The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1870-01-21
FREE SEATS, FASHION AND FINANCE.
By REV. ALEXANDER CLARK.


BY REV. ALEXANDER CLARK.
That pew doors are being unlocked,
and free seats thrown open, are indica-
tons of genuine evangelism abroad i'll
the churches. The system of owner
ship in fee simple, and of floor-leases
for three score years and ten of certain
acres of sanctuary room i'll Christen-
dom, does not fifty attach to the gospel
of free grace and equal brotherhood.
Central and conspicuous sites may do
for those who can afford them in grave
yards; but in the house of The Living
God, where unsaved sinners and I'M
crowned saints assemble as level wor-
shippers, it is not best to apply the NAM
mon measures. Corner lots and avenue
fronts are proper enough for the enter
prise that can possess them in cities and
in village, real and imaginary; but TO
have Broadway and Five Points To-
Gated in the Church of Christ shows a
species of maladministration foreign to
the democracy of the New Testament.
The policy that secures presumption
rights to certain prominent places in the
sanctuary, and always marches down
the aisles a few minutes after divine
service has commenced, interrupting the
Bible lesson, the solemn prayer, or the
song of praise, by the creak of boot'and
the rustic of silk and satin, in a whirl-
wind of whispering sound, saying, ''This
is somebody's precious self and his spe-
cial society splendidly possessing these
choice seats, Sovereigns of the Situa-
tion-d'ye see us! z" is a caste that re-
quires some sort of Fifteenth Amend
ment power to correct. 1t is impudent
idolatryl 1t is the Ku-Klux clan of the
Devil without disguise! The poor, to
whom the Gospel is to be preached are
crowded back against the walls, beneath
the galleries, under the rafters, out into
the vestibule and into the street repell-
ed, chilled, wounded in heart and soul
just where they should be healed and
helped and cheered and blest. This
whole theory of fashionable worship is
un-Christlike, discourteous, even cruel
| to the stranger and the Outeast.
The times demand Sabbath service
that has something better to show than
rhetoric, cadence, kid glove, chignon,
and cologne. There has come the day
when Christians of every name and de-
nomination must hold forth a warm,
| uplifting hand, unlock the pew, throw
open the heart, let fall the tear, make
personal sacrifice for souls. We are too
fastidious, too careful. Our churches
and ourselves are too elegant and deli
|
around. Let the soft velvet of church
aisle carpet be worn threadbare by the
tread of rough mems feet; let the var
nish of the pews and affairs be made
dim by the pressure of the common
crowds. Not only so, but let Christians
wear themselves weary in the work OF
| saving men. Let them show something
of the dust and CRIME of contact and
conflict with sin. If they lose the poor
luster of paint and pride, they shall all
| the more shine as the stars forever and
ever, if they toll in darkness now in
turning sinners to righteousness. When
God makes u man, it is to Wse him. Nc
| human being was ever manufactured
for mere show. Let its doors be wide
open by day and by night, and let its
| welcomes sound far and wide. When
our churches are filled with grateful
i people, then shall our lips and lives be
filed with praise!
Our modern religionism is sought to
be made exceedingly comfortable, and
| for that very reason has very little OIL
no comfort in it! Followers of Jesus
who had not where to lay his head who
hungered and thirsted and was often
weary; who wore q robe of cast-of
purple, and stood reviled and scourged
and bleeding before the naughty pow
ers of the world, must come into the
spirit of self-denial and learn to suffer
for the truth. For this is the real gain
and the enduring Joy. Herein is found
the true liberty of the sons of God
The age is going by when padlocks will
be endured in pulpit or in pew. The
days of apostolic simplicity and open
ness and uncreeded preaching are com
ing round again. The ritualism and
sectarianism of men-drawing lines
making levels, opening and shutting
church-doors with ponderous iron keys
and opening and shutting pew-doOrs
with silver pocket-keys-all priestly
and petty interferences with the com
prehensivc economy of the New Tesla.
ment, where jew and Gentle, Barba.
ran and Scythian, bond and free, rich
and poor, now and evermore are one
all such nonsense is coming to an end
Praise the LordI
But, IL pews are all to be free, and al
persons equally welcome to the priv.
leges of Gods house, what about the
revenue? How shall the church ex.
penses for preacher, for choir. for sex
ton, for incidentals be met? Win there
not be danger of suspension?
Well, perhaps the kingdom of HEAVIER
would not suffer loss if some of oul
most expensive Churches were to sus
pend! 1t might be the best fortune
that ever happened to them. TheiI
credit with angels and with God NIGH
be better if they had nine-tenths les.
pocket treasure below, and ninety anC
nine times more heart treasure above
Trouble arises from the fact that the
Gospel is supported by the large con.
tributions of the few, rather than by
the small contributions of the many
Here is where caste crowds itself into
the Church. A minister is stronger anC
more successful in his work when he i.
sustained by the masses. He looks his
audience in the face, and knows no maj
by his pew, by his money, or by hi:
| cloth. He sees the people as equals il
the sanctuary, however diverse theil
stations in society. He is free. He i;
impartial. And the congregation i,
stronger and happier and freer for pre-
cisely the same reason. Both the preach
ing and the hearing will be better. AnC
then, of course, profession and practices
will the more agree the weekday wori
of the Chuch will accord with its Sab
bath worship. Individual members
regardless of position, will be tested OF
their merits. 1t is a privilege which
the hnmblest member will appreciate tc
give his share. Only let plan be adopt
ed that viii reach all, appealing to ricI
and poor in the same language and a
the same time, and simultaneous re
I Spouse viii be the result az
Herewith is submitted a plan o
Church finance which the congregation
that L serve has adopted with nnanimi
ty. 1t works admirably. 1t largely in
creases the revenue over that formerly
secured by other means. Thinking tina
! ii may at least suggest a system Il
churches contemplating free pews,