The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1905-10-19

who could bear the sins Of the World.
The only nation of theOioSians the
world has ever produced kept dear the
original revelation. They knew there
was a Lamb of God tnar taketh away
the sin of the world
That God requires Of men tenth
of their income. as a tax for the gen.
eral purposes of the commonWeal. ana
issued this law as one Of the funda-
mental rules for the guidance OF hu-
man society. is evident from the TACT
of its wide observance by ancient ma
tions. One instance must suffice. IN
Plutarch's life of the Dictator Camll-
lus. it is recorded that after the taking
of the Etruscan City of Veil. the
augurs reported from their inspection
of the sacrifices. that the gods were
outraged. An inquiry was instituted
and it was ascertained that the SOL
diers who had been concerned IN the
sacking Of the city had neglected TO
dedicate the accustomed tenth to the
gods. The senate decreed that the
Victorious legions should make restltu-
ton and that a cup of gold of eight
talents weight should be sent as
trespass offering to the Temple OF
Apollo at Delphi.
1.-The Roman ladies brought. of their
own free will. such liberal gifts or
Jewels and gold that the Senate. to
honor them, decreed that funeral ora
tions might be made at the obsequies
of women, which hitherto had only
been permitted over eminent public
men. This extraordinary episode
proves how rarely it happened that
tithes were not paid and how grievous
was the sin of omitting their payment.
The further history of this incident
also proves that the payment Of tithes
was a world wide institution and car
ried with it a sacredneSs which can
only be accounted for by admitting
that it was primitive and universally
recognized law Of God.
Three senators of high rank We're
appointed to carry the restored 1.-THE,
with the trespass offering, to Delphos.
On it's way the embassy was taken by
the Librarians, who were then at war
with Rome But when the governor
of the city understood that the rlch
booty was tithe OF its way to Delpnos,
he not only liberated the Romans. but
sent a squadron of his own fleet to
convoy them safely on their way.
This dedication at a tenth. for the
common purposes of the community.
could only have been devised by a
mind which thoroughly understood the
whole problem of the needs of human
society. If it were honestly practiced
it would be found just enough to ale
viate all social pressure-and it is not
a little to be wondered at. that the
public eye should be blinded to such
an exceedingly simple and easily ex-
ecuted law, which could readily be
enacted and as readily executed. Sup
pose that every citizen comprehended
the effectiveness oe the law OF t1the
and voted that it should be constituted
national income tax, what would be
the result?
"Consider the absolute impossibility
of legislating against trusts or COM
binations Of capital. Legislation
against the natural processes OF trade
cain never be q success. The money
getting proclivity is an element in the
character Of men, which. like other
characteristics, varies in different peo-
pIe. Those in whom it is largely de-
veloped will accumulate money natur-
ally. If all the wealth of the COM
munity were evenly distributed among
its individuals it would, in the course
of a few years, go back again INTO the
hands Of those who possessed the aptl-
tude Of making money. The law OF
God would tax this capability for the
benefit Of those who do not possess 1t,
and for those who by various disabi!-
tiles gravitate below the line of COM
Portable living.
"The taxation of a tenth will be
found to be that exact fraction which
everybody can subscribe without dis.
tress, and exactly that sum which Will
maintain those who from various
causes are unable to maintain them
selves. All communities have about
the same proportonate composition.
and the example afforded by this city
of Denver will be applicable to any
other city mutatis mutandis.
"This city is composed Of about thir-
ty thousand houses. It will be readily
conceded that for living purposes each
house must represent a yearly income
/ of $1,000. So that the minimum income
of this city is S30,0000Q0. The actual
income is probably twice that amount.
But see the effect Of tithing this mini
mum S30,OO0.o00. The tithe would be
100000. Now, by actual reckoning,
it is found that the income of the 10
churches, that is. all moneys gathered
for all purposes from the people wor-
Shipping in them, amounts to less than
100000. Last year the incomes of the
| five largest denominations were: The
Presbyterians, $4,000; the Episcopal
lians, $4S,O00; the Congregationalists,
$4,000; the Baptists, $4,000, and the
Methodists, $4,000. So that $25O,O0O
will represent the religious income OF
this community. The County Commits
sioners expended on relief SSS.OOo.
The four hospitals did not spend in
charitable work $4,000. The other So
| cieties which exist for eleemosynary
purposes, together with all the private
charity of the city, will have their ex.
| penditures we'll covered by STA. 1000.
So that S5OO,OOO represents the relig-
| ious and charitable cost to a city Of
| 10000 people, of maintaining its
churches, hospitals and charitable So
| oio+ios The nublic school system,