St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1875-12-24
AT ST. ALBANS, VT.

| AT ST. ALBANS, VT.
The Rev. Charles Van Norden, pas.
tor, also contributes to the ChrOnicL,
the following us the result of the ex.
pertinent in the Congregational church
at st. Adams:
Al the beginning OF the year, the
First Congregational Society of St
Albans adopted the system of free sit
tlngS and weekly contributions. This
experiment Is as yet much too recent
Ill It's working. for profitable generaliza-
ton upon results. 1t may, however
he of interest to church tinanciers to
learn how, III this one instance and for
tins short space of time, the plan has
succeeded.
Ii Is but fair to acknowledge that the
change was made under pressure OF
motives not altogether philanthropic.
In part the method was il financial re-
sort. 1t was the secoud parish meet
ing. 1T which Il deficit had appeared in
the trca>urers report. The annual eX-
pcnNrs had reached the large sum of
Sl.JW, while the available income had
scarcely risen above S:.5GO. In conse-
qucncc, Il debt was accumulatinw This
state WAS not owing to either cxtrava-
gancc or inability. The parish en-
bIaced SlX hundred and fifty souls. the
church numbered three hundred mem
hcrs. and the audiences ranged from
three To four hundIed \ large amount
OF wealth and many goudly incomes
were represented. The difficulty arose
from the fact that the society owned
but few of the pcwS. and controlled
only about two-thiIds of the house.
Many valuable >Ittiug> were available
merely Tor the legal tax, and were he'd
10y non-lt>ldcntS and rcutcd for indi-
NldIIal advantage. y radical change III
mcihod WAS mamItr>tll necessary. Tie
need was perceived 10y every one and
gcncial determination prevailed Ia
adopt amy plan that would prevent debt
and enable the two ends to meet
still. though free SittingS and weekly
contributions seemed the financial
necessity. i'll part. ut least. they were
the tnrthcome of Il generous spirit.
There prevailed Il desire to show equal
consideration t" all, the poor and the
rlch. alid To take AWAY every excuse
from outsiders for n0n-atieudancc. bv
Il cordial IMITATION t" any unnccupicd
pew.
The method adopted WAS simply
tins: Al the beginning of the Neal
every Icprc,, ,ntatiNc imdiN idual in the
parish Mas to hc visited 10y commit
tee. and his oT iicI pledge secured fur Il
definite weekly sum. Ih, collections
were to he made on he Lords daV. bl
the dcaconS.Im envelopes previously dis
t1hujcd. each SIIper>cIihcd with name
oi donor and amount contained. \
regular account waS t" hc kept 10y the
treasurer with every giver. and ut the
end "t each month any one who might
fall INTO arrears WAS To receive Il hill tuI
the amount due.
The parish fell into line ut once. The
response was general and generous.
Two hnudrcd persons pledged sums va
~ ing from five cents To five dollaIS and
Il total WAS at once secured of - 4.6Jg
ioI the year. These promises have been
faithfully redeemed. scarce an instance
of default having vet occurred. Sever
al who did not like the plan and re
fused to pledge, have. notw itlstanding.
quietly done their part. adding to the
above sum at the least $50. Then
- bsiN' UNIV u luto tue boAtS
800. making IL total of 5000 for the
Year.
The results have been. first. Il full
treasury. prompt payment of current
expenses without borrowing, and a
probable balance of several hundred
dollars at the close of the year. toward
the extinction of the Indebtedness
The universally of contribution re-
suited ut once i'll Il very general inter
est i'll the church services. and no doubt
had its effect upon the religious awak-
ening which has made the year mem
orahle in the history of this body.
The effect upon the audience has
been to bring many young men from
the galleries to the floor of the house,
and to accommodate some of the poorer
brethren with seats that under the old
plan, they could not have afforded to
hire. In general, however, the appear
Ince of the congregation when gath
cred for worship has not changed. The
majority appear regularly in their won't
ed places. Indeed. there seems more
likelihood of permanency and il chance
to develop local attachments under
this method, than when the pews were
yearly auctioned and scrambled tor.