New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-10-29
FREE HOUSES OF WORSHIP.
NO OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHURCH FELLOWSHIP oPBN
TO CONVERTS AT THE REVIVAL MEETIN6s-OB'

NO OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHURCH FELLOWSHIP oPBS
TO CONVERTS AT THE REVIVAL MEETINes-oB-
sERvAIIoNs ON THE PEwRENrINd POLICY.
To the ditor Of The Tribune.
SIR: 1t is the earnest desire and ardent hope
OF every true Christian that, in connection with the
coming OF gody men, Moody and Sankey In
midst. there may be manifestation OF the power
mercy. and the Astounding gTnco Of God In blessing
His people and that many who are now " without
Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth OF israel
having hope, and without God In the world may Dc
made paraker OF that grace and blessing and he saved
with everlasting salvation. Such ever the desire OF
the Christian; the first impulse OF removed soul Is
that ofsympahy with Christ in HIS yeafnnss Tor the
salvation Of the pcrishing
Now let suppose that from all parts OF these
cities who regardless OF tho tremendous ssues
involved, and who n0n-churchgocrs, shall attend
these special aud services and becoming con
vinced shall resolve to LAY hold on eternal fe" When
these meetings shall close what to be their church
relaonsi They heads OF famies or children from
other families, or young and young women who arc
alone in the city, mostly Of that class whose pecu
MARY limited and precariouB These can
not hire pews In our churches Then among the
converts professional men, clerks, men III moo
erately lucrative business. and others who. while
making n fair appearance, able and willing
to pay literally toward the expenses OF church. yet
are not able to pay the rent OF pew. When these meet
ns close these converts seok their nearest church
and there unite aud make their home SGch is the i'm
pulse Of tho But can they do SO without they
hire seats Church members may say their house OF
worship Free but the assertion Ia untruthul. vi
course in theorT, and consequently by assertion our
churches are free. Yet Let a with his family,
even though member of the church. or an iaguif1ng
man, or convert, attend a few Sundays WIN
out renting seats, and tue lie VIII DO
given to tho assertion by treatment, II
not by words which few able to withstand one
after another nOn-rcntng members or persons are
silently yet rgidly excluded. until only the wealthy
attend upon the appointed worship OF Gods house. our
workingeu and their families do not nor canoi attend
Churches remove their houses OF worship from points
where the working classes become numerous tlat tey
may more easily maintain the eXcllsi' eness OF the
wealthy, which has had is inception III inc s!S'e" Vi
pewrcnting. II, -.
are able to rent pews WIN ne weicome 10 'he nt VI
pected, nor viii they be permitted unless they may ne
willing 10 I've separated and treated az paupeIs ana 10
man who ia manly, much less any CHRISTIAN could submit
that ought to DE that these converts could ny
10 the churches like doves to Their coes anu mus "
would be- and would churches be- the refuge ano
home of awakened and inquirng souls nut Tor 'liS u-
seriptuIa system of pewrentng But instead ol hndlng
he scatered as sheep without shepherd shall they go
TO the Young Mems Christian Associations for religious
These Associations have done Inicii EoO ana are
help 10 homeless Chri-taus but after all they have not
the authority nor the responsbilIty OF CHRISTIAN chcn
But the result Of this prohibition from our churches,
from finding homes In theln WI be tat lnaiy ~ tncse
converts viii DE turned back 10 lrrensOh ana desluc-
tion. How can IT he otherwisef
Now TO this state Of things to these incongritics, to
this great evil in churches, we must DC AWAKENED
There must be u Let this evil continue, let none
but those able TO pay largely enjoy the minstIa,
ton OF the Gospel in our churches ana the revival WIZ
be much curse as blessing But II cannon son
tinue IL il perycrsion Of tho night ways oil the LORD ~
is false testimony concerning Divine things IL ~ stult-
flying the ministry destroying their influence Win le
people; 1t il causinga spiritual decline IN our chale'
making them stumbling blocks IN the way 1i sinners;
rne time is AZ hand when We must have ire bones OF
worship or no acceptable worship "Al|hMA''
Aer- York, Oct. "a 1873.