New-York tribune., 1869-06-18
FREE CHURCHES.

We do not very deeply sympathize with the
clamor for free seats in churches. The assump-
tion that the people of this City stay away from
public religious services because they are ex-
cluded by the Pew system, is not true. There
are not only free seats but free churches OF
almost every denomination and strangers are
generally welcomed in most if not in all
churches. The Roman Catholics, the MethO-
dsts, the EpiscOpalians, have free churches as
we'll as free seats and of late the Unitarians
who are comparatively few-have supported
perfectly free religious services twice each
Sunday in the great hall of Cooper Institute,
and have paid their very best preachers to
oficiate. We believe they have resolved to
settle regular pastor and make this a new
Free Church. In our judgment, those who
want to go to church ldo so now; and those
who stay away do so because they can spend
the time elsewhere TO their own greater satis-
faction.
Still, we like new suggestion when it is
practical; and the following, from friend.
seems to be on the right track. The writer says !:
II tho Protestant clergymenl were willing TO take
leaf out Of the book Of some OF their Roman Catholic
brethren they might find possible to ecOnomize these
ten hours or portion Of them and h their churches
seen within their walls There is q Roman Catholic
church in parish of this city, having Roman Catholic
population OF souls counting the babies
The pews Of this church rented but condition Of the
renting that the renters shall occupy them only at
high mass in tho morning and at vespers in the evening
The church will accommodate about thousand people
At all times, save at the two services mentioned,
the pews thrown open to any one who chooses
to occupy them, and the rule Is, first come, first
ie m M A I'M hp m
another at g. another at another at another at and
then comes high at lOO At each Of these services
the church is filed from the altar steps to the doors and
tho consequence that 5000 persons who could pay
for their seats, and 1000 who have paid for theirs
ship In this church. which only holds 1000 persons
Sunday morning before IL is true that this is
Jesuit church. and the Jesuts supposed 10 be willy
folk; but 1as eat ab hoSts doeeri. and what could
be better than to turn the tactics Of the Jesus
against themselvesi II 10 were known that
In every Protestant Church In New-York would be
service equal interest and instruction to that per
formed at log IL O'Clock every Sunday at O'Clock in
the morning. another at O'Clock. another at p m aud
fourth at p n and that at each Of these all parts Of
the house should be open aud reserved seats nothing
being charged for admission. acoecton taken
up what would be the result There are at least three
hundred fine churches In the city, in which the pew
system prevails and which will seat at very moderate
calculation, 10000 persons. They now filled twice
each Bunday-f they could be filed six times, $4,000
persons would hear the Gospel preached. There is
no need Of building new churches-thOse We have
win do well enough II they only be
used In this manner In the forty Roman Catholic
churches on this island, by dint OF repeating the
services six times, 10000 persons worship every
Sunday In the Protestant churches which will seat
on an average 800 persons each, $4,000 persons might
have the Gospel preached them by having six services
every Sunday Instead OF two at present There
altogether in NewYOk 42 Protestant churches of all
ranks and sects but for the illustration Of point
have spoken OF only Of the largest class The other
l12 would certainly accommodate 10000 persons
so this plan were carried out $4,000 souls out Of tho
million who dwell here might have seat and hear q
sermon In q church every Sunday II they only pleased
They might please but at least the churches would
then bo free from the reproach that to the poor the
Gospel is not preached"
So much for our friend, who proceeds to
aDswer certain objections which he conjures
which may stand back till some
body mAkes them. We venture to say that
there viii bs 10 difficulty IN Anding preachers, |
even though twice day should be adjudged |
often enough-as we think it is-for one man |
to deliver sermons. We will undertake, on |
kIlak s4 eh0 PrOtOssAnG Christian churches Of |
I'D CfeSs % 6aaEGanss a SEtra fES0 eoSVio0- ]