The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1911-07-20
OPEN THE CHURCHES.

ii most undemocratic affair that
We have In THIS country is The man.
"%cmcnt o" Caugrh buildings. When
thc5e ..C"@as arc erected the entire
community is solicited for assis-
lance. General. and often /gener-
.ous. contributions are made bv the
RIlhii2 Al large. Furthermore, when
the" buildings are erected. they and
the land they occupy are not taxed
by the state. T'hiS * only another
way of saying that all the other
prCperty of the community is taxed
4 htt!" i."ivic" in order that church
property miy c.rIpc taxation. In
the light of these facts. the churches
are under II tremendous social OBJ
LEGATION This has usually been
recognized in the ages past. There
was n democracy about the ancien,
Jewish synagogue which was sur
rrising. Even so decided a non
conformist as Jesus was permitted
at times TO enter a and
teach the people. The churches o:
the Middle Ages were common
places of refuge for the poor.
Now what can we say of the
church buildings of tho present day?
The people are still poor and on
pressed. Considering the amount of
wealth which. by the help of modern
machinery. is created by labor, or
modern workers are the poorest maid
OF all the toilers that ever lived on
tn" planet. Poverty, crime and sui-
eide are on the increase. 1t is time,
Il there is much demand, that the
people get together to talk over their
suffcring s and find the
peaccable ana just way to eXtricate
themselves. But the only suitable
buildings for the purpose for the
adult population are the churches.
they are widely scattered and easily
accessible. They are at least moder-
ately comfortable. They are. for the
most part. entirely out of use the
most OF the time. Some of them are
used only two hours per week.
Now, what is the attitude of the
religious organizations in this crisis?
DO they say. Here are our public
buildings: We have the title TO them.
but you helped to build them and
are taxed to support them: now the
great cause of the people is at stake:
COME IN and let us reason together
concerning Righteousness and ius-
tice?" Is that what the churches
are saying in these terrible dayS of
graft? No, they stand for the most
part silent and ignorant. Instead of
PENN their doors to the su ffering
mnltitudes. they shut and bolt the
doors in our aces. | know there
ar" exceptions II I hail them with
loT. Hut I am speaking of the ma
loritH OF church Institutions. | know
that the church ]buildirgs are closed
to the righteous appeal of the peo-
PIE. For years. throughout the Mid.
dl" States. We have been asking :or
a hearing. In the towns and vii.
lagos the churches hold the key tc
the situation. They own the key tc
the church building. and with tha'
KEY they bar the door of the onl,
available meeting place for adults
w" do not ask for the church in,
%stitution to indorse us. or TO be re,
~sponSih!e for the conclusions of such
"a popular gathering. hat we do ash
FOR the use of tho building. rem
free. in the name of justice. mere,
and love.
And we are going 70 get in, Til.
i"hurches are untaxed today becaus,
they claim 10 he Il public benefit
If they can not make good on tina
claim. they will no longer he sup
pnrted by the public.
Either the church doors Will one,
10 the Just cry of the helpless. o
else they will he bolted forever, :
home for bats and owls. while labo,
builds new temples. dedicated t,
righteousness and justice.
Frederick Guy Srriclxlond