The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1915-07-06
Endowments and Taxation

Editor Dawson News: at is naught-it is
naught, sayeth the buyer but when he goeth abroad
he telleth it. Take heed and beware of covetous-
ness for mans life consistent not in the abund-
ance of the things which he possesseth. THE
Bible
The Macon Telegraphs editorial advocating re-
lieving church endowments of taxation betrayS
three very reprehensible things. First, it appeals
to classism, to array the Protestant churches for
it, because they only and not the Catholic will re-
ceive any benefit Second, lack of historical
knowledge with which a should be endowed
before discussing such matters. And lastly, an ap-
peal to local pride to foster Wesleyan and Mercer.
Riches is the most corrupting element that can en-
ter into church's life. Because it was the policy
the social and religious life of conquered nations
they found them the Jewish hierarchy fourished
never before under Romes rule, and the only
property that did not pay taxes to Rome in Judea
that belonging to the Jewish church. hence the
abject poverty of the common people and the AFRO
gancy of the priesthood, that because of Christs
Dukes to their sinful exacton-even to the tithing
of garden herbs of the common peOple-ther as
sumption of long robes, of titles Of nobility, they
by false accusation with the forms of law tried con-
victed and murdered Him by law. 1t is well known
to students of church history that the Catholic
church was much divided into orders, which
jealous of each other the Baptist and
the Methodist of today, but that when it came to
robblng the laity by acquiring property which cen
tious and superstitiOus mOnarchs allowed them 10
hold free of taxes they united, and the Tee-
graph, which Lamar made great and Pendleton ed
similar raid the states treasury. Henrys lust
for Anne BOleyn was the end by which England
relieved herself of churchly domination and con-
hscated the monasteries which had been built upon
the poverty of the people by freedom from taxation
but had Henry never lusted the people would have
ended it, for the preaching of Wicklfe had begun
to take root downward and bear fruit upward 10
the tearing down of priestly domination and the
building up of church purity and civil liberty RoD
ispiere and his tribe is credited with the revolution
that carried Louis to the block and enthroned
prostitute god of France but it was this same
seeking freedom from church domination, built up
by freedom from taxation, that fused the masses
The tyranny being greater, the ignorance more pro-
nounced the fame OVERRIDE all barriers and leaped
from Christianity to paganism, from which France
is just beginning to recover now. The damnaton
OF Spain and her colonies resulted from IHlS Same
freedom of church property from taxes, and tne
United States paid the friars $20,0000OO for prop
erty looted through this process from the people u
the Philippines, and this by way of a br1be 10 set
the support of the priesthood, without which tne!
would have to spend more to subdue the 1slanuS'
This is that for which MeXicans are hunting NV
A corrupt Spanish government, by connlVance "
the church for freedom of it's property, and throqs
this freedom of taxation a share of the loot na1
robbed the owners of the land of their land F,oI
see how it works: For state, county and muAl06P
taxes the taxpayers of Macon-Jew, Gentle Ont
nese and African-all pay about $50 on the thoIo
and-about three per cent A rich and close ~ ~
porat1on can borrow money at four per cent IN
banks pay the small lender this much Now cnulG ~
endowments of schools and other things are ~
real estate, bonds and other taxable secuIIleof
them erects a large wholesale house as large aa,
say, Taques & Jinsey; both borrow money at Loul
per cent; both have the same expense as 10 Iun y
ming expense waste ETC., but Taques & Jinsley pay
three per cent for taxes, the church pays noInIls
In 20 years the latter firm would go out OF business
and the church would not only own their o own poe
the other firms business also, saved by their I'M
per cent taken indirectly through freedom Ilo
taxation from the firm and the city and county an
state. But it fosters education, you say. II uooS
not, the lessons of history teach. 1t fosters ~
clesiastical corruption and damnation to all una
good, both in church and state, and the sop throw
to the Protestant churches-that they are the onI
benefciares-wOuld not hold good twenty-lVJui
hours after this freedom of church endoments ps
came law, for we do not hedge the state afounu
and the freedom of conscience and equal pTlvHee'
to all creeds would bring in Catholic wealth De
tween suns, and who blame them for placln79
their money where it will twice as much L1s
as it is now earning and enable them to erect Ho
schools enlarge the old and propagate tnTl.
faith never before? So we had best stick 10 tne
Bob Toombs clause of the constitution forDldalLLs
the granting of any concessions whatsoever save In
freedom of the church and school house to any re-
ligious order. Toombs. Jenkins and Stephens WEI
students of history. Toombs drew the clause tae
other two approved it, and it incorporated II
the constitution. Very respectfully,