New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-01


MR. BOLTON HALL AGAIN DISCUSSES THE DUTY
OF THE CHURCH TRUSTEES
To the Editor OF The Tribune
Sir: In my letter entitled May Do What II VIII
with Its own" 10 which you reply editofially. I
showed that laws impose fne in the shape
OF extra taxes. those who improve their icne-
ments: that the secular officers Of Trinity Corpora
ton are legally bound TO such lawful administration
OF their may result in the best return TO the
corporation and are not justified In INDUCING their
charitable impulses at the loss OF their revenue as
trustees that unless II is shown that the mora!
right OF the corporation the rent Of land Is not
absolute. unless admit the difference alleged
by some economists between property IN land and
other property, must acknowledge that the trus-
tees are doing only what IL required Of the
OF a great landlord Finally. showed that the
Church. as Or Jekyll." should attend 20 the I'M
Just system which makes good buildings less
profitable than sums. rather than attempt 10 @erve
both God and Mammon. with the compromise OF
philanthropy and per cent In its own tenements
Instead OF an answer TO my statements. you sneer
at the new element Of assumption OF a
double capacity In corporation. OF this as-
sumption" Chancellor Kent says IN Section $50
Volume 2. OF his "Commentaric,": "A corporation
cannot be considered moral agent" And Angel
and Ames say Introduction. page 81: "a corpora
ton being a political institution merely.
be deemed moral agent. subject TO moral OBJ
legation"
! did not think il necessary 10 point out that the
trustees Of Trinity Church blamed not for break
ing any law. Because they bad landlords.
but because. representing a church. and keeping
within the law they are no better than many other
landlords.
You say ~ Mr.. Halls theory (meaning Chan
cellor Kents theory Is the true one. there is no
should not be a pawnbroker and wiring the last
possible from the needs OF the poor. Ex-
cept by going into a business which is a monopoly.
the church could wiring even the first cent from
the needs OF the poor: the contrary. its added
hrip terrn With hin M.
vantage in his benevolent loan shops. II the
ing OF slums exclusive Ownership OF the earth.
II Is right for Trinity Corporation as II is for
the Astors IT, on the other hand, monopoly OF
land and speculation In land ar" the creators OF
the slums. then II IL no more Vrtuous to build good
tenements which bring In high rents but bad
invesmen than II is 10 buy poor ones which
bring in low rents but are good good investments h.
as SUCH can do toward repeating bad laws If TO
enforce. rather than TO mitigate. their necessary
consequence. The true business OF the church. in
its religious capacity. should be TO examine and to
the unjust social conditions which force
feowcreatures TO live In slums ara which. In rent
land whether paid to individuals or 10 corpora
tons. do in fact extract The last cent from the
needs OF the poor"
DO not let The Tribune forsake It's logic be
cause until better conditions are established. even
religious corporation must conduct its business
affairs In business way. And do not let us read
ers close their eyes TO- the fact maj the present
condition of the poor liz iniolerable TO US ~ not 10
the poor themselves and that ii Is not the tene-
ments. but the conditions which create , tenements
which need reform BOLTON HALL.
NewYork. Dec. &C. 1894.
Crhe question is not the proper law OF owner
ship. but the moral right Of human beings
composing a corporation secular or religious to
use their impersonal power as a corporation
to do moral wrong to other human beings-Ed)