Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-02-19
NO CHAPLAIN FOR ALmsHousr.
No Appropriation ny Council for
Sectarinn Instltufions-A Pro-
test with RensonS

To the Editor Of the Dispatch:
Allow me few words about two i'm
portant matters now discussed by the
citizens of Richmond.
There ia proposition before the
Council to appoint and pay for the SER
vices of a chaplain at the almshouse.
Equally good citizens may not unlikely
differ about the propriety of this step.
If a chaplain is to be chosen, whose
views are to be regarded in prescribing
the qualifications OF this new officer?
Are the inmates to nominate the chap
lain as being the parties most directly
concerned ? Or are fhe theological
and ecclesiastical opinions OF the
majority OF the Council to deter
mine the man? Or are the majority
OF the voters at our annual municipal
election to select the proper person ? If
the inmate is not to be consulted-the
very person the advocates OF the propo-
sition wish to bene6t-his religious free
dom is sure to be restricted. In some
instances he would prefer no services
whatever rather than have forced upon
him such as contradict his solemn and
conscientious convictions. Would the
Israelite like Christian burial or the
free.religionist or atheist submit to
Jewish or Christian observances Would
the Roman Catholic be content with pro-
testant consultations or obsequies, or the
Protestant feel satisfied with the peculiar
offices of the Roman Catholic priest
The Council is not the body to provide
religious teachers or ministers for any
portion of our citizens.
The choice of a chaplain at an
annual municipal election would be
simply monstrous. The majority
being Protestants, they would natu-
rally select one of their own preach
ers. and that would be an abridge
ment of religions liberty. The chap
lain's salary would be raised by gene
raj levy, which would include the taxes
of our Roman Catholic citizens. On the
other hand, if the Roman Catholics gain
the majority in our voting population
they would see that priest was appoint
ed, and thus their Protestant fellow
citizens would be required to submit to
unfair treatment.
No, if religion is to remain free, the
less the State has to do with 1t the
better.
II necessary a register can be made by
the almshouse authorities OF the religious
proclivities of each patient as he enters,
and 80 full information be on hand for
use in case the patient dies without
leaving express directions as to his fune-
raj. Whenever any inmate wishes tosee
a religious adviser be has but to notify
him by postal-card or otherwise and the
one Of his choice is forthcoming. AS at
present arranged the inmates Of the aims
house enjoy every Sunday the voluntary
services Of Christian men and women or
any others they wish.
Another matter. Our Council erTs in
making annual appropriations for secta-
rian benevolent institutions. Their mo-
tive is, no doubt, commendable and
pure. None the less they. spend the
peoples money for sectariah purposes.
The recipients of their help, worthy as
they are, do not receive such aid as citi-
zens. Indeed these beneficiaries do not
enter the benevolent homes as citizens.
These homes were not erected by citi-
zens as citizens. They are not open to
all citizens. They are not sustained by
citizens as citizens. They are sectarian
in origin, history, aim, and purpose.
Who can think otherwise? The "Bap-
fist Home for Aged Women" for ex-
ample, is of Baptists, by Baptists,
for Baptists. In word, it is sectarian
So are the other "bomes" and the
asylum of the Little Sisters of the
Poor" Not one OF them is a city insti
tuition. Not one is entitled to city funds.
God bless them all in so far as they help
the needy, but God forbid that any one
of them should flourish upon funds
wrongly taken out Of a city treasury.
As Baptist feel degraded in using the
taxes OF my Roman Catholic brother or
my Methodist brother to support the
aged, the diseased, or the poor of my own
denomination. Nor. to be frank. do | feel
that |, rs a citizen, should be required
by law to help my brethren of any de-
nomination to carry on their own secta-
rian enterprises. AS man, as Chris
tian, / am glad of an opportunity to help
them. As citizen | would not dare to
vote to bestow one single dime Of the
city's money to their support.
Grave dangers are ahead Of this city,
State, and section, which can only be
averted by absolute separation of Church
and State and by unqualified religious
liberty. WILLIAM W. LANDRUM.