The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-02-18
CHURCH TAXATION.
The Enemies OF Religion who Seel
Burden IT With Tovo1

The Enemies Of Religion Who Seek to
Burden 1t With Taxes.
Rev. Clark Davis. of the First Method
list Protestant church, preached an m
teresting sermon last evening on church
taxation. He said:
am informed by the press that there
is bill now before the state Iegisla-
ture which proposes to make ell church
property. whether used exclusively for
religious worship or not, subject to taxa
tion- The present law makes all church
property taxable except that used for
worship exclusively. limiting the space
to 200 feet square. That property also is
not to be rented for revenue and the
pews are TO be free. All churches rent
ing at any time their houses for lectures
or entertainments with q view to rails
Ing money are liable to taxation. Also
all churches whose pews are not free.
The law as 1t now stands seems to me
to be just and fair one. No state In
the Union, with possibly ono exception.
taxes the place where her people meet
to worship God on the Lords day. This
is and has always been the established
policy OF the people Of this government.
II do not believe we can afford to show
our hostility TO religion or our indif-
ference to the good constantly being
done by these religious organizations by
placing an additional burden upon them.
who Is 1t that demands that the
church should be taxed?
"Ffrst-The unbelievers and enemies OF
the church. Ingersoll Is a representative
of this class. Hes - noted for three
things: I. Blasphesner OF our God. 2.
Defender OF star route thieves. 3. De-
fender of Bennette. OF New York, who
was imprisoned for sending corrupt liter
ture through the United States maals.
That class Is not very numerous. They
make u great deal OF noise Eve have an
illustration at home In our city counciD.
but when 1t comes to a muster they do
not materialize. They themselves are the
recipients OF thousands of blessings pur-
chased for them by the church at the
cost Of treasures OF blood and gold.
'Second-The saloon element They are
naturally opposed TO the church because
they recognize in the church their most
powerful enemy. II IL . compliment To
be opposed by such people The free
church OF America stands as check
upon the greed and avsrice OF men who
are too lazy 10 work for bread and who
are willing TO make of the weakness
of men source of revenue.
'.Thirsi--A moral class who look with
alarm upon the acquisition of valuable
properties for various purposes In all
our cities and towns by the Roman
Catholic church They imagine that a
general tax on ali church property would
check this accumulation. Yet they do not
stop to think how unjust such a law
would be to those churches seeking TO
DO a legitimate church work. My conten-
ton Is simply this: All churches used ex-
ciusively for religious worship sts,.Tisi be
exempt. All other properly held by church
organizations should be taxed
my reasons; Fsgst-The church Is an
educational institution. No state can
afford TO lay tax upon such institutions
TIE public schools ard colleges are ex-
enpt. and properly 20. We must have
intelligence or We can have no state.
We mus have morality. too. The Bible
has been excluded from our public
schools. Very WEB. shall not object.
I do not sefld ray child to the public
H1ssEspA Viz p1ttpSr ti I4SlUE Elm
sangfs religion III We are allowed TO do
so. the fsons and the church ere the
places for this sort OF education. The
Sunday schools and puipIts are The places
where the word OK God IS taught. ana
the word Of Co. In the source ard only
source OF ali true morality. The church
through IFS paiEsit and Sunday schools is
doing the state service n cannot &c,
along without Then why tax TT
s'Second--These churches are built ard
maintained by the free gifts OF the rich
ard poor o. our land who already bear
their share Of the expenses Of govern
rraert. Is IL right 70 PUT upon them q
third burden Of taxatsnnf
Many Of he great reforms OF this age
are carried on by the church ALMOST with
csx. help. ]. terarc-ance reform; 2. soesal
reforms The high standard 10 main
tanned
Note the part besag takea now IN rsss-
nssIpAi refornA The great wave OF rnurI.
csraai reform that has swep, from the
Atlantic 60 the Pacific Rad Is origin IN
q presaytcriAa sAarch Ia New York.
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