The New York herald., 1879-02-03

mony tnat might almost be called joval without dis.
| respect. In plymouth Church which has already
been once mentioned. it is NJ uncommon thins Ior
the pastor explain the object OF some coll
lection aud then while the baskets are passing from
one TO another TO make short address. IN which, py
his eloquence. his pathos and frequently by his wit.
to induce larger contributions than usual More
frequently. however he simply says Pass the oas-
kets" and relapses into meditation while the mag
ments gathered up, and always in Plymouth
Church, there are ''nore than twelve baskets
full" In former years both before and after
the war, when plymouth Church the great
anti-savery power OF the country, II not an un-
common thing for some runaway slave-or IN iact,
colored person who had suffered IN any way from
slavery--to appeal to Mr. Beecher He always lis
tened. and generally gave permission to the applicant
to stand in the vestibule Of the church while the
congregation passed out few words from the
pulpit i'll such insured the lucky unfortunate
literally chat full OF money.
DIR. Talmage has the temporal affairs of his church.
the Tabernacle. differently ordered from those of
are charged 20 any one. and the entire ex.
penses borne out OF the receipts ut
the regular contribution levied each sunday
morning. I'VE viii now make an Offering to the
Lord The collection will now be taken" is the un-
varying announcement from the pulpit and then MI
Arbuckle plays solo on the cornet, with Mr. Morgan
accompanying him on the great organ, while the
ushers pass around the long handled boxes in bus
ness like manner, conscientiously presenting them
to each individual in the congregation but passing
ndifferently by any who do not choose to give
In the Masonic Temple, i'll New York, where the
Rev. o. b. rockingham breaches every Sunday
morning there is collection taken at every service
just before the sermon no reference made
to il from the pulpit, ana quietly and unobrus-
sively are the iong-handled boxes passed from one
pew to the oher that the business aspect OF the
fofance is lost sight OF in the decorous almost sol.
emn quietude.
In the Church of the Holy Trinity, as, indeed. in
nearly all the Protestant churches this part OF the
world it is not an uncommon thing for collection
to be taken up for special charitable object.
In such cases DIR. Tying usually makes short adj
dress commencing the object, whatever it may be.
and expressing hope that liberal contributions will
be made. After this he reads the texts directed by
the prayer book, and the collection is duly taken up
DOING AWAY WITH COLLECTIONS.
The specification of different instances among the
Protestant denominations, however. becomes mo-
notonous, in the most of them the collections
quietly taken and the contributions are entirely
voluntary In many of them collections have of late
years been entirely partially done with. and
envelopes are provided and placed in each pew. i'll
which those who choose enclose such sums
they see fit to give. One advantage to
the Church of this system is that it OBJ
viates the necessity of making change.
which. odd it sounds. occasionally arises
wealthy man and prominent member OF st. Johns
Church. i'll Yonkers not long ago noticed to put
into the contribution plate two dollar bill and
keep the usher waiting while he selected one dollar
in change from the money already given: This he
put in his pocket i'll the most matter of fact way,
greatly to the amusement of those who were looking
at him. Few persons. probably. would care to take
mistake a thrifty Scot who dropped a crown into
the box instead OF penny. as he had intended He
allow it. "Once in, always in" said he. ''Wee I'll
get credit fort in heaven, said the uEwitting
tributor. "Na!' said the sexton. "Ye'l on'y get
credit for penny"
IN ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCHES
In the Catholic churches of Ireland and this
country there is general custom OF charging for
seats, which has lately provoked bitter
troversy. At the French Catholic Church in Twenty
third street no admission fee is charged, though
charge OF ten cents is made for seat at the nine
O'Clock mass and fifteen at the ten O'Clock services.
In addition to this--as is the in all Catholic
churches-a collection is taken up during the
vice. Contributions to this purely voluntary.
though few refuse give something the affabe
and dignifed unconccrn with which the sexton hands
the plate is almost winning is the manner Of
the well known society lady who frequently relieves
nj n
When this it is fairly enlivening to
ce the alacrity with which the gentlemen contribute
1t Is curious, by the way considering the success OF
the expedient that it is not generally adopted.
The customs of the Catholic churches generally
in regard to collections told to the writer
by Father Preston, pastor of st. Ann's Church in
Twelfth street. 1t would be easy to multiply exam
pies by specify different churches, but 1t Is be-
lieved that there is little difference between
churches OF this denomination that to specify differ
ent would be useless repetition
Father Preston said that in his church, in every
other in the diocese OF which he had any knowledge.
triAing charge was made ut the door. not for adj
mission, but FOR seats All who chose to stand, or
kneel in the aisles admitted free. At the
O'Clock morning mass, however. there charge.
all seats being Tree at that service.
eat each service in the church." he continued,
there is collection taken up but contributions are
entirely voluntary. 1t is the usual CUSTOM believe,
i'll Protestant churches of all denominations. The
attendants pass around the boxes among the people
and those who choose to do so Contribute whatever
they like. We use boxes now and have since
paper currency came into use. Formerly used
plates. That is all there is to it,"
ITO what purpose is the money that Is collected
devoted p asked the writer.
ITO the support of the church. We have four or
Ave collections during the year for special objects.
such the Orphan Asylum but the usual collections
are for the benefit of the church directly
THE HEBREW IT.
The customs OF the Jews. it is said, do not differ in
any part of the world from those in vogue in New
York in regard to the support OF their synagogues
and their charities. No collections ever taken
during their services and fee Is charged for
admission to them. Free seats are to be found in
every synagogue whether orthodox IRE.
formed" and strangers and those who feel
too poor to contribute money always
welcome to occupy these Sc is. or course
the expenses OF the synagogue must be and are
met, and 1t is seldom that one hears OF the
financial trouble of a congregation of Israelites The
pecuniary affairs managed by the trustees, and
they the necessary money from three different
sources la the iirst place. pews rented and tho
rents are collected quarterly haf yearly yearly,
i'll Christian churches; secondly. at the close
OF the early service every Saturday and holidays
before the law" This ceremony is as follows:-M
the close of the regular morning service Shacha-
rith and before the beginning the additional
vice or Musaph the minister (not the Rabbi and his
assistants take from the ark more of the
scrolls scrolls of OF the as law and portion OF the
These borne to the raised platform called
''Theba. and the minister calls out the Hebrew
name OF some member OF the congregation, who
steps forward and receives the blessing OF the
gregation, pronounced i'll Hebrew by the minister.
POI ton OF the law is read by the minister and the
person called then whispers to him the amount he
wishes to give for this blessing. the amount he
wishes to give prayers for the repose of the souls
OF his ancestors. and it may be prayers other
objects. These then ammo unced aloud by
the minister, and another member is called upon by
name. Five persons thus solicited each holt
day and seven ON each Saturday. The list for each
day is made up by the parnass Tor president of tho
board of rustees of the congregation who generally
includes in 1t the names OF any woll-to-do persons in
whose families there has been "a death birth
marriage or any special sign of the grace of God.
The third source of revenue is from the burial
grounds. At the entrance to each Jewish cemetery is
placed a box, in which every jew who visits the
graves of his dead places money. The total of these
contributions generally defrays the expenses of the
maintenance OF the place, and affords u surplus
which goes to the trustees of the congregation own
ing the cemetery The purely charitable expenses Of
the Jews are maintained by societies entirely distinct
from the organization of the congregations. These
societies are similar to the Dorcas societies of New
England or the guilds of the Episcopalians.
FORTY ACRES AND A MULE"
from the vicksburg Hcrald.l