Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1869-04-02
TYFB FREE SE.fT SI.STE.u.
ny REV. EDWARD ABBOTT.

by REV. EDWARD ABBOTT.
Shall the pews of our churches be bought
and sold and held as so much real estate
| thus making the dedication of the church.
as some at least regard it, a piece of mock
ery2 Shall they be rented even, year.
| ly, under the hammer of the autioneer, the
choice seats being borne off, as at Jenny
Lind's concerts, by the highest bidders9 ?
Or shall the doors Of our houses Of worship
be thrown open, thepeople welcomed there-
to without distinction or condition, and
some other method than rents or taxation
| be adopted to meet the expenses of preach
| ing the gospel? This is problem which
| is isattracting erableattentionju Just now,
and there are not few, earnest-judicious,
Christian workers who feel that its solu-
ton stands at the very threshold of the
evangelzation of men.
BY the free seat system is not meant such
a system as relieves mems pockets from
contributing to the support of the gospel,
but one that secures religious privileges to
all, without affixing thereto price, the
payment of which is made condition.
The writer of this article has taken pains
to make inquiries of several pastors whose
churches, few only among the many, have
adopted the free seat system, and proposes
| here to present the result of such inquiries
as slight contribution of facts to the gen.
eral subject. The churches whose expert
ence we will enter here are as follows:
/. Church in Springfield, III. Capacity
of house, 500. Average congregation,
| (house just openod) 300 Church member
ship 80. Expenses, 81, 500. To meet these,
yearly subscriptions, payment in monthly
installments, are solicited at the beginning
of the year. These are collected by the
treasurer in advance, who receives two per
cent commission for the labor. The sub
scriptions considerably overrun the ex-
| penses. No allotment of seats.
| 2. Church in Cincinnati, Ohio. Size of
house and congregation not given. Sub
scriptions payable quarterly. All persons
and families so desiring have special seats
| assigned them.
| 8. Peoria, Ill. Congregation averages
500, Church membership 100. Cards are
distributed at the opening of the year on
which individuals disposed place the sum
which they will give weekly, monthly, or
| yearly. Payments are deposited in box
| by the church door, which is in the treas
urer's custody. Having the names of all
su bscribers, he credits each with every
| payment, while no one but himself knows
the amount given by n particular person
| Easily raise g., 300
| A. Hawark. MI. Capacity of house 300
Church membership, 9O Yearly subscrip
tions payable in weekly installments
which are collected at the Sabbath evening
services by the passing boxes. Seats allot
ted as with No. 2.
8. Cambridgeport, Mass. Capacity O
house, 450. Average congregation, say
$50. Church membership, 100. Cards ar
distributed at the beginning of the year OF
which subscribers write their names ant
the amount which each will give per week
These cards are returned to the Treasure
and payments collected as with No. 3
Amount OF subscription for 1869, upwards
of g., 900. No allotment of seats.
The pastors of these five Churches con
cur in the statements of the following ad
vantages as accruing from the carrying ou
of this theory:
|. 1t satisfies our consciences. We be
lieve thas it is the right method of holding
our churches, and meeting the expenses o
public worship.
2. We find that it stimulates increased
liberality on the part of the wealthier mem
bers of our congregations, who will give
more in such a a way for the support of thu
gospel than they will in the payment o
pews or taxes.
3. That it opens way for the poorer por
ton of the congregation to do their littl'
part, which the system of rented or owned
and taxed pews efiectually prevents thei
doing. Every one is thus afforded an op
portunity of contributing according Il
the eir ability, which is the only true meas
ure of duty.
I A. 1t secures increased attendance. Tn
pastors of these are not troubled with emp
ty pews, but as general thing preach t.
full congregations. The people will atten'
free churches as they will not others.
5. 1t does away with moneyed distinc
tions in the house of God. They have II
place here. The amount of mans sub
scription is not known, nor does 1t determ
inc the location of his seat. Those who ar
less able are Just as likely to get an eligibl
pew as those who are more able.
0. And finally, it is popular plan. Tn
Church like it. Strangers like it. The mid
die class like it, who are neither rich no
poor. In the last named of the abov
, mentioned churches, to say nothing of tn
others, the congregation would not adoE
either of the commen methods under an
, consideration, and individuals who wer
ever skeptical as to the expediency an
feasibility of the plan are now firm con
, yerts to it,
! 1t is to be wished that some Of our larg
, and more conspicuously influential church
, es would give this plan fair trial. Th
, details may be varied according to circum
stances, and the best practical methods fc
carrying out the theory may not yet hay
been devised, but the theory is the rigl
one, and IT must yet be adopted as on
| step in the great work of the present hou
Z the carrying of the gospel of Jesus Chri
to the masses of men, -COngregdtiondtist.
|