New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-05-02
"pBYSICIAN HE'LL THYSELF."

"PHYSICIAN HE'LL THYSELF."
There is such a monopoly on Sunday by cler-
gymen of reprOOf and good advice that Iaymen
are apt to take q natural carnal delight IN the
chance of hurting back word of warning to
the pulpit. On one or two points such word
might be useful just now.
For example: the papers Of aneighbOring city
have RECALLED their readers for months with the
details Of squabbe between a mother church
and chapel, to the amusement of that large
class of vulgar people who rejoice in anything
which brings religion into contempt, and to the
shame and grief of all sincere Christians. 1t is
not necessary that we should go into these de
tails. The general facts are that some Jealous
good men in an Episcopal church founded few
years ago a chapel in an outlying part OF the
parish, and spent their money literally III
building it. The creed and ceremonies of the
chapel-goers presently gave offence to the
mother church. There were ordinations and re-
examinations Bishop, clergy and laymen waXed
bitter and violent. The belligerents accused each
other of prevaIication. The whole fight was
carried on in the secular newspapers for all the
world to sec. After the battle about doctrines
came that about property. The rector of the
church claimed the chapel. The chapel vestry
fitted I'D that house OF God with mattresses
and provisions, and actually held the fort both
day and night The squabbe still goes on i'll
the courts. AS to which party had right on
their side we neither know nor care. What we
do know, and what all the world knows is, that
both parties have brought disgrace upon the
cause of Christ by their uncontrolled, very hui
man passions.
If this were the only case of the kind we
should not think it worth while to point moral
with it. But nothing is more common than dis
putes among religious bodies for church prop
erty, and they are wagcd without regard to
the cost in money, temper or kindly feeling.
Scarcely separation takes place in any mOneyed
congregation without some such scandalous
sequel. There seems to be an odd idea abroad
in the churches that their Christianity concerns
only the sermons, prayers and missionary box;
and has nothing whatever to do with the man
agement Of debts and mortgages. Another odd
propensity nowadays is to air all their quarrels
in print. Justice is justice, we shall be told;
and q body of men are just as much entitled 10
their property when they are the vestIy or
trustees of q church as when they are members
of railway corporation. That is true; but
arc they justified in fighting for that right-in
angry clamOr, indie cent abuse, in dealing moral
blows III words that inhIct sOrer wounds than
sword or bullet7 They forget that the real OBJ
ject of q church is not to become property
owner, but to make God visible in naughty
world to stand up in mercenary mOney-gct-
ting age humble, faithful witness for Jesus.
II this squabble about property brings contempt
upon God and disgrace upon the Christian Ie-
ligion, they have given up their work as
church and sunk to the level of selfish, gTasping
humanity. But arc they then actually to give
up the ground, the house, the pews and organ
for which they paid out of their own pockets
to people who have no earthly right to them
1t is q hard case, assuIedly. The money value
of these things amounts to few thousand
dollars. But if to keep them they must lose
their elfcOntrOl, the respect of the public, the
mercy, brotherly feeling, loving kindness which
they profess to have learned from Christ and
have combined together to teach; if they must
make the church of God laughing stock In the
market place-will these thousands of dirty
dollars which they claim be worth these things
1t is for them to judge. But The TRIBUNE
would respectfully hint to every church which
is about to drag it's Quarrcls legal or otherwise,
before the public, that this public expects of
Christ's followers higher rule of action than
that OF tho animal which fights to the death Tor
its own bone, because it is its own and when
1t does not find that higher rule among them is
by 80 much the less disposed to believe In Him
and HIS teachings.
Another point in which the secular affairs of
churches could bear the infusion of Christian
spirit to advantage is in the matter of rented
or free pews. This question really concerns
the so-called uncOnverted outsiders, as it is for
them the Gospel is presumably preached; it is
they who are hidden to come and drink without
money and without price. But if they attempt
to enter church they usually find money and
price have a good deal to do with 1t. If the
church Is u handsome city edlfice, they are often
kept standing in the aisles until the pew-holders
are all seated, and the service has begun. The
pew-hOlders have something to say on their
side. They pay high rent for their seats-the
finer the music and better the sermon the higher
the rent-and they think it unfair that their
seats should DO taken Sunday after Sunday by
people who pay nothing at all. In a word, they
want their own bone. But are the poor and
impenitent outsiders net to hear the Gospel
To obviate oil difficulties comes the plan of free
churches, where tho stranger can go in and sit