The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-10-12
him the opportunity to do 50.

EAsrObLED 5JEFEERSON.
g. q then went Into q long history OF the
various saws relating to churches and eN-
toll Thomas Jefferson as the father of
religious liberty. He read many. extracts
from Supreme Court decisions relating to
church property. He referred to the House
journal Of 1915 to Show how strongly was
The petition of the Episcopal Church to-
nave a charter granted for the Alexandria
theological Seminary, and read the rcso-
luton adopted by the committee composed
OF lMethodists and Presbyterians against
INC policy Of granting charters to church,
ess Tor any purpose He said while the
present section was not incorporated into
the Constitution until 1851. the principle
mad been in practical operation ever since
the days of Jefferson.
he declared that if Judge Robertsons
resolution was adopted it would be posi-
pie Tor the Legislature to favor churches
OIL one. denomination with charters and
refuse others. Eternal vigilance is the
price Of liberty. + will not do to remove
the present restraint upon the Legislature
The Very striking out of the present pro
h1bltion would be moral recommended
ton to the General Assembly that church
es ought to be Incorporated. Such tillns
would be fraught with peril to the re-
llSlouS freedom Of the citizens OF thiS
Commonwealth
Dr. Dunaway then asked why there had
not been any petitions sent here for the
Incorporation of churches.
Judge Robertson called his attention 10
petitions sent by more different cfurches
and to argument heard for it before the
committee from ministers of several oe-
nominations and to resolutions passed ny
diffe' ent synods conferences and COUNCILS
WANTED NO CHANGE.
The speaker said he had overlooked this
fact, hut he knew that, with rare eAcep-
ticrs. the ministers of all churches were
satisfied with the present law
Mr.. Thorn: what evidence have you 10
justify this statement
DR. Dunaway: THE fact that petitions
have not poured in upon US.
Mr.. Thorn: rs that all the evidence!
Dr. Dunaway: Il have no other
Mr.. Glass asked the speaker a question
and he declined to answer it, amid much
laughter. by saying the shrewdnesS OIL the
question showed that the interrogation
was shrewd enough to answer 1t himself
Mr.. Thorn then said the question was
Serious enough to receive an answer. IT
was this: "What was the difference in
Incorporating an agency OF the churcn,
from Incorporating the church itself?'
The present law in effect allowed that to
be done by a cumbersome and expensive
method.
DR. Dunaway said he nored mt mbers
would be patient and listen to nm, and
that he would endeavor to answer me
question when he reached that portion
of his speech.
He then proceeded and was speaking
of the legislature being overwhelmed
with petitions for interpretations II the
amendment was adopted.
Mr.. Tho1n-"I thought you said there
was demand for this from the churches
Mr. Dunaway--''I did not say it. |
said there was no evidence of t now
He said if the church Became ncor-
porated they would become seculariZed
and worldly Just like other corporations,
1t would not be long Before they would
be looked upon with the same prejudice
and Gistr,lst as secular corporations are
to-day.
in your present Incorporated church
agencies.
MIR. MOORE SPEAKS
DR.. Dunaway-"I have not, but [ look
for the day to come when a future con-
ventcn may have to curtail This privi-
lege.
Chairman Moore here made a speech
to supplement DR.. Dunaway's reply to
Mr.. TEom.
DR.. Dunaway resumed his argument by
depicting the great evils that had result
cti from n union of church and State. and
drew many illustrations from ecclesiasti-
cal history to show it. He said he was
anxious to break up or prevent the last
vastige of parternalism by the State
to any sectarian institution
Ny. E!ass-"Docs the Generalization
and evils you depict and prophecy exist
in the forty-six other States of this
Union; are they in such a horrid state Of
irreligion?"
| DR.. Runaway: ''The question is not
70 al T
| by
f, Chairman Moore here made a speech in
reply to the question which could not be
| heard by the reporter, owing to the hum
| Of conversation.
| ARGUMENT RESUMED.
DR.. Dunaway resumed his argument.
| He claimed that all churches should be in
] corporated or none. The whole State
/ would be full of religious interpretations
| There were over fifty-nine hundred
! churches. which comprised onc-third of
/ the voters and this one-third could con-