Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-02-27
a heavy burden. These are wholly the

heavy burden. These are wholly the creation of religion.
 It cannot then be wise to cripple this living active power for good. If from these just causes for exemption we pass over to the positive reasons which should forbid the passage of the bill, we will see that: 1st it is devoid of merit, in this, that it must in the course of a few years fail even to swell the exchequer. ShoRld such bill pass twofold result would in evitably and immediately follow. First, no more costly churches would be erected in this state; 2nd, those now existing whose value would entail a heavy tax be per mitted to fall into decay. Our New Eng land climate would greatly accelerate the desired end. Then small churches would be unduly multiplied and the end sought by the law would be lost.
 A second result would be that the beau tiful churches which adorn our land would be things of the past. How strangely and unfavorably would we contrast with those ages which We call dark. Their desire to build temple, fit embodiment of their reverence and love for the most high. crystallized into the sublime genius of an Angelo and a Raphael, whilst our indiffer- ence to that sole, perfect ideal that can lift up man. will find it's fitting expression in such an ediice as any stranger visiting our shores may mistake for a tobacco shed or a barn.
 A moments reflection will show that an undue multiplication of churches may lead to bad consequences. It must result in heavier burdens for the respective con- grfgations; in churches devoid of all things that would attract or elevate.
 or educate or inspire, in small salaries and hence much of the talent, the culture, the dignity and elevated manhood that now grace the christian pulpits of our state will seek other callings more renumerative and more in harmony with the environments which they have hitherto Known. The christian pulpit and as matter of absolute necessity, the christian peorle will suffer an irreparable loss.
 The full and true voice of this state to | its legislators would undoubtedly be: If you legislate on religion let the cnact- ments be such as will tend to forbid the ignoble and the ignorant, and the uncul- tured to enter the christian pulpit to break to you and your children the bread of life such as will result in attracting to the mlnistrations of the christian churches. men of the highest scholarly attainments, men who can first fathom as far as is permitted to our limited faculties to do so, and then proclaim in fitting words the height and the depth and the breadth of that sacred message. the profound wisdom which it is constantly unfolding to those who mediate upon it; men who will bring to the propagation of the gospel broad and varied attaipments, highest culture, noblest aims, most elevated manhood; men whom you would gladly see reproduced in the lives of your children. The position of the christian teacher, if sent by God, is nect ssarily the most exalted and the most important for the human race, that, even 1 God himself can bestow. How then can it be consistent with christian spirit. to lay upon the piety of christian people; such odious restrictions as will place in that position men whose lives and attain 1 mants cannot fail to dishonor it.