Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-07-11
Chairs in the places of Pexvs.

A MODERN IDEA FOR MAKING SINNERS COMFORTABLE
WHEN THEY COME TO CHURCH.
From the New York Sun
SIS the trade in pews for churches increasing?''
said young man to dealer In those and kindred
articles.
NO, it is going to fall on more and more"
"Sad proof OF the wickedness OF the people, and
OF the Inability OF modern preachers to reach the
masses, isn't it?"
''No. There is nothing sad about it. It's cheer
ful indication or the Apr eciation OF modern i'm
prOyenentS 10y conservative churchmen. PewS are
going 10 be replaced by chairs, such as are now
used IN theaterS It's all right morally and phySi-
cay. man will not go TO sleep In a comfortable
seat as soon as he Will In an uncomfortable one,
because when uncomfortable he loses the thread OF
the discourse. fails to catch 1t again, because bis
attention is devoted to making himself comforta-
BILE, and meantime he strikes toieraby easy posi-
ton. and away he goes. Why should man find a
straightforward bench when at church and COM
1ortaby covered and upholstered chair at the the
aler."
"Are the modern pews STRAIGHTFORWARD benches?'
Not exactly. but they are not chairs. Pews are
made or various sizes, running from capacity for
four to eight people. They are OF wood, and In
most OF the churches the backs are straight Cush-
ions make them more comfortable, but the only oc
cupantS having arm rests are those at the ends.
Hassocks or something similar serve as foot rests
Compare them with the chairs. Chair backs are
more agreeable TO the eye than the straight line OF
4 pew back; they prevent crowding; each chair has
book rack, a hat rack, and a foot rest, and some
have places fer canes, umbrellas and paraSolS they
give better cash returns than pews."
81 should think that men would hire chair or
two instead OF pew, and at q less price"
"That Is just what happens, but many who do
not want whole pewS hesitate about hiring parts OF
pcws When ii church is seated with chairs each
member OF family hires seat. Single men and
women hire seats AS a matter OF actual expert
ence churches that have substituted chairs Tor
from the sittings OF from sixty 10 eighty per cent
That means, OF course, greatly increased attend
ance. People who desire to be very exclusive
times hire an entire row OF seats.
"ChairS are also desirable because they can
be made in greater variety than pews. We have
them made OF cast iron, or with wooden frames,
chair to be tilted back and the seat to be thrown
up. There, by the way, is a good point. People
past tilted chairs than they can through solid
pews The most popular chair is the one made
Of perforated yeneering: which is at once light
SILK, plush or embossed leather they are very beau
land very expensive, too"
"Not as expensive as pews OF equal elegance.
The cheapest pew made with solid ends costs 81 a
foot, and the cushion 81 foot more. High priced
inches OF space. Now we can furnish an elegant
chair for $780, The cheapest folding chair costs g.
We can get up chairs worth $40, but $40 is about
the limit for even wealthy churches Church COM
"Why don't church committees put in the chairs,
'1hey do in the new churches, and in many old
ones The only objection is the conservative spirit
that opposes change because it is a change.
church seating say 1900 5000 people win require
an expenditure OF perhaps $4,000 or $4,000. They
would soon get it back, but they don't know it,
ARE out-of-town churches adopting chairs?"
eyes. The Church OF the Tabernacle. Washing
ton; David Swings church, Chicago; Second Pres
byterlan, Kansas City; Christian church, Spring
field, Ill, and dozen smaller ones have recently
adopted chairs We export some to the West In
dies and South America
'IIow do you provide for chapels?"
'The best thing is settee, made Of Stats OF wood
that are dovetailed to cast-iron frame. They are
exceedingly strong, and can be folded up when
cleaning the floor. The seat and the back are both
curved TO tit. They are cheap, and In hot weather
are more comfortable than II cushioned. Church
people who do not pay every attention to the COM
fort OF hearers make great mistake The old
time faithful saint might attend even II he had no
seat all, but II the sinner is to be persuaded to
come against his will, he must be made comfort
able while he stays"