Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-09-13
CHURCH SHOULD PAY TAXES
Unusual Stand Taken by Speaker
at Convention.
Tainted Money" Also Comes Up for Dis.
cussion at Annual Meeting Of La.
mobile Association, Held with
Local Baptists.

goodly number OF people gathered
at the First Baptist Church Monday night
for the opening session Of the 121st an
nual session Of the Lamoille association.
A symposium dealing with the sub
ject. 1.-THE Church and the Community
took up the greater part Of the frst
session Monday night. The Rev. ]. Wes-
ley Rafter Of st. Adams, who was to
have spoken on the subject. HAS the
Church Lost Her Influence in the Com
munity?" was not present. The prin-
cipal address was. therefore, given by
the second speaker on the program, the
Rev. E. M Fuller of Richford. who
handled without gloves the interesting
| discussion on "Why Should the Com
munity Sustain the Churches7"
DR.. Fuller maintained that. II this
meant financial support in the sense
that 1t Is usually employed. the COM
munity should not sustain the churches
that under no conditions should the
church assume a suppliant attitude
that the moment the church allowed It,
| self to assume this position that church
lost it's power in the community. He
said that he would not willingly allow
his church to accept any money which
he knew had been made at the sacrifice
of the public good. He protested
| strongly against the acceptance of SO.
called tainted money by the church.
On the other hand, DR.. Fuller made
the point plain that there should be a
reciprocal relation between the church
and the community. which should be
recognized by both parties. The speak
er believed that II the church did its
part in the community. there would be a
recognition of this fact by the commun.
ity and that the community would re.
spond willingly to help on the work
of the church. DR.. Fuller emphasized
this reciprocity between church an6
community. and. in connection with this
idea, brought out tho distinction be.
tween soliciting funds and giving the
people an opportunity to give. He
maintained that II church must exist
the people within the church. by their
free-will offerings, can make It exist
Community support as a duty Is com.
mendable, but as favor to the church
it Is reprehensible, because 1t kills the
respect Of the community for the
| church.
| In the questions and short discussion!
which followed, there was considerable
divergence from Mr.. Fullers point o.
view. especially on the subject Of tainted
money. 1t being the opinion, as expressed
by several present, that money could b.
freed from it's faint" by contact with thu
work of the church, and that the more
money of this kind that could be secured
for this work. the less there would b.
for 1.-The work Of the DEVIL
One of the more important question:
which was put to Mr.. Fuller was whether
or not the church should pay taxes on IT
property. Mr.. Fuller took the rather un
usual stand that the church should pa,
taxes. that the separation Of church ant
State really demanded this as a matter o
principle. He said that the Baptis
churches would be ready to lead In tn
matter Of paying taxes when the law wa
made such that all churches had to pay.
Among those who took part In the dis
cusson were the Rev. ]. g. Braker Of tn
local Baptist Church. the Rev. F. F
Peterson of Boston. Mass. the Rev. H.
Kemp of Hinesburg. DR.. w. A. Dawson
Of Burlington, the Rev. George W. Allel
Of Montgomery Center and others. Tn
meeting closed with tho benediction by tn
Rev. II. l. Kemp.