The Washington times., 1894-12-23
IN WASHINGT0E'S
WOMEN'S CLUB
Taxation Of Church Property Dis
cussed by Pro Re hata.
CHURCHES THAT CAN AFFORD 1T
Legion of Loyal Women and Their
Course on "Ciyics."


Course on "CiyicS."
Wimodaughsis Gave an English High Tea,
Presided Over by Miss Barton-Clara B.
Colby Addressed the Suffrage Association
on THE Outlook in Kansas Continental
Chapter D. a. E., Held Its Monthly Meeting
Pro Re Nata held its regular meeting at the
residence OF Mrs. Bacon on Wednesday morn
ing After the routine business had been dis
posed OF the discussion for the session was
opened by Miss Fanny b. Tu!ey. Taxation
of church property was the subject, and the
fact was developed that wealthy churches not
only escaped taxation but actually owned
valuable property from which an income was
derived This revenue also escaped taxa
I tiou.
Mrs. NJ. H. White presented the following
statistics:
New York city in 1893 held church property
valued at $55, 1896. 1875; parsonages valued at
S146, 100. and c.ergymcn's 5 salaries amounting
same year Boston had houses OF public wor-
ship valued at S14. .757. 500 exempt. st. Louis,
in 1889, had as follows: Roman Catholic
churches. converts, ana schools, $1,000, 900;
Methodist. 81, 500 GOO; Presbyterian, $780,
0G0; fourteen United Evangelical. 1871 ,000,
and twelve Lutheran. $4,000.
Mrs. Bacon stated that up to the year 1919
.bn ~ c.. baJ
niZed. and all meeting-housas considered
public property from 1919 TO 1912 such
property remained untaxed, but in 1879 law
was passed which eEem ped church property
to the amount OF $50 and 10 more
Whether the present general exemption Of
! church property IS due to overs ght on the
! par of the collectors of taxes or to some re-
| cent law uEon the sub,e which abroSates
! that of 1879 was not known.
| The point was made that so long as
! church, s were so poor that the women of the
| congregations had TO hold fairs. teas, and in
vent other innumera5ie devices Tor paying
| church Iii Is and keeping them in existence
! that ch, rch property should not bt taxed, but
| that when they became sclf-SuppOrting and
| wealthy ana in such good financial condition
/ that the men of the congregations deem ed 1t
! worth while to interest themselves in the
matter and take charge OF and administer the
revenues that then they were usually able TO
pay taxes. and should lie Subject 10 the liza
| biiities OF any other business concern.
A committee was appointed consisting OF
| Mrs COues and Miss Tuley to aS ertan n the
| amount OF untaxed church property in Wash
| inSton. The society adjourned TO discuss
| Compulsory vaccination" at the home of
| Mrs E. A.. =. Marble. No. lli6 New York
| avenue. on Wednesday, January 8, 1895.
* Amenc the members present were Mes
danes L. S. Baron. l.. E. Blount. E. b. Coues,
A. H. Thomas, NJ. II. White. Z. NJ. S. Marble,
| and the Misses ID. s. Jackson and L. B.
Tuley. The visitors were Mrs. Martha ?.
Davis, Dr. Julia C. Harrison. and MISS d. J..
| Norcross.
e The Legion of Loval Women gathered in
goodly numbers in the ball, on Tenth street.
| on Monday night to hear the second lectu re
of the course on 'Civics. by Prof. S. s.
Forman, of Johns Hopkins. Before the
lecture Mr. J. II. Ra!ston gave a brief and
concise synopsis OF the laws OF the District
of Columbia as relating to women; he was
listened TO attentiyely, and the discourse
elected a hearty vote of thanks.
Mr.. Forman was then introduced and an
nounced his lecture as Tho voter" He
enumerated the qualifications necessary for
| suffrage in a comprehensive manner, very
much appreciated by his audience. He also
| proposed to the legion some interesting ques-
ltions for future consideration. viz: Give
| reasons for or against a property qualiiica-
tion. and also for. or against an educational
| qualification.
The discussion at the close of the lecture
was engaged in by many OF the ladies. and
was most animated aud interesting.
Capt. Van Dusen then gave an exhaustive
definition of citizenship.
These lectures are deservedly popular and
great interest is evinced by the numbers
who attend other than the members of the
L. L. W.
The Choral Society will give its fifth an
nual performance at Convention Hall on De-
cember 2S, when the messiah" will lie given,
with Miss Emma Jueh us soprano and soloist.
There are $50 Washington people in the
chorus who have been well trained under
Prof. Kaspar.
WImodaughsis gave, on Tuesday last. an
English high tea. over which Miss Barton,
herself very English, gracefully presided.
The rooms were all thrown open ana the
tables decorated with poseys of bachelor
buttons and other old-fashioneI blossoms
and dishes of water crosses. The japanese
table napkins. in white and shaded rose
color, had the menu printed in black in the
center.
Among the deIicacies set forth wera ancho-
We'd eggs, sausage rolls, ana, OF course, the
English piece de resistance bread and
butter. In fact, as was perfectly proper at ar
English afternoon tea. everyone seemed 10 bf
c.amoring for bread and butter. and de-
servedly, for it was as good as it looked.
There was beautiful fancy work table SET
IN one of the rooms over which Mrs. Bennett
presided
The ladies in charge of the entertainment
were Mesdames Dickerson, Edwards, Lacey
Hamilton, Cameron. Edgar, Bennett. Lack.
land, Lucas, Fassett, Bradley, Case and Gill
lette.
Around the tables. enjoying the good things
set before them, were men and women whose
faces are well known in Washington and who
are identified with almost every philanthropic
movement initiated in the District OF Co.
lumbia.
Mrs. DR.. Winsow one OF the founders oi
the institution. accompanied by her venerable
husband ,Hara among those eninvinU the