New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1846-11-27
Church EdI6ce. and Crime.

erect buildings 50 large in SIZE 50 grand IN design
50 exquisite IN their proportion 50 rch and SO deli
cate IN ornaments as to awaken i possible the pro
foundest emotions Of the human mind On this &C
count We cannot but rejoice al the numerous church
edifices erected within few years past IN more
expensive style Of architecture than had been usual
in this country Ma. aside from all emotions which
their grandeur and beauty may awaken II seems
TO be duty which We owe 70 the Great Creator.
that when We build our OWL houses with suTnptu-
BUSINESS aud adOrn them win elegance the temples
% the Most High should share oar wealth, and
religion be treated with as much regard Is We be-
stow upon ourselves.
LEADING notions Of those who have lately erected
ciyurch-edifccs il the style alluded to- And S-e
cannot but be soicInny Impressed when we enter
under lofty roots pointing upward toward the
Heavens ar. lose ourselves anon- the many u2assy
nilIsrs which support them. The silent tread upon
the thick-woven carpet bushes the mind 70 devo-
toa the distance the pulpit and the wide extent be
tween the walls suggest the idea OF house FOR the
congregation Of al men and the richer The OF the
organ the soul i compelled 20 leave the cares
OF the world AID eagsge that worship To- which TIE
house i designed We cannot BIZ. think j; Is right and
goodaGy, tuat IT'S crty II d 70 combine our wealth
one WIKI aao.her snd build, in honor Of GOD temples
in humble imitation OF the grandeur and elegance OF
Gods great temple Of the World
CT there are suggestions n some tFts on acOlrtry
nature which demand sacred consideration IRON those
.sho erect expensive churches
In the first place though bull; by the contributions Of
-rra.e wealth church edice is not or ought not
De- private building TIE moment that pew IS sold
within it, walls il 10 oc The House OF God and
becomes street O: private parlors That moment the
wealth. which has been expended upon u ceases TO pear
il anctaed character and tails under the lmpratlon OF
HAVING been expended for private comfort individual
display and luxury and =slhshness. This j. not G0Gs
House the builders may sag this belongs 70 our cor
pDraton " this is not the place OF worshlpthis - my
pe. which I may lock and mas enter, which
mag keep vacant though thousands stand without and
where too uley sleep withou; disturbance il will IN
the midst OF prayers and promises and lessons OF eternal
In considering these rich temples one cannot but be
struck with thought OF the Thousands in cites for
whose religious instruction appropriation IS made.
and TO whom no house OF worship i open. PIRATE
courtesy cannot open pew-dCCTs sufficient admit the
multitude thereis not enough OF courtesy in ndividu-
al pew owners 20 make the multitude welcome and.
beside the general idea impressed upon the public mind
by the distribution of pews individuals i that OF ndi
vdua rsht-, which it would not be courtesy to ask
participation in. The church becomes private dwelling
house and The stranger feels scarcely liberty
the pew than open the front door and seat him
self the iirssidc in the paTior. The Christian who
antics with the Of the world 10 sci OIL pews IN the
house Of worship. gives 10 the latter night to eXpca
man from the pew even by force II necessary. anG up
holds him in his calm the intruder
with GOODNESS with insult Coldness and Insult have
been used strangers and by the present plan OF pew
rights the Christian sanctions lNciL
buying pew enables the wicked man to buy one. and
forbid the humble wOrshipcr 10 enter.
The "pew right il may well be urged, Is very seri
Gus corruption of the religion OF Jesus Christ Even
in the country where churches less splendid and
where stranger the attention of the whole con-
grcgaton and where open pew my one may enter,
the pewriEh excludes many individuals and families
from constant attendance upon divine "orsnp ana rel-
gous instruction IL impossible altogether 10 relieve
The mind from the idea OF Intrusion long as ndivdu
ais claim has place their own Dy mora! and by legal
right still more Christianity be Gebarred from
presenting truths and consultations 10 MI men in the
city, where the poor Is not known IN person to the
rich and where the distinction between the elegance OF
the pew and his humble abode seems extremely
wide The only possible way Of extending 10 the poor
complete and iaultess invitation 10 enter ana worship
IN Gods sanctuary is 10 build houess and discRm all
private right in them to eudow sanctuarie+ TO engage
preachers and 10 open the doors freely 70 all the world
The church edihce should be public the road,
the Park il should be made much night 10 share in
lis and enjoy them Is to look upon the toun
tain and breathe the common air Man has no right
10 provide place of worship Tor himself alone. He
ont do il. without putting public slight upon his fellow
men without Withdrawing from the public use that
wealth which given him 10 be used or the common
good OF all.
In thinking upon this subject we cannot but be re-
minded of the language OF James il not literally, is
essentially applicable al the present day Ii there come
unto your assembly man with gold ring IN eoodly
apparel. and then III ALEC poor man in vile raj
meut - VIII not quote the remainder. In this genern
ton we subject ourselves 10 the apostolic rebuke Aud
are more guilty than those whom the apostle
For conduct not that OF impulsivc and temporary
nciyty hut the fruit OF an established principle The
poor in churches cannot even sit AZ our feet
exclude him altogether AND THIS corruption 81
Christianity FAR far worse than hcreses III specus
tive doctriuea denial OF the Trinity, assertion OF
it, than disbelief in the Church, in the theory Of
miracles One is speculative the other practical
mas be II mistake the other involves the moral view
which hold OF our religion, and marks the moral
character OF our age.
have been led TO these remarks al this time e>pe.
nv
few OF our elegant churches OF late, IN the de-
struction OF OF their richest ornaments. such
enormiiies 1t is thought neXpiceble. They pro-
coed all will admit. from wanion disregard OF the
rights OF property aud from mal!gniy which seeks 10
ntiic an injury where II VIII be most keeply felt and
with the most difficulty repaired. Yet more stringent
laws will not reach the seat OF the evil, and prevent
repetition OF the outrage and the offer OF large re-
ward for the detection OF the criminal and MS punish
incnt will rather invite the repetition than prevent IL
and such SAVIOR not OF the spirit OF the New Tesla
ment.
But consider the case more deeply. Hundreds and
thousands lAborng 10 the utmost degree OF their
ability Vice ANA crime sre tempting the starving 10
and crina! 20 provide for their necessi
ties The burden of life rests very heavily upon the
shoulders of fathers and mothers and large numbers
OF the human family turning about almost IN des-
pair NJ not finding wla, do in The world for living.
IL the same time wealth is riding by in Haunting equip
ages or looking through windows OF costiest ma
tcrisls sofas OF most luxurious -ottness and the
Christianity OF the day--;hough IN words procalmng
Man our brother-buids churches and lavIshes the
eumuated wealth OF years and centuries upon the deco
ratons OF them The people cry out Tor bread the little
children al the corners OF the treet-snd give them
churches TO be sazed Hundreds OF thousands of
dollars are spen-not to enable man 10 worship his
Ma5er-but 10 provide oraio-es for the rich Religion
walks forth in his silver slippers the sunshine. and
with applause" as Bunyan says We spend IN lew
wears million of dollars for the external purposes OF
religion and the which charity and pi!Anthro-
py give does take tespooniu OF sugar from our tea
These vasi-these awful Inequalities between the Rich
and the Poor the fact that the Christian Religion OF
the presen, day joins in with the Rich and turns aside
from the Poor the crushing weight OF poverty and
the exceeding difficulty of procuring comfortable sub
sisience and driving away the sight OF the monster
Poverty which nan about 10 ias;en upon his
wife snG children after MS decease-snd the case Ike
the turning over his hand with which the rich
curlula.es ana the with which he spends these
sufficient account FOR many Of the wanon
and criminal injuries which inflicted upon the
properly OF the Rich Disguise Il we Will the Re
ii-on of the Saviour calls all brothers the Poor
cannot forge; this Nature inspires something OF this
sentiment in every heart Society denies IL the Laws
do al with their tongues deny IL But the Poor
feel wronsed. because the elder BROTHER takes 70 himself
the whole OF his Fathers heritage Laws viii pre-
vent crime The Rich mus use their wealth with
,noGestv Religion teach better lessons. and il