The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-10-13

bers of churches who had earnestly desir
ed the relief sought by the amendment.
In Norfolk, Portsmouth and vicinity
the Methodist congregations had institut-s
ed the movement and it was endorsed
and officially requested by the Method
list District Conference of Richmond.
He also read g. strong letter from Rev.
r. P. Kerr, OF the Presbyterian CHURCH,,
of Richmond, stating that every pastor
OF Presbyterian churches in Richmond
approved the motion to allow churches
to be incorporated.
DR.. Mcllwaine here stated that there
was a Presbyterian league in Richmond
and it had not requested it lie knew
one Presbyterian minister who was OPP
posed to it, and none Of them had spo-
ken to him about it.
MI Thorn said he could not speak, as
DR.. Nlcllwaine, for the whole church. but
he knew that the Presbyterian Church
did not permit their synoGs to rass reso-
lutions on political questions. He was
assured by Dr. Kerr that the Sentiment
of individual Presbyterians in the State
was overwhelmingly in favor of the meas
urc.
he referred to resolutions passed by
the Episcopal Churches of Richmond. and
10 speeches made in favor OF it by Eps-
copal, Presbyterians and Mcthodsts be-
fore the committee.
He said DR.. Dunaway's argument was
largely medieval history. and. take that
OUT OF his speech. there was but little
lett except medieval sentiment.
IL was an Inheritance that came to him
with baptism. In no other way can the
intensity of the manner in which the
amendment was assailed be explained.
Dr. Dunaway-"If I ever said / was
actuatcd by my preiudccs or my fears,
here and now retract it,"
MT Thom:I was only commenting on
what understood was the gentleman's
statement before the committee.
CAN HOLD IT NOW.
! Mr. Thorn then said churches now
could hold all the property they now
Ceslred, subject to the legislative will.
The amendment limited the amount be-
yond which the Legislature could not
go, and only gave to churches the same
! privileges that were extended to Car
nival associations, brewcries and ever.
other associations of men or capital.
When You incorporate a. saw-mill or
Carnival or a brewery you make it
State agency, yet that does not make
the State a partner.
No more does the State become in any
sense partner of the church when it is
incorporated. There is no earthly con-
nection with the union of church and
State in the question before us.
Mr.. James w. Gordon: Doesn't the
word of God have all the temporal means
necessary for conducting the affairs of
the church,"
Mr.. Thorn: "No, it doesn't, and no
church b@s:eves it. Where do you find
any mention of the Presbyterian Foreign
Missionary Society in the Bible or a
charter for its agency?"
Mr.. Gordon: In the last chapter OF
Mathew
MIR. Thorn. continuing. said if the Bap-
fist congregations did not desire to be
incorporated why should they insist that
others should not be- who desired it.
Why should they act the dog in the man
ger i'll this matter?
DR.. DunaWay: 4 wish to say that the
vote on this question Will show you that
there are dogs in the lnanger in every
other church represented on this floor
GRACEFUL DISCLAIMER.
MI. Thorn: / am sure the good doctor
will not misunderstood me as using the
phrase in any Offensive sense. 1 was edu-
Gated in the Baptist College in Richmond
and all my dearest ties have been formed
with members of that organization
Dr. Dunaway: The gentleman has
made such Il noble disclaimer l am almost
glad he used the expression
Mr.. Gordon here arose Bible in hand
and read Go we into all the world and
preach the Gospel to every living crea-
ture,'' baptising them in the name of the
Lord" and said that was the authority.
Tor the Presbyterian Missionary Society
Mir. Glass: What does it say there
about how YOU are going TO gct the money
to do all that and the channels of its dis
trlbution?" Great laughter and applause.)
Mr.. Thorn said: DIR. McIlwaine's arSu-
ment was based on the assumption thai
the Bible was sufficient charter for the
spreading of the Gospel, and yet we lind
that DR.. Mcllwane has himself been the
secretary for eleven years of an incor.
porated religious association within the
Presby terrain Church. He contended that
ii agencies could be incorporated without
harm there was no consistency IN OBJECT.
ing to the Incorporation OF the head OF
those agencies. Why not incorporate then,
all together and avoid the expense and
friction OF numerous corporations. By the
laws now on the statute-boolls churches
are driven to these. agencies to get around
the restriction in the Constitution and are
not setting the right example Of obedience
to the law.
NO UNION POSSIBLE.
Educational, missionary, social and
charitable agencies of the church are in
corporated, and it is argued that tie
spiritual power of the church controls
them Why could not this same spirit
only object of the amendment is to give
to churches the forms of law to attenE!
to the financial side of their transactions.
Members here are being scared by Wis
ions called up for that very purpose.
There is no possible chance of any KIND
of union of church and State, or of any
better opportunity for aggregated wealth
to corrupt the church than already exists
through the present agencies.
Mr. Thorn said the church of Christ
had no such terror for him as 1t seemed
to have to the members who had OPP
posed giving it temporal strength He
could not help how many voted the other
way. He for one woulG have the salts
faction Of voting his sentiments regard
less of denominational bias. prejudice or
fears. He would protest against arSu-
mentS and vote against them.
if he were the only member of the con-
yentiOn to do so.