Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-07-11
CONTRIRUTI0N ROXES.

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CONTRIBUTION BOXES.
Take these things hence: make not my
fathers house a house of merchandise
u:16.
There is form of bulldozing very much
in vogue among the churches that is con-
duoive of no good, while it contributes largely
to the number of empty pews frequently
found in even our most fashionable churches.
Allusion is made to the practice of passing
the contribution boxes in the midst of the
service. Now everybody will admit that the
church expenses must be met, but nearly
everybody will admit that this manner of
raising money is the most Objectionable one
that could possibly be devised. People do
not like to be dunned for money before the
eyes of two or three hundred of their friends
and neighbors. They would greatly prefer
that the trustees should come to them at
their places of business and ask their con-
tribution towards the maintenance of the
gospel, and would, almost without exception,
give more in one sum than the plate-passers
are able to extort from them in q year.
y
This practice is extortion of the meanest
sort. 1t is equivalent to saying to every
person, "Give me contribution or submit
to the belief among these hundreds who are
watching you that you are stingy or care
nothing for the good of the cause" Some
are not able to pay even small sum every
week, yet sooner than admit the fact before
the congregation, they either give what ought
to be expended in some other way or act a
lie by pretending to put in a coin when they
have not such thing about them. Another
objection to the custom is that it enables
the rich and stingy to escape their due pro-
portion of the burdens of the church, and
increases the load that the poorer members
have to bear. Every reader can recall in
stances where men who reckoned their wealth
by tens of thousands put only pennies in
the contribution box, while the mechanic in
the next pew was contributing shillings.
This unequal distribution of the expenses of
the church is fostered-indeed created and
maintained by the practice of passing the
plate in church.
One would think that better plan for
raising the money necessary for church ex-
penses could be devised. The trustees of
some of the churches of the East have adopt
ed the plan of calling upon the members
of the congregation who are able to con-
tribute, and soliciting contributions. They
generally find all willing to pay fair amounts
provided the contribution boxes are abolish
ed. Several of the largest churches in New
England are now maintained in this
manner, and their attendants are
not constantly annoyed by having the
deacons thrust the plate in their faces.
Some churches are constantly begging in
this fashion. They are always in debt, need
new organ, repairs and upholstering of
some sort. or want to give their pastor a
vacation. The plate is kept going the
rounds at every service, in addition to
which the congregation is taxed for oyster
suppers, strawberry and ice cream festivals,
picnics, and literary entertainments of
every sort. 1t has come to be serious mat
ter for man to join church, for the va
rious expenses attendant upon it
will foot up to moro than his
house rent, while if he wishes to be
popular he can spend enough to keep small
family comfortably. Though people are in
vited to partake of the waters of life with
out money and without price, the modern
fountain whence these waters flow is a
very ornate and expensive piece of art, and to
keep it in working order, constant taxes
have to be levied and collected. The least
Objectionable manner chosen to make these
collections will prove to be the best and
rebound most to the credit of the church
and religion. Abolish the contribution
box from the churches, and the attendance
would be doubled within three months.
Abolish the festivals, oyster suppers and all
such catch-penny devices for money get
ting, and still larger increase would be
noticeable.