The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1876-04-29

IN Emphatic letter from Ex-Governor Dix
| Ex-Governor Dix ha5 written letter to Or
lanao Ncads, Of Albany, in opposition to the
taxation Of church property, In his intro
=. ducton he says
Il was surprised and cricyed to learn thai
the taxation Of church edtiCes had been seri
! OuSly and even earnestly advocated before the
committee of Ways and Means in the Assem-.
/ bly, II IS virtually proposition to impose
a TAX on the worship of Almighty Cod. unless
Ii is rendered in the open air or in some
building already subjected to taxation. No
one objects to the taxation of aay church
property devoted to secular uses Il is the
imposition Of taxes on houses of worship that
Is so objected to as a PROCLAMATION Of that
which should be held sacred
One OF the advocates of the measure com.
mcnds to Us the example of the primitive
Christians in regard to outdoor service as if
a parallel could be drawn between the eli.
mate of Judca, radiant with sunshine and
perennial bloom all the year round, and ours.
/ IN which extraordinary seasons cXceptc,l
/ we are buried IN snow two or three months
and piacAcl with cold, even when under Gov.
| cr two or tdrce more
/ After dcvoting considerable space to a
sketch O: the growth of church building, he
continues:
"No movement has given such encourage.
ment anu comfort 10 unbe!icycrs, who would
create every possible impeachment to the pro.
grcss OF Christian teaching, as this proposal
10 tax church edihCcs. SeCtarlan dsscnsiuns
have succeeded IN driving religious ius,rGc.
ton out Of the public schools; and now Gu
MI ,nl III IS,
SUNDAY schools by pcCuniarv impoS,,ionS
upon the cditices IN which they alc held, and
set communities anu ncighborhOods at worl,
10 calculate the cash value Of religious Eor.
ship. II is difficult to conceive that the
proposition could have had its origin in any
other breast than one unfriendly to all church
organizations, or one in which the love of
money Is the predominant passion. If those
who have set On foot this movement want
more money let them tax their rum, their 10.
Oacco, their pictures fast horses, game dors.
liquor saloons, dance houses, clubs, theatres.
GiamondS, eqUlpagcs-cycrything, n,Shori.
"hlth ministers 70 their pleasures, their tastes
anu lhcir sensual indGlgCnCCS. Nav, let .hcm
TAX tAelT SeminaucS O. learning their insti-
iu.lOnS devoted 10 human science, and even
the grounds IN which the unconcious bones
Oh tltir ancestors repoSc, rather than invade
with mercenary CXactlonS the edlficeS devo,.
ed to the worship OF Almighty God and TO
The teaching Of our duty to Him and our
neiEhborS
some of the abettorS of this movement
nave had the maCnanimiiy to let US under. |
stand that they are ready TO compromise with !
the Sovereign Ruler. They will make reas.
onaO.e concessions. They will allow one
thousand dollars of the value of His churches
10 DC exempt from taxation, and only eyac, /
from Him payment on the residue. They /
May perhaps, go So far Is to allow Him two
thousand dollars-as much as II would cos,
a weilto.do farmer to house his horses and |
MS horned cattle. There is degree of sub.
unity IN This condeScenSion that beggars
comment, and dismiss it, With those who
mink The Almighty sufficiently honored by
rendering him homage in buildings no better
than barns and outhouses, no matter how
ABUNDANT the pecuniary means of the wor
shippers, and who attach no more sanctity TO
one class OF those edihccs than TO the other. IL
would be equally fEuilless and humiliat!ng TO
hold any parley or conference In manifoldin.
s'ances' both in the Old and New Testamen,s.