New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-03-31
GEN. DIX ON CBCRCH TAXATION
A SPIRITED PROTEST AGAINST SUCH sIEP-A TAX
On THE WORSHIP OF GOD.
ILL. LLI-LnLL LLLLlla

From Letter In me albany Journal
wag surprised and Prieved TO learn that the
taxation OF church edides had been seriously aud even
earnestly advocated before the committee OF WAYS ana
Means in the Assembly tls Ntnaly PoboS nIons 10
Is rendered in the open air or In some building already
subject 10 taxation No one objects 10 the TAXATION OF
any church property devoted secular II the
mpOs of taxes ON houses OF worship That Is so OBJ
eced TO rs a PROCLAMATION that which should be held
sacred. =. IL is difficult To conceive that
The proposition could have had iis origin in any
or n which the love Of money Is the
FREEDOM passion. II those who nave set on loot M
movement want moro money, let them tax their rum
their tobacco, their pictures fast horses, gamed0Ss,
liquor ealcon-, dancehouses clubs theaters' diamonds,
eqTpages-every thihs III snort Whic MINISTERS 10 tne
pleasures, their tastes ana thrr sensual lhuuSehcss'
Nay, let them tax tLer senaries oi learning lher III
siituu0ns devoted To human science anu 'N'h ue
grounds In which the unconscious bones oi Their an
ccstors repo-c rather than invade with mecenary exac-
lions the cdlces devoted To the worship OF Almighty
God and TO tbs teaching OF our duty to hl ana our
some Of the abettors OF this movement have had the
magnanmity In let understand that tcy rcidy to
COMPROMISE with the Sovereign Ruler. They will make
reasOnable concessions. lhey WIN allow one Thousand
dollars o the value OF each OF His churches 10 be exempt
from taxation, and only exact OF Him payment on the
residue They may, PERHAPS go so ir rs 10 aioM i,
two thousand dOllars-s much ito IL would cost Wco
do farmer % house his horses and MS horned cattle
There is a degree OF sublimity In this coudescenson
which beggars all comment, and dismiss IT, with those
rendering Him homage in buildings no better
than barns and outlonscs, DO matter how abnnd'
ant the pecuuary means OF the vorshipcrs, and VINO
attach saucy To one class oI those edlhces
than 10 the other it would be equally rutess and hu
n. ances both in the Old and New Testamenc house
OF worship called the house OF God, anu IL IL always
named with appropriate expressions OF reverence The
universal heart responds to tns design alton; and no
matter how humble tne edice cUnseoTaed To HIS serV-
Ice all men when within its hallOTed walls feel more
sensblF than thcy do amid the turmoil OF the oIter
world that they IN the presence OF the Omnpotent
Being by whom the great forces Of the universe are
moved aud controlled, and that by ignoring Him they re-
nounce ali hope OF higher state OF existence
The scheme should be repudated and denounced In all
It's parts. OBd hardly debate IL without feeling OF
abasemeut. IL IL not subject Tor human logic IL Is not
Ilrnlt Ia
LEGATION side and financial cupdity the other
IL IL matter Of Instinct OF Unborn reverence, OF the con
scOusncss which every mind not perverted by the
sopiscatOns Of worldly science, has OF ts own nmeas-
ureabe nerorty TO the Sovereign Ruler Of the universe
aud Of tho homage II HIM It's creator aud re
deemer There II something revolving To the moral sense
Ia its normal state IN the idea OF making mei cenafy
profit OF edhce cOnsccraed 10 lis service. When
this inner sense Is wanting. argument Is frultless.
do not believe that any community which seeks 10
throw ts secular expenses tho worship OF God, by
leyyug contributions the edices cOnsrcrated 10 His
service, long escape the casiisement II provokes
manifestations Of His dspcasre. Cupdlty. sehshness,
apacy, the PROCLAMATION of things which should be held
sacred carry win them by the force OF Dmutabe laws,
the retributiOn denounced by the codes they violate
All religious denominations have the same interest In
preventing their houses Of worship from being desc
Grated and seculaLeJ by taxation As beautifully
expressed by Madame de stael: Their ceremonies are
strongly contracted but the sigh or distress the
petition for support ascends To heaven from all
IL seems that this whole movement Il calculated
10 In the breasts OF rejecting feeling OF
profound and unmitigated disgust. The proper
mode Of treating II Is 10 scout II out or the committee
rooms legislative halls, and social Circles which n has
deniei by lis presence To give any counenance would
be TO furnish ground for the national reprUach too
often upon that the almighty dollar 10 the chief
object OF our alteration.