Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1898-12-16
STATE OR CHURCH
Title to Vast Property in New Pos
sessions Not Clear,
Claimed by William Henry Roberts and
Others That the Property Should
Revert to the Government.

WASHINGTON, Dec. I6.-At a meet
Ing OF the National Christian Citizen
ship convention a letter was read
from William Henry Roberts, prom
nent Presbyterian and secretary Of
the Alliance OF Reformed Churches,
on the subject OF churche property in
our newly acquired possessions. The
letter says in part:
ain all these territories, acquired as
result OF the war with SpaiG, there
are large church properties, which
have been under the control hitherto
OF the Roman Catholic church, las the
established church OF Spain and her
colonies. These church properties are
claimed by the Romah Catholic au-
thoritles, but with no show OF right.
There doubtless are properties given
by will or direct personal donation
under the control OF Roman Catholic
church authorities In Porto Rico and
the Philippines, but in addition TO
such properties there are other proper
Ties, especially church ediices, which
we're paid for out OF the public funds
and maintained at the expense OF the
Spanish government. The latter
properties are not the properties OF
the church, but OF the people.
This is a fact Ia all countries
where there are established churches.
Such churches in Spain, France.
England and Germany are branches
Of the state, aud their ediHces are
erected and expenses paid, aud salaries
OF bishops and priests included, out OF
the public taxes. II was because OF
this fact, that when the South Amer
lean republics became independent OF
Spain The new rulers took possession
Of very considerable part OF the
church property. They took the
ground that the ownership OF the pro-
perty was in the state, not in the
church. The same ground was taken
in England at the time OF the refor-
nation.
Westminster Abbey, LONDON was
once a Roman Cath lie place OF wor-
ship, and is now a Protestant Epis
copal church, because the structure
was paid for by the money OF the En-
glish nation and the ownership was
aud Is Ia the rands OF the English
people. The ecclesiastical situation
therefore, as II lies In many minds,
Is this:
"The church property In Porto
Rico and the Philippines, being 10 d
large extent the property OF the state
is not rightfully the property OF the
Roman Catholic church, The United
States government, therefore should
take possession OF all church property
should carefully determine what mo-
iety OF the property actually belongs
to the Roman CauholIc church as such
and retain the remainder under it'
own control for the benfit OF the peo.
pie OF the new territories.
al wonld not advocate that the
United States government should
take possession Of church property ia
the new territOrsrs, selling the same
at public sale and placing the money
In It's own treasury; but do say that
the people or this new territory IN
each OF their cities and towns should
have an opportunity TO determine
what use should be made OF these
church editlres, They were built by
moneys, forced from them by Oppres.
slve methods Of the Spanish govern
ment, and they are morally, aud they
think legally, the property OF the in.
habitants OF these territories. Let
there be vote for instance, In each
Of the towns and parishes OF Porto
Rico, as TO the disposal OF the church
edihces."