The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-09-15
Practical Test of Church Charity
[St. Louis Rennhlicnn. l


The newspapers in various quar-
tiers are engaged in discussing The
exemption from tax alton of church
property, and the subject is one of
Importance, since that class of prop
eify in the United States represents
value of four hundred million dol
lars. This is large item Of protec-
ton by law without returning any
money equivalent for the expense
of such public service, and the ques-
ton of this wholesale exemp-
ton is a valid one. Some of
the clergymen are giving express
sions of their views OH the sub
ject, and among others the Rev. Ed
ward Everett Hale, who maintains
that the churches have no claim to
exemption from taxation. except
upon the ground of public charity,
and then only to the extent that they
are public charities. This reduces
the various matters involved to the
true business basis, leaving the free
exercise of the christian virtue of
charity entirely out of the business.
That, The preacher thinks, should be
left unburdened and uutrammelled
for cultivation and extension, and
the divine impulse of charity and its
actual work certainly ought not to be
taxed, and ought to be encouraged IN
every possible way. The more of
it the better for society at large. The
Rev. Hale's idea is both liberal and
just, and ifapplied would practical
ly test the quantity of charity there
is in the church. He would ascer-
tain the amount of money a church
eXpends annually in poor relief, hos
pitfalls, asylnms, etc, outside of its
own congregation, estimate the
value of church property, and strike
trne financial balance between the
amount entitled to exemption and
that subject to taxation for the en-
ioyment of more worldly priv
leges, such as a costly house for
worship, luxurious pews, expensive
music and high-salaried preachers
This plan would develop the public
charity a church does, and fairly dis
tribute the burdens OF caring for the
poor and needy. 1t would also tend
to stimulate the sentiment and the
exercise of charity in the various
Christian communities, and suggest
the expenditure of less money in
church buildings and services, and
more for the principle upon which |
the churches claim exemption from |
taxation. For instance, a congrega-
ton owning a church building cost |
ing, say $50, 900, can dispense as much |
charity as one enjoying accommoda-
tons costing half million, a million |
or millions, ana they have so much |
the more money to give to the poor.
The amount of needed charity that |
a congregation expends upon its
own poor might also be taken into |
account, as this relieves the public
to that extent and is a
general benefit.
The people are evidently begin
nIng to inquire whether palatlal
church edifices for sumptuous must
,al and oratorical entertainments
and luxurious worship are public
charities that can rigtfully claim ex-
from paying the public
cost of protection in the enjoy
nent of the special privileges.
lnc puDlic paylnasIer is III
,lined to regard many of them as
merely religious clubs, no more ell
titled to exemption from taxation,
IN the ground of charity, than a
private school or social club. Their
seats are not free to all, but are
owned by a UNCONVENTIONAL class,
Who enjoy them exclusively. To
'um it UP practically, one religious
may do as much pub
lc charity as another, while the one
s exempted from taxes only OH
ome thousands of dollars, and the
,ther ON millions. Thus the ex-
'mption does not represent its
objects, and the grand result of
:harity is by no means commensu-
ate with its public cost. Let the
burden be. eqnalized according to
he capital invested and the work
lone.