New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1845-11-27
Unitarian Churche.-sea,s.


To The Editor Of The Tribune:
SIR: In some communications which nave la'eiy
appeared in your paper, it is maintained tha' Tue
expense of attendance on the Unitarian Churches
in this City is such as TO exclude the poor II Is
certainly serious charge and il should not nave
been made without knowledge. X IS IN 'Ac' rGt4e'
remarkable that within the last nine years mere
have been FIVE wears OF free Unitarian worshlP 10
this City, open TO all who pleased to atislu
OF the services the Stuyvesant Institute me poio
rooms, and under the ministry OF Rev. w II Cnsn-
ming: which in all amount 10 that number OF years
and doubt whether any other body OF Cufistahs'
according their numbers have within Inc iast nine
years, supported as much free worship. ana lnis
statement does not include the SPECIFIC minisuaiion
TO the poor. which within the last Twelve OF Intf
teen years has amounted 10 much more
Bat il is said That the Uniiarians have now ouiii
large and costly churches which the poor cannot al
tend. 4 rich church; i; must be for rich people
the poor cannot go there This is rather rash gen
eralizing. l. is done with glance oil the eye ana
there Is no farther inquiry. But what Is 'ne 'act
In the irs, place our churches are open and Tree 10
all who come and many do attend continually
without money and without price. Nor Is
any particular apparel demanded the gay
clothing" or the gold ring" mentioned by
ST. James. In short our Churches are open 10
all who please 10 come. They are Tree 10 all VINO
will make them so. This talk about poor people In
| believe with regard 10 all the Churches IN
this City am certain il is with regard 10 ours
II the next place, If any choose 10 pay, nave 70
state, that there are many seats IN ooh OF oGE Onurch
which can be rented for tour or hve dohars
year. pews for families for twenty or twenty-five
dollars. Nor they disagreeaole seats hidden
away in dark corners; but airy and agreeable cush-
Toned and comfortable. Now any one can estimate
the amount OF this accommodation and privilege
and compare il with others of different kind Here
is large buding-let me be pardoned the deal! tor
the sake OF making the case palpaole-a large ouild
ing, furnished, warmed and lighted, here Is sacred
music and preaching; and il costs the individual but
ten cents a Sunday. Suppose it were a Lecture
sip, aud would the demand be thought enormous
No, but j; is religious institution and that Is d
ferent thing. Is il thing that can exist without
expense
The " free.church' plan about which we hear 90
much, may be very we'll for church al the outset
but il cannot work well as a permanent plan w no
is 10 pay the expenses? The generous must Go II,
and the mean will escape. There Is something 10
admire in the plan of free seats see that, and iee
what its thoughtful advocates say: But DO not
see how the Necessary expenses oil Church are 10
be conveniently met without pews, and tax upon
pews | know thar these pew5 present themselves
10 the imaginaiions of some If they were awful.
guarded enclosures, walled up to heaven, IN who b
the occupants expect 10 ascend 10 heaven But thl
seems to TO be making avery rlght'ul thing OF an
innocent board partition in which man may Keep
his hymn books and sit together with his family ant
take care of mis- children; and if it be demanded
that they be broken down as matter OF Christian
right, the same thing might as justly be demanded
of the partitions Of our houses.
On the whole. it is in fact not the poor, but the
rich and those Of moderate property, who have most
cause to complain OF the expenses OF our Churches
for it is they who bear the chief burthen. To them
say, you do not pay half much for the religious
Instruction of your family as you pay for child
in many OF the City Schools
ONE OF THE UNITARIAN PASTORS.