The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-10-27
THE VOLUNTARY chuR. Ii.

~ In an article on llle Soluh''iaS
nuhl;shed recently in The Independent,
Prof. Charles W. Eliot says mat
those who are Democrats IN mental
llabi; cannot easily realize what an
immense change has taken place
throughout the civilized world IN re
gard TO both the theological ana i'rilc-
teal relation of the church TO Tue
State. THE practice of cutting Oh
ali churches from support by OF
through the State he proceeds, IS
American in origin and has eeesi
wrought out in greatest periecioh III
the United States. FOR the most part
within a hundred years TO detacl
religious institutions from all reliance
on public taxation was certainly
formidable experiment. but it has been
in progress long enough in this conh-
try to provide the world with a demon
stration Of success in certain parhcu-
lars. A hundred years ago one mlSlt
reasonably have feared that churches
In sufficient number would not be pro
vided by voluntary contributions Ihe
experience Of the United States has al
iayed that apprehension.
That statement is only partially true.
This apprehension has not been en-
tirely' allayed, otherwise the churches
of the country would not ask for eN-
emption from taxation. But Us far as
the experiment has been tried. It mas
proven to be eminently satisfactory
and successful. The very life OF the
church to-day is in its independence,
in it's separation from State. Ihls is
true because the life of the church IS
in the spirituality Of its membership
in personal piety. Under the OLD
regime the church was a great or
ranization and its aim was to eXalt
and exploit the organization without
taking much account Of the individual
members of the church. The lndiyid-
uals counted only so far as they help
ed to form the organization, and even
at that the individual counted for little
because the church was not dependent
upon its membership for material SUP
port, enjoying as it did liberal ap-
4 preparation from the government.
But with complete separation be-
tween church and State an entirely
new order Of things has come. The
church of to-day has entirely new i'll
centive of action. The great aim of
the church is to promote Individual
piety, and the preacher of to-day
breaches to individuals. breaches IN
diFidual responsibility and impresses
upon his hearers that no member of
the church may shift his responsibility
to the shoulders of the church. It has
been discovered also that giving is a
means of grace, and so each and
every member of the church of to-
day is urged to give something every
week, as the Lord has prospered him.
for his own spiritual benefit. This of
itself creates individual interest. And
so voluntary contribution has added
zest and JUNCTION to church work.
Moreover, there is a stimulus in this
system to the preacher himself. The
preacher Of old, who had Il fat 'liv-
ing" from the government, and Who
WIS in no sense dependent upon me
members of the congregation to sus-
tain him, could hardly be expected 10
be SO fully alive 10 the interests of in
: diyidual members as the preacher
+: who is dependent upon the contrib1
tons Of individual members for his
support The difference is lie differ
ence between monarchy and dcmoc
: raey. Under the democratic srs-
tenn the preacher necessarily feels
greater interest in his members,
who pay his salary, and the members
necessarily feel a greater interest
in their preacher when they contribute
toward his support
In short we have applied our demo-
cratic principles in our church govern
ment and they have proven to he as
successful III religious life as in poiiti-
cal life
1t has always been the contention
OF this paper in discussing the aues-
ton of taxing churches that the
church would gain far more than 1t
would lose by declining to accept such
SASlupllOH al ldNoi VI
in asserting its absolute Independence,
in relying entirely upon the voluntary
contribution Of its members to SID
port tie preacher and all its institn-
tons. The great question, therefore.
is not whether or not the government
should exempt the churches from tax
alton, but from the church'S point
of view. whether or not the church
should receive this appropriation, for
ia effect it is an appropriation, or any
benefits whatever from government
which are not accorded to all other
institutions and organizations of what
ever character. L; has been abundant-
~ demonstrated. as Prof eliot says.
that separation has been the salvation
and the life Of the church. we say shat
complete separation would bring
greater benefits yet. 1t is puzziing 10
us how any American ciurclman can
entertain different View
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CIVIC Arr II. IT. TURF.
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