New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-11-19
STRANGERS IN CHURCH,

IN OTHERS. ~,
II is frequently said that in the fashionable
churches of any large city where the system OF
rented pews prevails, strangers, unless elegantly
dressed and bearing unmistakable marks OF wealth
and refinement, are not cordially received Inc
advocates of free seats claim, particularly
that many young men beginning their careers
In New-York are discouraged and repelled py 'ne
treatment they meet upon their first visits 10 city
churches and that the result often IS that THESE
roung men give up attendance on religious services
In order to learn just how strangers are received
TRIBUNE reporters were sent yesterday, to NUMBER
of prominent churches in this city, The day WAS so
pleasant that the congregations at all places were
large. The services at the various houses OF wor-
ship are described below.
PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCHES.
The chimes were ringing loudly as re-
porter Joined the throng OF people who were pressing
into the vestbule of Grace Episcopal Church. al broau
way and Tenth-st, yesterday morning at hve minutes
before IL o'clock The vestibules OF the centre anu
side aisles were crowded with well dressed strangers
Young and old; men. women. and children, all waiting
70 be seated The regular wOrshpers passed IN quickly
and took their pews Sexton Brown ana anOther peso
acted as uhers and couteousy replied to all applicants
for seats that would be 10 wait until service
had begun. When the clergyman had read the opening
sentences the two ushers began TO exhibit dgnihed
sacrity in finding places for the ladies in the vesoue
The young men, who very numerous, ola not re-
oeive much attention. One who seemed especially ah&-
ios to obtain q seat asked for It, aud was told he Wouu
have TO wait He followed first one usher and then an
other from one vesbue into the other but II was twe
tvfour minutes after eleven before he obtained what
he wanted. Several young who had been standing
long time went this point. The reporter STOOD
quietly first vestibue, then in another until nlne-
teen minutes of II. Most Of the strangers had been
seated by that time and only six eight young men re-
NAMED The church very full, but number Of SIT
tngs were sin unoccuped Sexton Brown was now SIT
ting I'm an armchair in the vestbule, and The other
usher walked to and fro with his hands behind him
Two or three young men, who hadbeen waiting evidently
anxious 10 be seated finding that no attention was pad
In them although the ushers were at leisure left
tho church. The reporter did likewise As he passed
sut however a notice caught his eye: "strang-
RS desiring seats VIII, upon applying TO the
sexton, be shown TO them as soon as
oossie So he turned back and approached the sexton
asking If he could have seat don't see anY now,
vas the reply uttered politely. but without any interest
The reporter counted six sittngs not far away just
then gentleman left seat the side aisle about half
way down toward the chancc. " You can 60 ana sit
there IL you like" sold the sexton "Wih you kindly
how me 20 the place." asked the reporter Tie usher
compiled. This pew large enough 20 have held one
o. Two more and this point Of view II was noticed
that AT least twelve st-s vacant that might have
Dr. Polt,ls address vas an appeal for the support Of
Grace Chapel in fomleenis one nI,sa4e OF thE SEE
mon WAS substantially as follows; DuIihg me WeS S
this church. points tie attention OF ihe psi9g mli1u1e
TO world az h-I above. And yet ON sundays IN spite
of the cheerful hospitality Of Tire ucw-AOlders toward
strangers, for vnca leel greatly lhoeeyu ,nvT are
many who cannot here avail themselves OF tie privileges
ofWorship as iu 20 chapel where the seats are nee.
me Cg,cb of tine Ascension. EIthiye. aud Tenth
RI the u.h,rs polite. Out some what deliberate IN
their attention 90 strangers, IhcF mace 100 MARKED dis
tiuciions A persons WHO applied Tor seats were pro
Vdcd with thein ANA j. STRANGER waited without max
ne c9'cb ,cI VAN. Of attc ion nor Tor want OF room
Iin hlI Z If fif O.
there were many persons On he gallery.
Tic sexton aud ls assistant were tie only uShors no
the Calvary Protestant Episcopal Church Chc Rev. Or.
NaslbsrusJ, louItI,Ft. ANA East iWcuty-hisiet.
were compelled 90 stand "a aisle while tie usntrs
wore Attending 10 ttir duties m tAe other aisIes The
pdcd stand inside tlc door for more than eight min
utes before the matter oi scat Yves mentioned 10 hUl,
hand 90 one Of seats uo,rst tle door, although there
inacaag ma, ne seat was ihe reporters disposal
Oniv one gentleman. WHO apparently was lhe owner Of
occasionally yeutrd into thc yeStioule 10 meet
strangers ana Inquire d. iL1y wished TO De ''aed but
The sexton himself remained rosOluely inside. The
.ncai arr-e-,.,,rs IN rcciId no sealing Manners.
fiey rsfed all las m as ne, could both before thS ser,
vice aud begun, but only ono person could ne
shown TO seat az tIne ana ladies always mad the
ST. Bartaoomow's Church. Macson-aye and Forty
fourth the B-y. DR. samuel Cooke, Il cor attended
by oue wcItIcst and most fashionable cOu-Iegt-
lions the city. YESTERDAY morning uculy dressed
trrong including many people Wei known IN the trst
circs o society began 10 pour through the yesbule ~
quarter Of eleven O'Clock. Al ten minutes Of eleven,
lew strangers were standing IN The vestibUe,
apparently desirOu- OF bens noticed by the
sexton Who with s assistant, opened Tie doors with
graceful bow 90 the Practitioners whom he recognized
Nu. RI. Vatdorut passed in and also dlherent mem
bors Lis family. Tue Roosevelt family well repre-
9euted Several strangers, who ASKED for seats were
requested 70 stand within the door, and tie sexton
W0Ud SEQ what could be done for them" An aged
man 81 ci-nidcd appearance, waited about ten minutes
iu Tie vs.bulc without Tie scAtous taking any notice
Of him. ard then withdrew STRANGER. who asked the
' Inc D fGSA Ss % iat II ogd T T a,T 1n
ucr suggestive ~ doubt. Nothing was said about q
scat AZ quarter after eleven, two ladies' tired Of
waiting went away, and two young mcu soon after
warl passed cut. There then about thirty
strangers. ladies and gentlemen Young and old stand
aud then Tie Other. \ few UarisiOneIs were still
coming in. None Of then Appeared 10 give any Lt Ell
ia fft4 sfrauO.r- a door A WIN asked f,r
seats hao he provided lOI thc others I'd standing
Al Il:2O the church was lot more than twObris fu
many Others had only two tenants After the first
lesson mad been read the sexton showed abot baf ~
tile strangers 20 seats. lady al least sxtyfye years
SitI her mourning dress ana who I'D ie1 stoId,
more than twenty minutes finally back into the
Vestibue aud asked the sexton for seat As she went
down the aisle second OLD ady, ina deep mourning aud
somewhat benz with took her place The door, and
waited considerable time, TIE sexton passing her
twice Her daughter 40 last went after The sexton.
minutes finally SHOWN 20 seats with politencss.
time Was the cLUl ch more than tws-tniIds iul.
Thirty -nithst, the Rev. Arthur Brooks, Rector, the
mfcnted pew are p,"ced 3t te disposal OF strangers,
the pcxtOn has 10 assistants. Yesterday he
prompt and courteous u serving strangers, aud made
distinctions. The visitors. VINO wee numerous,
were not kept waiting many minutes. Before
the services began, al tlat Lad arrived were comOra
bly, seated, and nten minutes after The opening anthem,
the late coneis were wen placed The sexton stated
that WAS tie wish Of the congregation as body that
tneuDefs pe"s "Hehc ,er IIie lItc s.'te were hIed
the Church % the Trans hgurdOu The little church
near the nam entrance seats during the first half
hour OF the services This was due 70 The small number