, 1875-12-18


WHY IT SHOULD NOT BE DONE.
r. tAs Kdit0r Of 7'hs Chicago Tribune:
1ooANHronT, Ind, Dec. A.-Much has boon
written Of late on the eub1ect Of taxing church
property. All have seeu, however, has been
In favor Of It, 90 I would like 10 present tho
other sttle Of the question. 1t eeems strange TINT
the strongest advocates Of our public-school
system-of which am ono-ahould, in 30 many
cases, be 30 inconsistent to deara tho taxation
OF church property. Three school buildings
havo been erected IN this city IN tho last two
years. ono with heating apparatus, lion fence,
eto., presu1ne coeting not less than &c, 600,
while whela square III tho boat I,a1t OF tho city,
worth not less than e25, ,00O. il taken up for
grounds. Another building has been remodolod
to bring Ii up to tha lateat style. Many persona
aro taxed directly for these buildings for
teAohers' Salaries, etc., aud indirectly by tho
property escaping taxation, who havo no chill
dron to educate. More than this, non-reB.denta
some Irving In other 6tates-help pay for
these thlpga.
Now, many Of those who say this Is al right de-
sire church property to 10 taxed ~len thay arc
not taxed directly for the support OF golig,on.
enormous tA1 for sllowy buildings, etc.. Is do
fonded on tho ground that public schools kso \
public blessing. THIS ID all ttuo, but don't ace
how any ono who has any property to TAI, who
has anJ interest IN COMMUNITY. could say that
churches aro no. public boneAt. or be- willing
to hAys thom closed. Churches - we'll ~ our
schools have made this country what 1t IL. Who
mon In all ages havo held that rogion was Ahso-
lntely neceasasy to the well-belng OF tic State.
Tho morality Of not,-t'rotestora comes ffon, TO-
llsion, though it docs no. got tho orodit Of it.
We are told by one Of our local ps,,srs, :" List
those who want fana churcl.eH pay for the rrlvl-
lege." There afa some who might reply With
equal taatioe, "Let thOd0 who want thoit Children
I'D r& fnr frttN rhsJrNhRA with
ceptioa Of tbosa which have "star preachers are
practically froa, those who arc their lbcral
supporters arc glad TO Welcome atrangers. The
star pfuaclor will attraos many who care ouly for
tine sos1nons, aud tho poor aro excluded as they
are from pay schools. These churches lile
DaseheE'a Are tnAdo uE OF man-NoIshlpars, aud
though most OF them may bolieye in God, and
Dcocher, It ts question whether sotno OF them
boiisve there Is God and future punishment.
TAI church property, aud What must be the
inevitable RESULT n Increased cost OF religious
privileges aud increased inability to maa& them
On ths part Of those xho desirs them.
Some use tho plAuslhls Argument, "Let
church property pay its ahsss Of tho ta1es."
This mcxna tLat liberal paraona who build and
support churches slall pay Ill the taxes on tho,
property. 1hose WHO know can tell you thai re-
rare INSTANCES. viii not pay church expenses,
and that the inte1ostsd onea have to put their
hands lutte their pockets at the end evory
yoAr, paying la16s BULLS. whilo othe1e pay ht1te
fot equal privileges, aud the poor eau have these
privileges tor nothing.
But some one will say, build chosp churches.
have everything Cheap But why not ray the
same Of school and all public buildings? Who
wants 10 20 back TO the style of l00 years ago
Who IL not proud OF your fins churches, osen tho
man who hss not dollar In tbeMf Here " An-
other fzct for tho%s who say, "tss thoso Who
wAul churches support Them" Many Ut those
Who bs!opg 70 no church. And help support none,
call on nlnlsses In aickneAs md death. a ma-
jodty Of the fanefsls attended ase Of thnss who