Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-03-31
5lsafrhmap e Nonrpai.
Taxation Of Church Property.

ing VI inc tdNdtloH OF chuitn HfVpFI'
The paper is edited by the Rev Mr.. Abbo
formerly Of Dover N. H., once an Unitarii
minister, but now soceder from that d
nomination, and an open and hearty opp
nent Of Christianity as entitled to any pee
liar respect from men. II might be expecie
that an enemy of Christian churches, VIII
docs not believe in them as divinely inst
tuted for the welfare Of society, finding hin
self unable 10 argue them out OF existence
should wish TO impose upon them such bur
dens Of taxation as would crush them out o
existence There is nothing contrary to tn
nature Of things in the fact that one wh'
does not believe in the Christian religion
should try to tax It, whenever possible, foi
the common benefit A man who rejects re
ligious faith looks upon q church as a sort Of
club house, and thinks II It's property was
put into the list, IL would necessarily relieve
him Of a portion Of his burden of taxation.
Then, perhaps, beyond this economical rea-
son, he would be Influenced in his opinion
by that theological rancor which is apt
even to gain possession of the minds Of the
most liberal and tolerant atheists.
We may be pretty sure that all the shades
Of religious unbelief will be ready TO tax
church property.
Then, class Of high minded and honora-
bic religious men, who are careful political
economists also, would lean to the side Of
taxation lest they should be thought willing
TO gain a subsidy from the unwilling world
for the church, in an indirect way. They
would far rather pay taxes than steal or ex-
tort their equivalent from reluctant sources.
These two classes comprise about all who
deem it wise or best to tax the property Of
churches. The former would have but little
influence were IL not for the latter. They
are few in number and small in influence.
But there is something to he said against
their notions that may be worthy Of consid-
Grafton. In most countries religion is more
or less supported by the state In Italy,
France, Germany, Russia and England, the
government supports the established church.
II would be IN anomaly therefore, to tax its
property. The churches there, in some ca
SEES, are very rich and have immense endow-
ments and possessions, so large in fact, that
in many places certain kinds of ecclesiastical
property have been not merely taxed but Sc
questrated for the benefit of the state. And
the argument for taxation derives great force
from the immense ecclesiastical endowments
which wholly escape any share in the public
burdens. In our own country, such corpora
tons as Trinity church in New York, or the
Old South in Boston, which hold large and
accumulating estates outside Of their imme-
diate houses Of worship suggest to many
persons the right and expediency of taxation.
An immense real estate of vast value. and
wholly exempt from taxation because held
by religious society, awakens the desire TO
make such estate contribute its share TO pub.
lie uses. 1t is not strange, nor do we know
and property of all descriptions, which is
not directly used for religious purposes,
though held by religious corporations, should
be exempt from taxation. The property it.
self should be used by the church, as well as
for it, in order to entitle it to immunity.
And when any real estate is so used there
seems to be a propriety in its exemption.
The house of worship, used by the Church,
so long as it is so used, should be free. For
it is building constructed by taxation. 1t
is not erected for the purpose of individual
ease, or pride or gain, but by community
for the purpose of the worship of God. 1t
makes no difference who is the worshipper or
what is the form of worship. 1t is nearly
always built by liberality which taxes it.
self, and so represents self-sacrifcing and
financially unremunerative benefcence. 1t
is, in a concrete form, the result of taxation,
just as much as any government building is,
only the taxation is voluntary and not i'm
posed. 1t is gift 1t is also gift to God,
an Offering TO the Most High. For the state
TO tax the contributions of men to the wor-
ship of God, whether these gifts are made in
the permanent form of church building, or
in annual subscriptions 10 current expenses,
would be equally unwise. 1t is the duty of
the state to foster, encourage and protect re-
ligion and all religious institutions equally
1t is 10 make no distinction of churches. but
treat all alike. It should give no subsidy to
one that it does not give to another, and for
this reason should give subsidy to mona
But in so far as they represent the burdens to
which the people subject themselves in be-
half of religion, the state should exempt
them A church building represents gem
eral taxation by a community of its mem
bers for unselfish, religious and sacred OBJ
jects. That taxation ought not to be taxed
1t is supported also by generous system Of
taxation. lie who goes to church has to pay
his pew rent. That tax would be greatly
increased by another one laid upon the
church edifice. The state would in such a
case simply tax religion, and benefcence,
and piety. 1t would rob Peter and Paul to
pay Caesar. II would tax man for his re-
ligious worship and instruction, over and
above what he cheerfully taxes himself for it.
There would be great incongruity and
unwisdom in such system. Men often tax
themselves very heavily TO support religion, to
build churches and maintain them. They
are the greatest factors Of the peace, purity
and power OF government They help, in
one way and another all men. For the gov
eminent to tax them, would be TO strike
many fatal blow at the very institutions
which keep up its own power and influence,
and extend the influence Of civilization. II
would be TO make IL more difficult for the
people TO worship God according to their
own consciences, and in some cases would
make II impossible. The additional burden
would crush many a religious enterprise,
and shut up the house of God in many
poor but needy place
If the government desires to cripple or ex-
tirpate the religious denominations which
are its chief support without which the
state would drift into atheism, and corrup-
ton, and impotence---the way to do it is to |
impose restrictive tariff ON church prop |
erty. And almost any tax would be restric-
ton or prohibitory. 1t would be better that
the resources Of hundred Trinity churches