New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-03-27
LETTERS FROM TdE PEOPLE.
CHRISTIANITY ON HIGH AND LOW LEVELS
HOW To REACH THE MASSES - TIE FREE-PEW


CHRISTIANITY ON HIGH AND LOW LEVELS.
HOW To REACH THE MASSES - TIE FREE-PEW
SYSTEM.
TO the editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: In your reports Of DIR. John Halls lee
tures at Ydle nnd what to appear TO DC very ''
gular opinions ADVANCED in answer to quest'ons pO
pounded by the students. DR.. Hall was askeu ho"
can the masses best be reachedf lie repneo '"a' "
reach the masses the minister must so preach 'na'
<ora,a renorts would reach them and therein Chris
,sns might help much by giving favorable reports anu
u,gins the masses into the churches" incline 10 tne
opinion. Sir that very much more than crcu'a''"s
Favorable reports" OF any minister's however poI,
must be done both by tho ministers apd 'heir no0A
before the masses ara brought into our ehurones
Tbe fact is from certain high attitudes we i W Ho'
orract views OF the situation OF things beneath US;
,oists and clouds obstruct our vision. 10 my mihu'
there ia only one way the true practical SOLUTION VI
what many enorantly look upon as proolem-tne saw
ing Of the masses That way Is to so 70 theu Unity
the Gospel on fire to them. Even MI Moouy'
during his present remarkable labors In Great ban
failed 70 attract to any the lower classes or the
until he left the churches which were filed TO
overAowing with the respectable crowds ana went
down among the poorer people and preached the same
Gospel.
Dr. Halls reply to another question is as singular as
his answer TO the first. The question is.
what in the way OF reaching the masses, may the
free-pew system be expected 70 uof Ano A'S'
is Not much system Is opposed to the genius oi
American institutions" II the democratic
spirit of our gous bodies favors the exclusive sys'e
Of pew-renting, the main, and coolly Invites 'n0
masses-the spiritually furnishing thousands OF the
pooro come forward and pay for cushioned pews, as
means OF grace and the way TO be saved
I. for one, have misinterpretod the benevo-
lence, the generous sympathetic spirit OF the
American people and the American Churches
There is not pew renting church IN any city In tnls
land where tine poor drawn in. Tie effort 10 atrac.
Tho masses TO such establishments with the lo OF gIte
and eloquent preachers, has been signal aud total
failure lne poor will gladly hear us, II we carry the
cosne 10 Them they Will hrong the squares in the
depsey populated parts OF our city. whenever at suta
BILE times earnest aud Intelligent Christian workers, lay
or clerical appear 10 preach to them, and thus they may
DE saved. But TO tell them 10 come and learn an III
training what is really avta part OF Cnristai
living" by "gving money TO God " In the way OF rent
ing DOW IN church, is something worse thah Ior
finance committee of politicians TO take up collection
ar every ratification meeting from the people whose
votes they are trying obtain. thus inviting them to
nut the party power and the running expenses o.
the successful candidates also II the masses are ever
successuly reached lifted up. the Christian Cnurc1
must do IL aud pay the cost though it lessen the night
OF her tall spires. W. IL Do"hh'
York, March 19, 1875