regarded, some thinking the amount
too arce by least One-third, and others thinking 1t
Tar approximation, but nearly all who have expressed
an opinion the subject treat absurd rae Idea that
there 1000 OOOO 600 Of church property n the United
statr- EXEMPT from taxation. There may Pc twothird
OF that amount sill they hold that for al practical
PURPOSES tie question Of accuracy IN figures il not
strcy essential The principle remains the same All
admit that church property IS accommodating
rapidly and II is not Important in Statesman
shin whether a certain amount is already reached OF
will be reached ten years hence
There IS desire the past % certain clcrcy7nen e.
g. the question OF politics soon rs possible and
Ii hoped tnat 20 viii not become mere party ssue Two
year. ago te subject Of church taxation ra sci in
Sea-York state Republican Convention Dv resolution
OF sd by exJudge A J. I.Jt.Hhoefer embody.ng the
views now advanced by nr sident Grant bur it was
sn,tlereI ia the Conmtt.r il was feared 10 would
prove frcbrand Ia pci-rs The subject is largely dis
eus-cd from legal point OF view, 30 as 10 the JUS
tce OF IT, and just, the exIcdency OF taxing church
s1lvcs.
IT, he statistics compiled by the officers Of the City
Missionary Society for 1874 the value OF he church ed
de- OF the different denominations this city stated
A. follows. Protestant T. i-CoVal S7,jOOOOJ; Roman
Catholic, S5.4OOOOO; Presbyterian, $i.JjO0oO; Re
formed So.3-OOGO; Methodist Episcopal s2,lGl, 800;
Baptist, S1.7O5 900; Hebrew. Sl545,0o0' air Other
denominations s3G1s,5OO; making total OF S@-.soO-
ed u We whole
church property of the city is said to be worth from
teO.OOOOOO 70 S900OOOOO.
rHE OPINIONS OF A FOLLOWER OF "FREE RE
IIGION."
The views ~ certain clers Of different denomn'
lions on church taxation. given below. The opinions
held by what is called the Liberal Church. which owns
only small percentage OF tle church property u the
country and 10y TIE large number Of citizens who look al
the subject from pont Of view, are probably
vel set forth by James Parton paper which he read
before the Pre- Religious Association, Oct 10 1879 en-
titled Churches should be Taxed and from which the
following extracts are made:
Ia this state. and believe ia most states Of The Union
churches colleges schools hIu-eUiGs, libraries, hn.pd
fre-augne houses cemeteries, chafdpe lh-liHtioAa
generally, aud the lands OF aeucGituri soce.les are
exempt nom taxation am opposed 20 Az exemptions
its ,r,,ls rt,l to tle states support Church
property is KIND OF property which nowhere ID the
world contributes au-At 10 TIE support Oi the Govern
ucnt that protects il 7 nov The importance Of The
Part which churches play B 0ur modern world ana now
much soace adInentor elevation. and cntert'luInent
they AFFORD 70 muutuoes or most worthy people IA every
aud Bat you do strengthen an insti alton y pau
p.rfTnc a. md DO not rter gtncn n 10y uahlhe 10
H. pa mart # "a uauper. even the extent of IFS
taxes institution exempt rom t@Ade."u may %"
veg good fungus bus 10 comes short Of being living
branch
before the French Revolution two acres ont OF every
nte 10 al France belonged io llc church 4ie ChuItH
was 80 good judge az land that in iargr number OF
parishes Churc- two were worth more iban
10 reoplr- three. England 90 . l.ie ccu..i Dee
Henry Will broke up tht cecil la-tlcI instlul IONS
and sccliizcd their property CHAT bal, stopped e1oupt-
IA 90 OF cities fIf-