The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-06-24
Free Churches.

Free Churches.
T. i likely that many. men who do not
wish 10. 90 10 church. and who consider it
nsrrSsary 10 offer some apology for their
neglect, ind an excuse in the system OF pow:
rnn,ols. They urge that they cannot afford
me expense OF taking pew. and that their
srli-re.pect will not permit them to sit
sunday after sunday in 4 pew for which an
oher man payS. Or course, ii such man
wsnts very badly 10 attend place OF wor-
hin the objection to the rental system does
NOT appear 20 very formidable; Tor he can
rraIiiy discover some churches and meet
iry-h0l,sGS where ali the seats are free, and
f,| ran find in almost every church seats
.hot are expressly reserved Tor visitors,
and newholdcrs who arc good enough
Cbrisiians towelcolac anybody who happens
"a come. Complaint OF 4 want OF courtesy
N strangers who visit churches can rarely
rc made with fairness excepting in the cases
~ ,hc CONGREGATIONS that attend very fash
fanglic s.nctua:es. and these have some
revocation TO 6iscoultcsy in the fact that
outsiders generally come in uroyeS, not to
Worship but TO be entertained. \ man who
will not 90 10 church because lie cannot
own pew III the middle aisle OF an aristo-
cratic sanctuarv--if there is such II thing
has not such ycarnlng FOR performance OF
the duties OF religion, nor such hunger Tor
instruction in Christian truth SIS to warrant
high hope that he will have feHcitous here
after. 81. Sepulchrc'>, where they have
super1 professional choir, or the Forty
third church, where they have poetic
preacher, may be Surly when visitors crowd
thc aisIes but there are scores OF other
chulches which arc half empty every Sun
day, where the newcomer is welcomed, and
gif,l-n ,pfinn nm n n
can be pointed with directnesS and accuracy
10 the road to eternal felicity. The great
r,.s, OF churches. indeed, are not only will
ing but anxious TO receive visitors and 10
make them comfortable. Whatever OF 4
rcpcllnc force there may be in their method
Of all0tting pcwS 10 the regular members.
9ssuredlv there is not q lack Of cordiality
and hospitality on the part OF those members
when stranger enters the cturch-docrs.
Despite this fact. however, there can be
no doubt that the pGw-rental system is open
70 serious objection and that the ideal Chris
tim church is q free church. which gives to
the poorest Worshipper and the richest an
equal right 10 the peusantest seats. There
arc men Of really devout inclinGtions who
arc too poor 10 pay the rent or pew. A
man OF this kind, ii he has strong seli-re-
>gcct. very naturally feels that TO attend
regularly without paying FOR his seat
church where all the other members
oi the congregation hire their pcws is
- place himself in somewhat humllih-
ting attitude. The rest OF the brethren
NAV not fee! it, but he feels il, and
he is apt 10 feel it more keenly because
Christian llberality has not yet advanced
50 far in most churches as to reserve the
best and most comfortable pewJ ior those
In, af Iy
the churches, has succeeded so far that the
free pcws are nearly always policd back in
the far corners, and rarely offer to the
frame Of the Impoverished worshiHper any
thing softer than 4 bare board TO sit upon.
\ poor man who goes to hear the gospel
that Has preached especially to the poor
ought not to be subjected TO such mortiE-
cation as this; he ought to sit beneath the
rooi OF Christian church upon exactly
equal terms with any man who Is there
with him: and The church that compels hin!
10 come, il he comes at all, upon any other
terms, certainly fails 10 that cytentto fulfil
m important part OF It's duty. 1t draws q
very palpable line between the rich and
the poor, with Il distinct preference for the
former; and doubtless many q poor men
who las sat in such q church listening TO
an eloquent preacher urging the doctrines
Of Christ has felt that the system preached
stronger than the preacher against those
doctrines. ..s-
o.. course the first duty OF a Christian is
70 have humility, and proper degree OF
humility would reconcile poor man to the
distinction: but one Of the leading pur-
poses OF the existence Of churches Is 10
convert sinners who have not Christian hil-
laiNty, and ii the sinners are kept away by
IN Objectionable method Of raising money
Il i, difficult 10 perceive how they are ever
10 be taught what the duty Of humility is.
Perhaps there are not many who really
want 10 come who are kept away by the
renting OF pewS, but il there are only a
few the argument against the system IS
strong enough; and there is not much
doubt that ii al the churches should he de-
clared free tomorrow thousands who do
not now desire 10 come would have an i'm
pulse TO do so.
1t is, however, 4 fatal objection to tie
system that lis general tendency is to dis
courage the attendance Of the poor and to
create in their minds at least an indistinct
impression that the churches are for more
prosperous class and not for them. The
churches cannot, without the greatest peril
10 society, give up any Of their influence
over the poorer classes. 1t Is not unlikely
that il We could trace to its sources
Inc communistc feeling now becom-
lns alarmingly prevalent in this coun-
Try we should find that it is due-partly,
at least-to the growth among the labor
ins class OF hostility to society which
breaches that it is good thing to be poor,
Dut reserves the practice OF that theory for.
,he lowest classes while it gives all its
Aonors and its adulations to the rich. A
gospel really preached to the poor and
taen eXempltcd in the lives OF Chris
tian people in society is a great need
Of the present day, and one Of the
means to the end, without doubt, is
lhe opening Of the church-doors 10 high
ana low alike. OF course the practical fact
mat churches require money is to be met
ana ana disposed Of; and it Is a fact that is not
lttc formidable. But IL Christian people |
realize the need that it should be disposed
oi, way will be found. A man who pays
'pew-rent now because he wants to help to
support o church ought to be willing to
sive an equal amount for the same purpose
Without holding pew as tangible proof
that he has made something like bargain. |
Fhs'adetphia Bntletin.
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A Warsaw letter states that the Gregorian
ssalendar 81, is likely to be adopted in Russia.