Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1879-02-21
Complete Separation Of thurch and
state.

state,
While IL is not popular question for
the secniar press to handle, we find our
views very wei expressed, and backed up
by minister Of the gospel, in late issue
Of the New York Epening Post in relation
ship Of church and state. II maintains
that the peculiarly American theory Of a
self.supporting church ought TO be carried
out to i's fun and lis legitimate conclusion.
Protestonts virtually disarm themselves Of
argument, in resisting the demand Of Ro.
man Catholics, when they insist upon
reading the Bible in the public schools.
Leave to the state the special secu'ar edu-
cation Of the child and to the church and
fami y the religious instruction. Upon
this point t'e Pot is sminently sound
The absolute seperation OF church and
state should include the total discontinue
ance Of contributions Of public money
direct or indirect, to the support Of any re
ligious establishment. We have never
been able to see the slightest difference in
principal between the appropriation Of a
certain sum OF money raised by tax to a
particular chnrch and The release Of that
church from tax on its property to the
same amount. The cost Of the benevolent
act in either case falls upon the taxpayers
generally. In The one case the sun, is lev.
led directly upon all but the church prop.
erty. In the other case all property hut
that Of the church is obliged, in consequence
Of this exemption, to pay larger share oI
the expenses Of government.
A secular newspaper which contends fol
this separation OF church aud state perhaps
ineurs a suspicion Of Indifference to reIig
ious education, or cNrelessnes rs Il
whether the church is maintained or net
We are therefore glad to receive timely
aud valuable reinforcements such ~ comes
from Christ church in this city. In hi
sermon last night Rev. DIR. Shipman, the
rector Of that Protestant Episcopal parish
took strong ground on both OF the question:
to which we have just referred. Remark
ilk wv WIG VI hIG tfuAu Nnat
took Christian nations more than seven
Teen centuries TO begin to give effect to III,
words OF the founder Of Christianity
My kingdom is not of this world"-h'
showed how in some particulars an effor
is still made 10 unite the two. While h
opposed the Romanist's scheme to propa
| gate religion by means OF state funds raised
for the support Of common Schools" h,
| held that the Protestants were wrong IL
claiming a legal right to have the Bill,
read rs a religions book Mt ALL In omit.
ting to teach religion" said he. "the pub
lie school is not irreligious. 1t simply
! leaves that branch of education where i
properly belongs, in the family and tl'
church." In respect to the exemption o
church property from taxes DIR. ShipmaI
gave some interesting statistics. 1t seem
that the value OF this property il nov
about FIVE hundred millions OF dollars
Before many years, at the present rate o
increase, il will he three thousand millions
In respect to all this property, he contendet
that nothing more could be asked than j
asked in behalf OF other property, that |
shall have the protection of the govern
ment. "That which is protected by gov
eminent may justly be compelled to main
tain it," When the operation OF this rul
ia suspended, the government really il
effect contributes to the support Of the own
err of the property which profits by tn
suspension. DR.. Shipman's argument
against the direct or indirect support @
the church, in whole or in part, by tn
state we're substantially those which W
have presented. His conclusions were se
forth in this forcible way
"I would like to see all church propert
throught this land taxed to the last dollar
worth, not me rely as a matter OF justice
but in the interest of religion itself. Tn
effect of anything like cOmpulsion in tn
matter Of religion is to engender rrejudic
against it. The church cannot surrende
her proud position of being n kingdoI
not OF this world without suffering for
in the blight of her spiritual life. I'll
churches may fight this question, but soOi
er or later the battle will go against then
and their retreat, fear, will be not onl
with dented Armor, but with banne
soiled."
The church which cannot maintain
self without the help OF the state may we
be allowed to fail but we believe that
curious lack of faith is shown by the Co
tention that the church cannot he Who'll
self.supporting. ii all public subsidi
should be withdrawn from it its prosperi
would not be impaired in the slightest d
gree while some embarrassing question
which now and then arise in the admin
tration of public affairs would he set
rest finally by a consistent application
the principal of an absolute separation
church and state.