The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1870-12-01
WHAT DOES TT MEAN?

The Christian Unlon-which is, by the
way, capital paper-states that the
closing public sale of pews Of Dr. Storr's
church IN Brooklyn foots up about $780,
900 and the letting of pews of owners
and pews not sold. gives thus far with
seventy pews still to rent) an income of
about $4,000. Repairs and enlargement
of the church edifice have been made at
a cost Of $135, 900, carrying the valuation
of the entire church property up to $780,
900. Twenty of the best broad aisle
pews are put down at $4,000 each, and
other pews range from $4,000 to 400.
While the enlargement just completed
was pending, DR. Storrs was called to one
Of the wealthiest churches in Boston, and
dressed earnestly to accept at salary OF
SD, 900 or more Seventy or eighty lead.
ing men of Brooklyn united in an
earnest written request that he would not
leave the city.
The Union does not state the Boston
church which called DR. Storrs at sal
airy of SIS, 900, or more did so because it
had built new church on the Bank Bay
lands, the new sristocratic quarter and
could not lift its load. or would not
without the aid of new and grand sen
sation in its pulpit. An excellent
preacher and pastor had to be turned off
because he could not draw Dives and all
his relations to buy the costly pews in
the splendid new edifice. And that, too,
when a moderately expensive church, say
800, 600, and 10000 parsonage, might
have been built, and more too, out of the
money brought by the sale of the old
church and lot.
Another new church in the same
quarter of Boston, that of the old First
Society, now Unitarian. is in the same
condition of gorgeous poverty. It's own
members cannot afford to buy it's own
pews many of them cannot even pay the
rent Of single seats The Church Of the
Messiah, in New York, called Mr. Hep
worth from Boston to succeed Dr. Osgood,
ut salary of $4,000, simply because they
hoped the sensation he would make
would enable them to sell their pews and
pay their enormous debt. Probably no
Unitarian preacher could have been less
to the taste of those who had liked Or.
O-guoi most; bat the devout scholar y
churchman, which DIR. Osgood was,
could not draw the money paying throng,
and it was believed Mr.. H,pworth could
On that ground the change was made.
1t is natural to ask, what do these facts
mean? Are not churches, on even the
least orthodox theory of religion, houses
of human brotherhood, consecrat d to the
ministry of help and comfort for all
souls! And On the usual theory of
religion taught in Chr!st's name, are they
hot houses of refuge from the destruction
impending over the world, consecrated to
the ministry of that grace and truth
without which no soul eau be saved |?
How, then, in the name Of common hu
manity, or in the dread name Of the
Ruler and the Judge, can builders IF
churches make them costly club-houses
for wealthy saints and for some few rich
sinners! Why are not these millions of
money used to build commodious taber-
Dacles, or wigwams even, with the practi
cal conveniences Of public and social
religion, and without a single thing
besides? Why do not professed chris
tians, who can afford to buy, and then
to pay the annual tax on, $4,000 pew,
give their money in way that would
provide thirty pews instead of one, and
then offer the twenty nine to whosomeve
will come in and listen to the gospel !?
These are questions that the pious Dives
of our day will have to answer before
long. MiItoaukee Sentinel.
&c