Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1883-04-09
SUPPORT THE CHURCHES.

III the 6SJdDIlSulneut vi tulS SOf-
eminent, our forefathers were very
careful to entirely separate the
Church from the State, leaving every
man free to worship God according
to the dictates of his own conscience,
and fOrbidding that he should be
taxed for the maintenance of the
preached gospel. The result was
that the intelligent, benevolent and
christian elements, seeing the neces-
sity and advantages of religious wor-
ship, took the matter in hand and
by contribution have, from that day
to this, supported the gospel in al
most every community and hamlet.
But while the indirect benefits and
advantages have been nearly equal
with all citizens, the rule has been
that large number have failed to
do anything, or have done so small
part in the work that the burden
has fallen heavy on others. The
necessity and the benefits of religious
worship are acknowledged by all,
and, when this is granted, no one
will deny that he is under moral
and social obligation to do his fair
share toward the support of some
church.
Church members and others who
receive the intellectual and spiritual
advantages of sanctuary privileges
may, perhaps, be under greater obi
cations to pay literally, than those
who from any cause cannot or do
not enjoy these religious advantages /;
but few of these, who pay nothing
for the maintenance of the gospel,
would care to reside in a community
or rear a family of children where
there are no churches. No business
man, who does legitimate business,
would wish to pitch his tent where
the gospel is not preached.
Hence every man is under as great
a moral obligation to help maintain
the church, as to pay his due share
toward the maintenance of govern
ment, or other important things which
the law compels him to pay for. The
support of. the churches would be :
comparatively easy thing if churcl
members and the public general,
contributed equally, according t.
their means; but many church mem
bers are so niggardly, and many O
the worlds people are so unwillin!
to do anything for this cause tina
the burden falls heavily on the few
1t is fact that men who possess tn
smallest souls manage to get int
the churches. whether into the churc
Of God or not, we will not say
These, while they do little or nothin
themselves provoke others to do littl
and set bad example. If the dec
laration proves true that futul
rewards are to be according to deed
done in the body, it can easily b
inferred that these will have a mai
sion on high of small dimension
very economically furnished. Ho
those who have been abundant
blessed in basket and store here, al
have failed to do generous part f,
the cause of God, can expect plea
urable reward hereafter is questiC
we do not care to attack. 1t can
easily surmised that they will have
more intimate acquaintance in t
world to come with Dives than wi
Lazarus. There is no apology f
the professed Christian, if he fails
do his honest share toward the ST
port of his church and its benevolt
works.
What shall be said of those chul
attendants and others, non-attel
ants, who contribute so insignific;
a sum for this purpose that the IN
listers would all starve and
churches all die if everybody paid
niggardly as they pay: Sometin
these people are quite fastidious
regard to the character of the prea
ing, and not slow to discern the fal
of church members. Good prea
ing has to be paid for, and it is
small matter to meet the current
penses outside the pastors sala
and those who do the labor
stand under have to lift yaliantly