, 1876-02-06
RELIGIOUS.
Evening Services I at the
Church Of the Messiah,
.**
The Results Of the Abroga-
ton Of the Moral Law.
The Sabbath Not Known 10
the World Before
Hoses.
Why Churches Are Not Attended---
: Ihe Close Communion Ques-
ton.
Annual Meeting Of the American
Evangelical Alliance.
Notes and Personals at Home and
Abroad.--Chureh Services
To-Day.
Annual Meeting Of the American
Evangelical Alliance.
THE CHURCH OF THE MESSIAH,
FREE EVENING sERv1cre


An experiment Of somewhat interesting
character begins to-day at the church OF the
Firat Unitarian Society. The Rev, Brooke Her-
1ofd' who Inst Sunday commenced his paatorship
here has induced the members to limit the rant;
ing OF the Beats to the morning service, and to
oold II the evening an open church, With an
onersory TOR its support. 01r. HarfoGd has been
for eleven years past tho minister Of church in
Manchester, England, that had adopted the
free and open system,' with the o1crtory in
Stead OF seat rents OF subscriptions for it's entire
maintenance, and be has found this plan very
successfui in causing outsiders and inquirets,
and especially tho people Of the district round,
to feel perfectly FREQ and at homo in attending.
It may bo In the recollection Of some of our
readers that just before 8fr. Herford's return to
England, last summer, he gave some account in
LIE TRIBUNE OF the working of this plan and
oi some OF the reasons which hare gradually led
70 It's adopt'on-.wlth almost uniform succoss-
oy large number Of churches OF various de-
nominations in England. During his raiueuce
10 Chicago he found that tho same causes are at
Eork bete as in England to make the system OF
allotted seats aud pew-1ents Alndrance to the
Tree attendance Of that large class who have
dr7tted away from any fixed religious aecocia-
tlons. Here as there there are thousands Who
coala not without very great effort meet the pay
ment Tor regular seats, greater hero than in
England because OF the eKtravagant scale which
has become general in church enterprises. Here,
also, rs There, thero are largo numbers who
are not prepared to identify themselves
Wtta any place OF worahip by taking soata, who
yet like to attend religious services, but dislike
the feeling that they are time after time occupy
Ing seats paid for BY other people, aud so they
attend very rarely. II ia thought that such
people may bo glad Of an opportunity OF attend
lok q church vheee the places ara all aa open
and unappropriated as in public meeting, and
where al can contribute sheie share towards the
maintenance through the ofertory without in
curing any permanent responsibility.
IN accepting the call Of the Church Of the |
Messiah. we understand that Mr. Herford, whiIe |
not liking as stranger to interfere with the ar |
rangements Of the regular morning service. re-
quested that this plan should havo fa1rd
trial in the establishment Of perfectly I
open oveniug services, and the Society
consented. This "Open Evening Church viii |
be distinct, therefore, from the morning aeryi-
ce5. aud will be supported independently bY the
Of those attending it. The =" offer
tory" will differ from the usual pIan Of church
collections, in that, instead Of being taken in |
open plates, or baskets, SO as to let the contri-
butlous be seen, an otfertory-bag will be passed
from hand to hand, 30 closed that no one can seq
what any other gives; the object being to secure
he solf.respect evenof those who can only afford
The smallest contributions, and to insure that
whatever is given shall be really OF free will We
understand Mr. Herfo1d's special hope in the
adoption Of this plan to be, that it may open the
ray to the equal attendance OF all classes, Who |
viii thus be placed On exactly the same footing.
III able to attend in perfect Independence con
rihutlng according to their means-