Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-01-29
Taxinr Church Property.

To the Editor Of the Dispatch:
The State Of th's week has an article
on the above subject. l have great re-
gard for the State. and also for Mr.. Ca
i.-ch. and many other friends Who have
advocated taxing church property. and
yet | confess | can See ~ force whatever
in their reasoning. | have never written a
line on the subject, as | dl not think
it possible that such an unWise law would
b. passed. The world is going forward
and not backward. II may BE- I ID NOT
fully comprehend the whole question. Let
Us. however see II a simple illustration
Will not throw light on the subject. L
have half dozen teams passing along the
road All cross a mi.l-dam which / find
the owner Is enleavOr.ng with two men
and one team to proven. from breaking.
Without solicitation l put my men anu
teams vigorously - work. We continue
at il for three days and finally succeed IN
stopping the leaks AMI raising the en-
bankment ID a safe height. When ! am
about 10 depart | am aske1 for pay Tor
board OF men AM horses tnouSh 1
charged nothing for my services. \ Dig
fire occurred in Richmond. anu the re-
tersburg Fire Company comes over o."
the train at their own expense ana aus III
putting out the fire, and thus saves thou-
SdHLs OF Ao4lAlG WI "a va - 80 "
We further Tx -teae good men win ther
board bill anl retu.n transportation when
they cheerfully aided Us without charge
What would we think OF fAther who,
after his Ode, son had paid one hail OF
the family expenses, he should De asker
for his board? These supposed cases.
really think, answer this whoIe ques-
ton.
/ what is the object OF all govern
ment. and % what Is the chlet expense
Of maintaining government? The object
IS to preserve the peace, promote soDI
order. make men respect each other
rights. promote justice. prevent violence
save life. and to see that every c.uleh
"a allowed 70 attend peaceab.y 10 ms
business and provide TOR his own family
&c, sc.
> The great cost Of government "a
the attempt, often resulting IN ialIur"'
TO DO all these benencent things. NO"
shall the best agent ever devised 10 pre-
vent violation Of law and bring ABOUT
good will and the economical administra-
lion Of affairs be hindered and hamperef
by taxation? Besides, has the Church
any reserves that could be used to pay
the taxes? II has no income except 10
be used for others benefit. The men
who do the work. build the churches
and pay running expenses ct not one
cent in return for all this labor or love
10 the Church and indirectly 20 the state.
They pay their taxes on trades ana pro-
fessions and on all their property. TheN
buy IN the market. They DO "a much
for the common good As any other citi-
zens But for the real safety. security
economy, and peace OF tho community
thew do more than courts Of justice,
pollce force. and all the jails and peni-
tentiaries combined. Would you XIII the
goose that lays the golden egg? Would
you muzzle the OK that treads out the
corn? Would you shade the light that
guides ships 10 port? The criminal ex>
penses Of the State last year were S6l,~
000. But for the Church they would have
been double this amount. Would not
wise State help rather than hinder the
churches in all their good works? Is not
an orphan asylum better than JAIN
OF work house? Is not prevention Of
crime cheaper and better than curine
crime? The law exempts all works OF
charity whether in the Church or not.
The fear Of the church by the State is
getting Anticipated.
Some Protestants fear Catholics, when
these by their highest authority have
abandoned the old doctrine OF union OF
church and State. This union is impossi
bic. II one denomination should advo-
cate II every other sect would at once pro-
test against 1t.
Perfect freedom OF opinion as TO mat
ters of religious belief - as perfectly
fixed in the minds Of the whole people
as It's possible To be. The doctrine COM
mends Itself at once 20 the most common
understanding. Every church In the land
Is a unit In supporting the State The
foundation of the Church Is "rock"-that
OF the State Is sand. All governments go
to pieces. The Church VIII endure forever
Every one requires with equal zeal-Jew
and Chrlstian-that the laws shall be
obeyed and good fellowship promoted.
In one respect the Church and State are as
united as the Samese twins. though not
In the flesh but in spirit The Church
prays for the State and It's rulers and
does so honestly.
Christ said: My kingdom Is not OF this
world SO says the Church. st. Paul
SAYS: II seek not yours your money!,
hut you Vour souls)." The position or
the Church to the State In this century Is
unique. While the State defends the
Church, the Church protects the state
The State furnishes the lamp, but the
Church supplies the oil. The union Is Ike
that OF the soul and body Of man-fully
united. but distinctly separate. The one
may die, the other endure. Union Is pro-
10 both. Then why fear one another;
why antagon!ze one another?
Would to God churches could multiply
till from every hilltop and in every val
ley their graceful spires might point men
to the skies! DR.. Calischs reference 10
Chlcago's big building" is no argument,
as It's simply an abuse OF the law. II
church rents out any OF It's property or
speculates IL Is and should be taxed;
but SO long as property Is used only for
church and charitable purposes It should
not be burdened with taxation. IL Is
only now, after eighteen centuries. that
the mission OF the Christian Church IL
being fully understood and appreciated.
II has taken all these years for thu
world to comprehend the marvellous
work accomplished through the agency
OF twelve unlettered GalIleean fisher
men. Alas. what a commentary on hui
man wisdom and progress. Mans wis.,
dom Is 'foolishness" with God.
w w