The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-01-16

The New York World says: Each year, as
the time draws near for the annual auction of
hepews of Plymouth, Mr. Beecher feels it In
cumbent on him to offer few words in vindl-
cation of the system. Yesterday morning,
after he had announced that the regular sales
would, take place tomorrow (Tuesday) eve
Mfg, at. 2 o'clock, and that there would be no
postpoDement on account Of the weather, he
continued as follows:
have no doubt but that we shall now hear
the annual wall from England and elsewhere.
They are generally much. disturbed by this
sale; their consciences have been affected by
It for years. Thave received many letters and
have read many affecting articles IN relation
thereto. In the main the defect of these is
that they point out no other way II In tRis
country we had the revenues OF the whole
klngdom-f we had fat bishops, or rather
bis6oprlcs- -Qaughter)-I mean Il we had the
whole pocket Of the nation to put our hands
into-we might save ourselves the scandal OF
the annual renting of--the- -pews: but
unfortunately for us We, are plain
people, and whatever we 90 we 90 from rom
government; we preach in our own
Churches and In the mode we choose;
and we are at liberty 10 choose whatever man
ner of supporting them that suits U.S. The
churches hsye generally an annual rent for
their pews, which, although It may not be de.
termIhed: by the bidding at ans auction, Is
founded upon great commercial principles. II
you will tell me how to build the house. pay
for the coal and gas to heat and light 1t, and
for all other expenses, without money, then
wewill dispense with money; but as long as
It requires money, know not any better way
to get 1t than to allow everybody to take his
seat at the price he agrees: upon. f; this 10
that the Elaborer isworthy Of his hire;"n selling
itas all churches sell 1t. There are some who
think tharthe Gospel ought 10 be- preachet
t,Without money aDd. without price" ~ 1t t1s
preached without money and without price
In a. thousand ways, but all experience
has shown that you cannot pursue secular
business and then reach acceptaSly too. II q
'bring out Of. the treasury things new and
oldn-he must bring bis whole, loree to his
work. and -R- he does this he must be sustain
ed;,it mar be by the charities OF men, or It may
beby 5eenlsr ngreementii but, whatever ie 1s
he Is only Sustained. Ibave seem q great deal
sion: ia thatin ninety nine casesiout Of Q hum
dred 1t is'aVery &c arrangements Laughter.l J.
They ought not to have salaries. It belongs
To the chnditionS In which men are In this
world, and. We have satisfied 1t as much
ss we kndW how to BY doing the Lords work
BIZ absolute free will offerings OF the people,
and for the most part they have been con-
tented I'm this matter; and L submit 1t to
every rightsminded man, either at home or
IN dear Cd England, flour own people are sat-
isfed whether 1t is anybody else's business. Il
Is not their money, 1t Is our own, given freely
for: the last eighteen years, and as learned
from tabular statement, there has been freely
raised simply for The support OF the gospel
ordinances BY thls people s575, 600, and that
which was given freely, believe shall be
within bounds when i say that OF this large sum
over half q million dol!ars-there has not
been one cent OF 1t has failed In the collection.
The people have not promised and then not
contributed. don't believe that there ID any
bank or mercantile concern In New York that
has set such an example as this church has,
and our contributions have been perfectly vol
untary and free.