Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-03-10
SCIENCE VS.. THEOLOGY, ETC.

Editor Courier:
There are only two main points OF
difference between the man whose
nom de-quill is Senex, and myself. but
in his last effusion he threw in good
many platitudes and much side-step-
ping These two main points are the
on-taxation Of church property and
the antiquity Of man on the earth.
AS to the first matter, In trying TO
show that non church members had
no moral right to refuse to pay church
taxes, he says: For instance man
may have no children and refuse to
pay taxes to support schols' l said
our public schools and our churches are
entirely different. as the schools are
nonsectarian and are maintained to
give the children mental and moral
education. BY doing SO society IS ben
Gifted. BY all means the children
should have good moral education
which should be mainly supplied by
the home. II, as soon as child ar
rives at the age of understanding you
instill into its mind correct ideas or
thoroughly understand that every
good deed it performs adds to It's hap
piness and every wrong done Is sure
to be followed by suffering; if 1t grows
up to manhood and womanhood with
this idea firmly impressed on Its mind
and life, you are almost sure OF good
citizen when the child arrives at ma
turity.
But without this moral instruction
you cannot make good citizens by
hypnotizing the young people ana
at REVEALS as is the custom. Teach a
child to do right because 1t IS right
not through fear of an endless hell
prepared by vengefu God.
1t Is claimed by my unknown friend
that the good influence of the churches
should entitle them to exemption FROM
taxes. i have already shown that 4
vastly greater per cent of our GRIM
inals report themselves as having been
reared under church and Sunday
school influences. This doesn't show
much benefit to society.
The following extract from President
Grants message in 1875 bears upon
this subject:
'In connection with this important
question, would also call your at
tention to the Importance OF correct
ing an evil that If permitted to con-
tinue. will probably lead to great
trouble in our land before the close OF
the nineteenth century. 1t is the ac.
emulation of vast amounts of untax"
ed church property. In 1850 believe,
the church iproperty of the United
States. which paid no tax, municipal
or state, amounted to about $83,000,-
OO0 In 1850 the amount had doubled:
in 1875 it is about $1,000, 100000. BY
1900, without check, it is safe to say
this property will reach sum exceed
ing s30O0.Oo0, 900. So vast sum, re-
ceiving all the protection and benefits
proportion of the burdens and ex-
penses of the same, will not be looked
upon acquiescently by those who have
to pay the taxes. In q growing coun-
try, where real estate enhances SO rap
idly with time as in the United States,
there is scarcely limit to the wealth
that may be acquired by corporations,
religious or otherwise. il allowed to
retain real estate without taxation.
The contemplation Of so vast prop
erty as here alluded to- without taxa
ton, may lead to sequestration with
out constitutional authority. and
through blood. / would suggest the
taxation Of all property equally"
He has more to say about that reg
ulation.' l still claim that one class Of
people have no right to regulate the
say moral right. Polygamy and chattel
slavery are an injury to society
crimes against the best interest Of So
ciety.
If DR.. Senex is determined to take
the side Of the regulator. 1t is his priv
ilege, and he can defend polygamy and
slavery by the Bible by numerous pas
sages. Jacob had two or three wives,
and Solomon was somewhat polyga-
nous, wasn't he?
He says, my "forebears in unbelief
took a hand in regulating more than
century ago, in France" And will
add that your ''forebears" took hand
in the same business in the massacre
Of st. Bartholomew when about $4,000