The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1914-03-20
WHY THE CHURCH.

warmth. The police were called upon
to drive them from such places Of re-
/ fuge and there was some disorder
some furniture and glass was injured
or broken.
Since then severe criticisms have
been directed at the responsible par
ties who denied refuge to human be-
ings in storm and the press asserted
that the homeless had some rights at
auch time which Christians might
not dcny-,he question was why are
churches built. correspondent ad-
dressed a letter to the World which
contained the following paragraph:
Christian churches are Institutions
el-q:ted with funds contributed by
Christian people and supported by
them for the purpose of worshlpping
God. They are not to be utilized as
lodging houses for vile hordes of scum
that come from the rat holes OF Eu-
rope and try to destroy the tranquility
of our nation"
The public has no knowledge as to
the position or responsibility Of this
writer, but his answer seems 10 EN-
body the opinion of those who closed
the doors Of warm rooms not needed
by the owners in the faces Of starving
or freezing human beings. In the coun
try the man who denied a place at his
iireside to a suffering stranger would
deserve execration of his neighbors
and be adiudged inhuman-if he so
treated q dog he might be prosecuted
by the Society for the Prevention OF
Cruelty to Animals and a good jury
would convict him without leaving the
box. Is this view CT such conduct to
be condemned in a city?
But If the owners Of churches desire
to defend themselves under the law
we would remind them that though
they have builded the churches they
cannot be said TO own them as they
own their hate or their shoes. We
have heard of late some notable deci-
siona on the property rights OF those
who build railroads and set up other
public utilities-in return for special
privileges under the law all such instl-
tutions, including churches, owe Ger.
tain duties to society. A church would
not remain church IL rented for stur-
age purposes or a dance hall or for
moving pictures, and yet it is only a
building of materials more or les, com
mon; church is something more than
house. Each OF us has the right TO
worship God according to the dictates
OF his own conscience, but when con.
Srogation builds church ii acquires
q legal character because It assumes
certain duties and can claim certain,
we even have special stat
utes for the protection of churches,
and church property IL exempted from
taxes because ii has special charac-
ter Of its own
Therefore, a church building is not
the property of It. builders and own
ofs as is q dwelling or a place of bust.
ness; because "A church has special i'm
munitles II assumes special ,csponsi-
bilities to the community. The first OF
these Is the duty of conducting itself
IN accordance with the professions II
makes. A body which proclaims the
obligat{anns of charity and kindness
cannot aefuse to aid the suffering
when 1t can do so temporary incon
vonience or triAing loss cannot be
pleaded as excuse for the failure TO ful
MI the obligation to the public incur
red by the professions 1t makes. A
church Is not only a building but
congregation not only club or a lit.
Tie community. but body bound by
faith openly prcfessad
Therefore church body which uses
is property cruelty and in violation
of the law OF its being ceases to be
Christian. should be made to surrender
the immuuiues granted because Of its
character ANA must pay taxes and 9th
erwiso adapt its management to other
laws than these il has set forth in pub
lie as its reason for existence. A.
church which drives away the men
and women asking help ceases to be
3 church. loses its Christian character
and should be treated as a place OF
business, club or lecture hall