1879] REPORT OF THE SECRETARY, 47 



The Assessors ignore, or violate the law — peremptorily re- 

 quiring all "portions of such houses appropriated for other than 

 "religious worship to be taxed at the value thereof." 



There have been religions, since the world was inhabited, for 

 which countless myriads esteemed it a privilege to die in indes- 

 cribable tortures. A waning faith is satisfied, in these latter 

 days, with a profession that is popular because vapid, sonorous 

 because hollow, and precious in proportion as it is cheap. 



Your Secretary believes that every dollar in the community 

 should bear its proportion of indispensable public burdens. 

 And he would suggest that this Society bestir itself in aid of 

 the recent movement for equal and just Taxation, to the end 

 that, without any exception in favor of political or religious 

 craft, strict equity may direct the levy of all sums necessary to 

 maintain the peace and dignity of the Commonwealth. 



All which is respectfully submitted by 



EDWARD WINSLOW LINCOLN, 



Secretary. 

 Horticultural Hall, Worcester, Mass. 

 November 5, A. D. 1879. 



