The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-01-12
Justice to tie Church.

Editor Of The Times:
7 Sir.-It is we'll known that in this coun-
Try we have no '.union of Church anu
State in the sense of a union of any
State government with denomination OF
Christians, or Of the United States Gov
ernment with any chucrh organization
Yet, in a government claimed to be "ot
the people, by the people and for tn
people, and .eferring all power to the
people, there is necessarily a union OF
the churches and the State" to the ex
tent of the votes of the members of the
,arious denominations. Hence an INJURY
to any church by the Legislature of any
State ought to arouse the sympathy and
condemnation of the just of all the de
nominations of Christians, whether gem
orally expressed or not It may be as
sumed that our church organizations are
generally modest, and not disposed t.
make stir even when injured. Yet,
ought all individuals in the State Of Eir
ginia to keep mum in view of such
decision as that of the Supreme Court OF
he United States in the Alexandria
':ase," and the published surplus in ou
State Treasury? The fact is that all in
dividuals in Virginia have been mum
ever since the said decision was rem
iered; but. did anything ever come from
NUM-" The purport of the aforesaid
decision Of the United States Suprem'
Court in the Alexandra case" was that
he Legislature Of Virginia never had q
right to take the property OF the Eplsco-
pal Church of Virginia, sell 1t. and con
vert" it into the Literary Fund! Hence
we have in the Literary Fund OF Virginia
an amount of money which of right be
longs as clearly to the Episcopal Church
of Virginia as the money now being col
Iected for the Baptist College in Rich
1ond belongs to the Baptist Church
Let us suppose that the present Legis
lature, when it reassembles, were to con
clude to seize the monsy now collectet
for Richmond College, elect judges I.
suit their view, and then 'cover' Thu
money ..into the Literary Fund" W.
would have almost parallel case
what a, former Legislature did to the
Episcopal Church of Virginia. Its prop
erty was seized, sold and covered into
the Literary Fund.- nearly running the
church for long period, and from tbs
added losses of our late Civil War that
church is in need OF the money whict
properly belongs to it! There is said to
be at this time 100000 OF surplus in our
State Treasury after paying all debts.
Why cannot our Legislature, in view oi
the decision Of the United States Suprem
Court in the case above mentioned, and
out of this surplus, reimburse the Epis
copal Church Of Virginia in part an
periodically, as we have a surplus to the
extent of the whole of what. the Stat
took from it and covered into the Lit
erary FUND.-" This would be obviously
just, and to be expected, if our presen
LEGISLATURE wishes a reputatio for
tice and wisdom. Restitution (when
wrong has been done) is a part of til
faith of all Christian denominations. Let
us have an example of it from our Leg
islature, encouraged, if, possible, by 3.
resolution from our Constitutional Con
yention suited to the case.
There can be no doubt that we havs
departed too far in this country fror'
the principles Of Magma Charta," the
most beautiful sentence Of which is as
follows: 1--WE, will neither hinder, delay
or deny justice to any man" Let US
completely restore this principle in Vir-
GINA by doing justice to that church
which held as its members both Wash
ington and Lee, and which without re
proofs, complaints, or petitions, pursues
Its helpful course amongst US, with fts
parishes broken by war, its ancient edi-
tees needing repair. and its home mis-
stems In want of aid. Yet. as we Should
be just not only to individuals but To
be dies OF men grouped into churches
lsccTporations. etc. ourzLegislature siloul;l
rot now wait Tor petf tons. speeches. etc,
/ to induce Il to pay to the Episcopal
EChurch az Virginia the equivalent sum
taken II ono that church and covered