The record-union., 1897-01-23
THE QUESTION OF EXEMPTION

Many of our contemporaries are dis
cussing the question of exempting the
Leland Stanford Junior University
from taxation. That is one question.
But the question before the Legislature
Is wholly another. There should be no
deception in this matter. The PROPOSE
tion is much broader than the exemp-
tion of the Leland Stanford Junior Uni
versity That institution is not de-
nominational. 1t is not only non-secta-
Tian, but it is not Christian in the sense
that in its foundation it recognizes the
divinity of Jesus the Christ, or the doo-
trine of the Trinity. In the Fourteenth
ARTICLE of the Grant founding and en-
dowing the Leland Stanford Junior
University the following declaration
is made:
To prohibit sectarian instruction, but
to have taught in the university the
immortality of the soul, the existence of
an alI-wise and beneficent Creator and
that obedience to His laws is the high
est duty of man.
Commenting upon this in a sermon
delivered November %, 1885, the Rev
EIoratio Stebbins, Of the First Unitarian
Church of San Francisco said:
I can imagine the perplexity which
Ar. Stanford might have felt in insert
ing an article in the constitution of his
great trust recognizing the Almighty.
He has succeeded we'll. He has inserted
simple Hebrew monotheism and its cor
IIa-~
be taught. He could not have put II in
any better way to escape theological
antangleTnents or sectarfan snarling,
unless he had not put 1t in at all, but let
1t flow through the whole great trans
action, as the air breathes among the
trees, the water flows through the
landscape and the light fills the sky.
But behind this nom sectarian instI-
tuition there stand other institutions to
be beneficiaries of the exemptions
which are proposed. In its issue of
January 21st the San Francisco "Ex-
aminer' declares:
The State maintains university at
its own expense that nobody may be
deprived of the OPPORTUNITY to obtain
q complete education. If private bene-
ficence relieves it of a part of that work
at Stanford, or Santa Clara College, or
the University Of Southern California,
the least it can justly do is to refrain
from levying fines on the gifts Of phil
anthropists who do it that favor.
Two institutions by name are coupled
with Stanford, the Santa Clara College,
a Catholic college where Roman Cath
versity Of Southern California, Meth
odist institution where theology accord
ing to the canons of Methodism is
taught
It is denominational education that
Is to receive a subsidy from the tax
payers of California who do pay taxes.
by exemption from taxation. and the
''Examiner'' favors this proceeding
Thus denoninationa1 education receives
recognition at the hands Of the people Of
California. Endowments amounting TO
millions may stand behind these ins,i-
futtons in the form Of property, and
these are TO be exempt. The proposition
IS therefore the exact equivalent of re-
turning to these institutions tax
which they would pay. and this is the
equivalent of a donation TO them from
the treasury of the people of the State
of California Denominational educa-
ton by this means Will obtain a new
status-the status declared by the Elk
aminer''-that denominattonal educa-
ton relieves the State of part of the
work it should do FOR its citizens" This
declaration that denominational edu-
cation ds a part of the duty of the State
to its citizens is a dangerous heresy.
which II it triumphs at all, shall not
triumph through wearing deceptiVe
disguise.