The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1869-08-07
Communicated.

To THE EDITOR, Sir: Your reference of the Oath
July to the success of voluntary contributions and
free seats in churches in other places, may be worth
a reconsideration here, in principle. The weekly
offertory would not be palatable but a quarterly
one grated on an annual subscription of ten dollars
per head, would probably realize more than the
present method, besides donations, and be without
the evils of the existing system, which are anything
than trifing. The Christian Church is essentially
aggressive in principle-not to grasp money, but
converts, as the ultimate end of its construction /;
but if it becomes preoccupied by Christian families,
where are the accessions OF converts from without!
Certainly not in q range of seats appropriated to
strangers at the head of the building, and those oc-
cupied by regular hearers, nor in the reservation of
o line of seats at the extreme end, which also have
their accustomed sitters ; and as to standing room,
there is none. The philosophy of human nature
teaches us, even if these sittings were vacant, that
the majority of mankind embody many and varying
exceptions, which prevent their seeking casual seats,
or possible intrusions and exposure. Some families
Will not rent any but the most respectable pew, how
ever costly in price others, who cannot afford to do
so, stay away, and many cannot find the sum of 40
to 80 dollars ut one time, do the same on that ac-
count.
Families do well to secure an entire pew, to pre-
vent the evils of isolation, and to secure a regular
attendance of their members The building is faulty
in size and construction which docs not allow of this,
and at the same time, leave half of its area to free
seats, and ample standing room, of at least Is feet.
In such churches, many "who came to scorn, re-
manned to pray" through an unseen arrow entering
the conscience, and revolutionizing entire families,
by one member.
Our little buildings here appear to have been built with the
idea that they would enfold the existing flock, and without any
prospective anticipation Of increasing population outside more
imperatively requiring provision. The absence of crowds, is
no test Of Indifference to public worship when they know
there is no approved accommodation; where this has been pro-
vided, unincumbcred by routine, il has always been responded
10 in effect, both in general attendance. and in the enlargement
ouaie ministry. The veriest wording is a keen casuist here,
who eagerly looks beyond the best written sermon, to ascer-
tain whether the preacher " follows the Apostles, as they fol-
lowed Christi in life, spirit and doctrine. Large and popular
churches are nowhere among independents kept up by trrft-
ten discourses. These are only interesting to the intellectual,
and that when of the first ability. And it appears, that such
sermons we're never used until the time of the prosecuting
King James, and that out of necessary self-defence, against
the false accusations of reasonable utterances, made by hired
spies of his Court, when the literal sermon was produced. and
sworn to as inclusive of every word uttered. While written
sermons may be used by a genuine Minister, they always
divest the waters of life Of the freshness Of the welthead, and
encourage in example, thousands who can read, but cannot
preach, and thus make the ministry a profession. :" for a NOR
sci of bread" or temporal support. "Out of the abundance
of the heart, the mouth speaketh books in written ser
nor L.