Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-03-16
BEECHER ON PEw.RENTING.

The New York Evening Post says the system
of pew-renting, as practiced in most of our city
churches, Of all denominations, has, from time
to time, given rise to numerous complaints from
those unrefecting grumblers who consider their
rights invaded when, on entering large and
expensive church. they find no seats thrown
open for their accommodation. There are, 1t
Is true, many free churches; while there are
not more than dozen generally so crowded as
to render it difficult for a stranger to find
place. But where some popular man breaches,
the building is usually filed, and the curious
stranger, finding there is no convenient seat
for him, WAKES indignant, and perhaps writes
letter to newspaper, invariably asking
whether the apostles would have allowed hired
pews were they now the heads Of the church.
The annual letting of pews is sure to give oc-
casiOn to these censOrious comments. Cores
pondents find it good opportunity to let off
few filings at gospel shops" and country jour-
nals seized with sudden horror, retail to their
readers the New York market price of religion.
The recent sale of pews at the Plymouth Church
in Brooklyn has been noted in this way. The
rent of Plymouth Church pcws for the coming
year amounts to SIS, 600, and one journal ''can-
not believe that it is right or Christian for one
congregation to expend S25, 900 for themselves,
while many feeble churches are struggling for
existence, and many self-denying ministers
must rely on faith for the supply of their daily
bread" ...-.
MT. Detc0er, IN the lnuepenQent OF tn1S
date, expresses his opinion very clearly in re-
gard to this subject. He assumes that the Sc
cular affairs of church have nothing to do
with religion, and are rs purely commercial
snd as subject to right commercial laws, is
the business of a college or bank. lie says:
Whenever n church comes to that part of its
business which is secular and require CONNER
cial wisdom, then it must stand. Just like any
other honest concern, subject to all the equit-
able laws of matter and money. The pews
must be sold and taxed or rented every year.
and this must be done publicly that all may
have a chance. And if the pews are not much
sought after, there will be but little trouble or
complaint. But if the pews are fewer than the
applicants; II ten men want seats when but one
can be accommodated, how are we to select
which shall have them
Shall there be perpetual scramble Then
the strongest will get them. Shall they be
rented privately! Then the alert and shrewd
will get them Shall they be rented openly
and in fair competition Then, inevitably
they must follow the commercial law. and the
man who wants them most and has the means
Of paying the most, must have them.
Now, it is very easy to stand off and rail
Will any one suggest a plan by which 5000
men can be put into church that will hold
but 5000! If only part are TO be accommo-
dated, will some one tell better method than
open competition upon fair commercial princi-
pies, For the secular affairs of a church are
just as commercial, and just as subject to right
commercial laws, As is the business of bank,
a manufactory, an academy or college.
In alluding to the fact that it is the rich who
thus obtained the highest gospel privileges, Mr..
Beecher, upon the principle that it is easier for
a camel to go through the eye of a needle than
for rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven,
says that these men, because Mey are rich,
need preaching more than others; that they are
peculiarly liable TO self-indulgence, pride, and
hardness of heart, and require unusual efforts
to keep them in the right path. He adds:
1t is not very ensy for Taen "who do not live
in large cities not to believe that it is right or
Christian for one congregation to expend
S2j, 900 for themselves" &c. If men that have
money knew what to do with it half as well rs
those do who give them advice without know
ing anything about their affairs, what a thrifty
world this would be, What church spends
annually is great or little, according to circum-
stances. There are many country churches
where 81, 500 year would be more extravagant
than in others would be S25,OO0. But in this
particular case the surplus funds are employed
in paying off the debts and mortgages which
lie upon the property, and we hope that it is
not unchristian for a church to pay its honest
debts.