Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-12-24
No paper will be issued from this office to
morrow, Christmas Day.
Taxation OF Church Property

The census OF 1870 places the value of
church property in the United States at the
enormous sum of s354,4s ISL. In his last
annual message the President makes the
rather remarkable statement that the value
OF such property now is 81 900 900 900, or, in
other words, that its value has Increased
nearly threefold in five years. The Presi-
dent further predicts that in 1890 the value
OF such property will have increased to
s3 600 coo eco. There is an apparent contra
diction in the Presidents language when he
says he would tax all church and corporation
property, "exempting only the last resting
place of the dead, and possibly, with proper
restrictions, church edifices," and subse-
quentIy when he recommends in his
summary that "aR church property
shall bear its own proportion of tax
atioD." reporter of the New York
Tribune, who recently conversed with
Rev. Dr. Tiffany, formerly the Presidents
pastor in this city, inferred that the Presi-
cents private convictions are expressed in
his summary where he says all church prop
erty should be taxed, and this is the view
now generally held by fair minded people.
Reliable statistics In regard to the value
O: church edifices in New York city for the
year 1874 show that the value OF ediices of
the Protestant Episcopal denomination was
81 $1,000 Roman Catholic, s., 400, OJe; Pres
Methodist Episcopal, s2,l6l,51O Baptist,
Sl,TO5, 600; Hebrew, 81 ,5i5 ,Oo9; all other de-
nominations, s3,6ls, 800; makinga total OF
S2s, 500 coo invested IN church edificeS in New
York city alone. The whole church property
of the city is said to be worth from $50, 100000
TO 500 co., 600.
In an article read by James Paeton before
the "Free Religious Association" of New
York, in 1873, on the subject of taxing church
property, the speaker, who probably reelected
the views OF that body, opposed all exemp-
tons, and IN the course of his remarks said
that before the French revolution two acres
out OF five in all France belonged to the
church. The church was so good Judge of
land that in large number of parishes the
chUrch'S two acres were worth more than
the peoples three. England was in a like
condition before Henry VIII. broke up the
ecclesiastical institutions and secularized
their property-tbat is, stopped exempting
II from taxation.
The Methodist Episcopal denomination
Includes far more members than any other
In the United States, and in 1870 owned prop
erty valued at s69, s54 ,12i, which was almost
siO.OoO,0oo more than the whole property OF
the Roman Catholics at that time, sl6, 900 900
more than the property of the Presbyterians,
and SIS 600, 600 more than the property of the
Baptists. The Rev. DR.. Curry, editor of the
Cfristio1 AdrOcdte, who Is conversant with
the prevailing opinion among Methodist
ciergymen, heartily concurs with the Presi-
dent In his belief that church property, ex-
cepting cemeteries and possibly church edi-
ices, should be taxed, but is not prepared to
say that in his opinion all church property
should pay for It's protection.
The Baptists, in 1870. according to the GEN.
sus, owned property TO the amount of
Sal COS, 1873. The Rev. DIR. Armita,e of New
York. a leading clergyman ofthis denomina-
tion, favors the taxation OF all church prop-
erty excepting cemeteries, houses of public
worship. and such church institutions as are
not run for a fiscal revenue, and tend to
diminish pauperism by caring for persons
who otherwise would be thrown upon the
public for support.
Roman Catholic church property in lS70
was estimated at s6O, 1886. Prominent
clereymen Of that denomination oppose the
taxation in question, holding as q rule that
this Is a matter for the states to decide
The CoDgregationalists in 1870 owned
church property amounting to s2j,GS9, SOS
Several prominent clergymen of this denom-
ination in New York have expressed them
selves in favor OF the Presidents recommen-
dalton.
In 1870 the Protestant Episcopal church
owned church property amounting in value
to sS6, 5l4 SO. While there is q difference of
opinion among the clergy Of all delomina-
lions In regard to this taxation, 1t Is pretty
safe to estimate that large majority both OF
the clergy and the laity concur in the
Presidents views.
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