Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-08-26
The Free-seat Movement.

The following article from lions Herald
(Methodist) published at Boston is attracting at
tentiOn in the religious world: ga movement has
recently been inaugurated in the Protestant
Episcopal church in Massachusetts which may
be considered as somewhat remarkable. and
worthy of the attention of other denominations
OF Christians. It's object is to secure the doing
away with the pewed system in all their church
edices throughout the state, and the intro
duction of the free system instead An asso-
Cation has been formed and incorporated under
the title. The Free Church Observation-Disclosures
chusetts branch, and in it's board Of officers are
leading men of the denomination, among their
clergy and laity. The objects sought are stated
to be, to maintain as principle the freedom of
all seats In churches; to promote the abandon
ment of the sale and rental OF pews and
sittings, and in place thereof the adop-
ton OF the principle Of systematic free-will Of
ferings by all the wOrshipers in our churches,
according to their ability; to promote the re-
cogntion OF the offertOry as an act of Christian
worship. and as scriptural means of raising
moneys for pious and charitable uses The OBJ
lectiOns to peWed churches and the advantages
OF free Seats are stated as follows - First, dis
tinctions in the house OF God are not scriptu-
raj; pews were unknown in apostolic times. and
were not invented until some three hundred
years ago. Second, the support of the services
of religion is no longer legal. but moral, OBJ
ligatiOn-thus placing the matter on higher
Plane and appealing to mans conscience and
sense of duty. Third, voluntary offerings, par
ticulaFly the Sunday offertOry are scrptural,
and practically enable all to give of their abil-
itv'
This movement seems the more remarkable
when we consider the quarter whence it comes.
For it might be thought that whatever consider
ations would lead to attachment to pewed
churches, would specially prevail in this re-
ligiOus body. We would scarcely expect them
to be the first to attempt doing away with dis
tinctOns in the house of God and making its
choicest privileges as available to one man as
to another, to the rich and the poor, the high
and the low alike. Yet such is the fact, and to
us it seems not only remarkable. but also prOmls-
ing DO little good. We are told that the statistics
compiled three wears ago showed that more
lttan One-third the commandments of thisthurch
throughout the United States belonged f6 selT-
sustaining free churches. The total number OF
communicates at that time in all their churches
was 312 49, and their total contributions for all
purposes, So, 7SS. 266; an average for each OF
$3.50. OF these communicates the third belong
ing to free churches gave 81, 1873 GIG, an average
from each of ST. falling in their gifts but little
behind the peWed churches. These figures must
be exceedingly gratifying to the friends Of the
movement, for, as they justly claim. the pewed
of population and trade, and have much more
relative wealth than the others. 1t is claimed
furthermore that fully One-third of the clergy
in this state. and number of influential lay
men are In favor OF the free church system; and
when it's plans and objects are better understood
great accession to this number is confidently
expected. OF the twenty-five Episcopal churches
or chapels within the limits of Boston, twelve
are now free. 1t seems to us there is in this
movement food for study and reflection. May
we not hope to find in it a help to the solution
OF that much discussed problem. how to win the
masses to the house Of God? 1t is only about
thirty or forty years since the Methodsts had a
pewed church. Have they gained anything
by the change, in congregations or evangelical
SUGGEST"