The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-12-24
ALEDo CORRESPONDENCE.
ALEDo, Dec. y. 1875.
CIRCUIT COURT

is still occupied with the malpractice case,
with the probability of its continuance for at
least two weeks yet, although the judge
and counsel seem to think they are getting
aiodg swimmingly. The general impress
sion prevails among outsiders that this
suit will result, as OH former occasion, in
disagreement by the jury. One good
penetrating glance at the jury leaves the
instant impression that the granger ele
ment largely predominates, while the
thought will force itself upon you that it
is just such jury as might be expected,
where the basis of intelligence is made
the cause of challenge, in having had
some previous knowledge Of the case.
spent portion of the day in the court
room, listening to the direct and cross ex-
animation of Doctor Van Willets, of New
Boston, who was examined as an expert
Doctor Van Willets is one of the most
eminent physicians in this section, and his
testimony, gwen in clear, cool and self
possessed manner, was listened to with
eager attention by the occupants of the
court room. In the cross examination, j.
Z. Pepper, Esq, elected marked attention
by his extensive knowledge of surgery,
exhibited by the close questions put to the
witness, and in some instances correcting
him where at fault. Mr.. Pepper has al
ready gained an extensive reputation as an
able and eloquent barrister, and now to
his llurels may be added the difficult
science of surgery. The counsel for the
prosecution have so far distinguished them
selves for nothing but indomitable energy
aud obstreperous objection. In this re.
spect they no doubt pattern after the fam
Gus Evarts, in the Beecher trial
LECTURES.
Deemug the experiment of sustaining a
lecture course in this place as a very
doubtful one, certain of our people, with
literary inclinations, in order to fill the
discouraging void, have induced
the clergy to- consent to deliver
a lecture each during the winter,
the proceeds to be equally divided, with
the lecturer and fund for the erection.
in the spring, OF new church of the u.
L, congregation. In accordance with
this arrangement, Rev. Robert NuurSe, OF
the Congregational church. will, on next
Thursday evening, deliver a lecture eltitl
ed Queen Nary" The other lectures will
be announced in due season.
IMMERsIONs.
Ever since the dedication of their new
church, the Baptists have been having
continuous service, resulting last Sabbath
in the immersion of quite a number Of
prosetytes. The ceremony. being some
thing new in this vicinity, attracted a very
large audience.
RELIGIOUS TAXATION.
Religion and religious services are very
important matters in the social economy
of mankind, but il sometimes occurs t,
me that that there is just Il possibility a
overriding even good thing. 1t seems t,
me quite patent that al individual, or
community, may, at times, have entirel,
too much religion for their own good
and to the detriment of other very i'm
portant affairs that absolutely need look
ing after. Now, do not wish to be under
stood as in any way intimatiug word o
thought in disparagement Of chris
tianity, but is there not such a thing as
religious enthusiasm amounting to iauat
icism? People can not live alone by re
ligion, and all the praying of the combine
sanity hosts will not fill the poor man
larder, | am led to these remarks by tn
suggestive fact that the people of Aed
are paying burdensome taxes, taxes tina
are out of all proportion, ana taxes tina
are self-assumed in very much of spiri
of rivalry. One denomination builds cost
church editice, and another, not to be on
done in snowy manifestations, erects on
to excel it in cost and decorative art, An
so it goes nd finRitam. Our lit
town of less than fifteen hundre
population pays an annual ia
amounting in the aggregate
not much less than twenty thousand do
lars. 1t is difficult to compute the amour
what with the church edifices, the parsor
ages, the preachers salaries, the organ
the carpets, and the new chandaliers-n
to forget the customary donations. 1t
constant and unremitting tax, in ii
form Of persistent begging for money f
various purposes, with the enticemeut
regularly organized festivals to coax o.
all the surplus small change. You C;
scarcely turn corner without being co
fronted with a soliciting church agen
begging for every purpose, from a ne
church to a pair of slippers for the de,
pastor. If but one half of this conso
dated church tax was IMPOSED on Il
town in the form OF tax for general pu
lie improvement, there would 90 up
universal howl of virtuOus indignatio
As it is, people are compelled to subn
to it under pain Of excommunication-n
as done by the Pope-but | can't see th
it is any improvement on tn
method. Many persons in Alec
are actually crippled in their bu
ness By this eternal begging for mon
in the name of the churches, and win,
they have not the independence to reius
We need churches sas well as we nee
school houses. but we do not require
church building for every half doz.
OF our population. Enter into any of tt
churches Of Aledo, when all have seryic
at the same time of day, and the SINAI
ness of the congregations leaves gloom
effect that must prove very dispiriting
the preacher.
BUSINESS FAILURES.
Iu proper order, after the above dssert
ton on church taxation, is the announC
mcnt of the failure Of one of our leadiu
business men during the week. Althoul
economical in habits and attentive to bu,
ness. he was compelled to succumb - Il
universal cry of hard times" and NAL
an assignment. The assets will not "a
twenty-five per cent Of the habilitie
Rumor has it that more failures will e
low. Our business men, generally, q
complaining of scarcity of money, and Il
difficulty they experience in making CT
lections.
The announcements Of failures of leadil
business houses all over the country a
becoming aarmingly frequent. 1t loo
oh -