The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-11-11
Baptist and Presbyterian On
siaupht-

Slaught.
This article was adopted June u 17-s
and. on June 9th. the Baptists attacked
the establishment In a petition asking
that they be- allowed to maintain their
ministers and enjoy the ministrations Of
these without the necessity OF support
ing the clergy OF other dcuorninations'-
meaning. OF course, the clergy OF the rs
tablishment
Tho first General Assembly 81 Virginia
met IN October. 1T76. The attack on the
Establishment then became general. and
many petitions. chiefly from the Presby-
terians. poured in upon the legislature.
The Presbytery Of Hanover asked for the
repeal Of laws cOuntenanclng religious
denominations and enforcing taxation FOR
their benefit. one immense petition. sign
ell by 10000 names. and many yards in
length attested 20 the number and unan-
Unity Of the disscnters.
The Assembly bowed before the public
Will. and passed a law on December g.
liif exempting dissenters from the sup
port OF the church. This oin was car
ried only after severe struggle. in which
Pendleton and Nicholas led the conserva-
tives
Dissenters were relieved Of the burden
Of supporting the Establishment with
their taxes. but the question Of state
interference IN religious matters was no,
yet settled. II was SIN q debated ques-
ton whether there should be taxation Tor
ecclesiastical purposes Meanwhile. the
Opponents Of the Establishment secured
a postponement Of the payment 70 Il OF
any taxes at all. This condition Of abey-
ance lasted through the years 1776-1779. in
which time "A euTnber OF petitions were
presented. asking for the overthrow of
the Establishment. or opposing the sys-
TEN Of church taxation. which was called
assessment
Jefferson's Act Held Up.
In the session OF 1779 the opponents Of
the Established Church made deter
mined assault upon II. and succeeded IN
Gripping Il seriously. although they We're
not able to secure their full demands.
Taxation for the benefit Of the clergy
OF the Establ shment had been suspend
ed for three years. Five suspcnding acts
We're passed. and in 1913 tho laws for
the support Of the clergy We're repealed.
a. now became impossible for the old
Establishment TO hope for an eXclusi re
benefit from taxation. although the gues-
ton Of taxation itself still remained un-
decided
The settlement Of the latter could have
been accomplished by the passage OF
jefferson Act for Establishing Rol-
gious Freedom In Virginia" The bin Cor
religious freedom was reported in the
House Of Delegates in June. 1879. Ii was
held up. the enemy belnG too strong. The
act. as finally passed reads. BE it en-
acted by the General Assembly. That no
man rldlt Nt competed TO frequent or
support any religious worship. place ormfn-
istry whatsoever. nor shall Boz Doe enforced.
restrained. m0l-sted OF blrthcued in his
body or goods. nor shah otherwise suffer
ou account 81 his religious opinions or
belief. hut that all men shall bc free to
profess and By argument 20 maintain
their opinions ia matters 81 religion. and
that the same shall in TO wise diminish
enlarge Or affect their civil capacities"
The bin was not passed. however at
this session and for "a number Of sessions
to come. The bin old not pass FOR sew
ertl reasons. The state was deeply in
volved I'm 17Ao-'Sl IN the progress OF the
war After the establishment OF pence
in 1888. the old church. which had been
paralyzed by The war. began TO show
s-'s-l~ of reviviug- p-au vas brought
forward 70 secure The property skill held
loosely by the church by means % an act
~ Incorporation. and 70 provide FOR the
support ~ the clergy by q system o. gen
erau taxation Of an the citizens Of the
state for the benefit Of the various
churches.
This law would give each person the.
right TO choose the church which should
receive his tax. In this way the Pres
bsterians, Baptists. AIethodlsts-if they
considered themselves separate-aud
other scots would be established. AS well
as the Protestant Episcopal Church
which was the successor and heir Of the
OLD Establishment