GOVERNMENT, LAWS, 



to Providence the manifold sufferings occasioned by the Borough - 

 mongers taxes and Parson s tithes ! 



431. But, my Botley neighbours, you will exclaim, &quot; No tithes ! 

 &quot; Why, then, there can be no Churches and no Parsons ! The 

 &quot; people must know nothing of God or Devil ; and must all go 

 &quot; to hell ! &quot; By no means, my friends. Here are plenty of 

 Churches. No less than three Episcopal (or English) Churches ; 

 three Presbyterian Churches ; three Lutheran Churches ; one 

 or two Quaker Meeting-houses ; and two Methodist Places ; 

 all within six miles of the spot where I am sitting. And, these, 

 mind, not poor shabby Churches ; but each of them larger and 

 better built and far handsomer than Botley Church, with the 

 Church-yards all kept in the neatest order, with a head-stone to 

 almost every grave. As to the Quaker Meeting-house, it would 

 take Botley Church into its belly, if you were first to knock off 

 the steeple. 



432. Oh, no ! Tithes are not necessary to promote religion. 

 When our Parsons, such as Baker, talk about religion, or the 

 church, being in danger ; they mean, that the tithes are in danger. 

 They mean, that they are in danger of being compelled to work for 

 their bread. This is what they mean. You remember, that, at 

 our last meeting at Winchester, they proposed for us to tell the 

 Prince Regent, that we would support the Church. I moved, to 

 leave out the word church, and insert the word tithes : for, as 

 there were many presbyterians and other dissenters present, they 

 could not, with clear consciences, pledge themselves to support 

 the church. This made them furious. It was lifting up the 

 mask : and the parsons were enraged beyond measure. 



433. Oh, no ! Tithes do not mean religion. Religion means a 

 reverence for God. And, what has this to do with tithes ? Why 

 cannot you reverence God, without Baker and his wife and 

 children eating up a tenth part of the corn and milk and eggs and 

 lambs and pigs and calves that are produced in Botley parish ? 

 The Parsons, in this country, are supported by those who choose 

 to employ them. A man belongs to what congregation he pleases. 

 He pays what is required by the rules of the congregation. And, 

 if he think that it is not necessary for him to belong to any con 

 gregation, he pays nothing at all. And, the consequence is, that 

 all is harmony and good neighbourhood. Here are not disputes 

 about religion ; or, if there be, they make no noise. Here is 

 no ill-will on this account. A man is never asked what religion 

 he is of, or whether he be of any religion at all. It is a matter that 



\nobody interferes in. What need, therefore, is there of an 

 established Church. What need is there of tithes ? And, why 

 should not that species of property be taken for public use ? That 

 is to say, as far as it had any thing to do with religion ? I know 

 very well, that tithes do not operate as many people pretend ; I 

 know that those who complain most about them have the least 



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