The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-02-01

The FashisnsbIe Churehes are xs,x
Open to the Public.

bA4sk&f1O&8 A4< B8s
The Fashisssble CAsreAes are Nos
Open t. the Public.
xew YORK San.
The question whether churches
should bS free or condnssea on the pe,r
system has been discussed during the
week in the Es<aias Pa By txo clergy
men OF the town. The Few. NJ.
Rainsford, Of s.. George contends
that the renting ont Of pews i 50
plainly IN violation ssf the sririf assd
principles OF Christianity that il has
brought the churches into aisreprt1.
The Rev. Mr.. Donald Of the Ascerl-
zion replies that II il o fnancini ueces,-
sify.
That, Of course. Is no answer 10 the
objection Of Mr.. Rainsfora. The
question Is whether the resort to sacal
means OF supporting church Is In
accordance With Christian require
meuts. and. Ii IL il not. financial ne
cesSfty h no excuse for g. II 8 church
cannot &c maintained without DOING
offence te the spirit Of Christianity, II
- batter that IL should he shut up. IT
brings into reprozch the religion II
processes 20 teach and 10 obey. Ths,
point is 80 clear that the great body oil
the people see Il. and intideifty and
not faith 10 propzgzted by the operi
temple
No doubt, for the churches OF which
Mr.. Donald speaks. the safest and
surezf way OF getting the necessary
funds. and the way most satisfactory
70 those who contribute them, Is
from the sale and rent Of pews.
Such an income can be relied upoa.
and the affairs OF the church can be
easily conducted. The exact pecun-
larry resources can be ciphered ont IN
advance There Is no uncertainty
a. 20 the amount the church can at
ford 70 pay It's pastor. It's choir, and
for the maintenance OF its servi ces
generally.
Moreoyer, the people who support the
church demand the system, because
under il they secure reserved seats, in
which they viii not be annoyed by
contact with those who are disagreea-
! bic 70 them. Hiring or owning ) pew
q man can see thai Is il appointed tu
suit him, and a. IL Ii his own encl0s-
ure he can protect himself from uu.
comfortable crowiirz ne religious wor-
ship. He pays handsomely for the
privilege, and feels that he would be
defrayided ii IL was denied him.
He does not want 20 70 ~ church IN
doubt as 20 where he and his family
shall sic. or as 10 whether tisey will gts
any seats at ail because OF a crowd al
attendants who pay nothing for the
support OF the worship.
Therefore, in Fifth avenue churches
like the Church Of the Ascension men
pay more for choice pe~s than q vas;
majority OF the people Of New York
pay for house rent. Everywhere
they pay for the pews outright they
subait TO q large yearly assessment:
for the maintenance OF the church
and when such pews are sold by
them at auction or otherwise, they
get back their original invest.
/ ment, sometimes with . profit, as they
feel that they ought to do. Why, say
they, should we who put up the money
be deprived OF our vested rights in or.
der that those who give little or notn.
/ ing may be let in Let them in, but
after we have obtained our high-priced
seats. and when they viii not incon-
mode US.
! That Is all very true. The pew sys-
tesn is che most comfortable, the moss
convenient, and the most certain way
of keeping up an expensive church
Without is some of the most fashiona
be churches In town might ht
driven into liquidation and Their
pastors reduced to comparative
/ poverty. If every man was adj
Inittesi free. % left To give whai
he pleased, II there were no bars OF I'll
vision or exclusion, they would cease
10 be fashionable, for they are fash.
/ ionabIe only because they attract peo
! ssle who make fashion. and who are
/ fastidhSar -ssss-lt the company they
keep.
But the name o. religious elul
better describes and deSignates such
an Institution than the name OF
church. The club may be useful in IL.
way % the limited number Of people
who pay for it, privileges, but as a
center for the general propagation oi
Christianity its value IS diminished.
The Chickering Hail conference q
few weeks ago puzzled itself IA find az
explanation for the decline OF Protest
antism and the growth of infidelitv in
New York. Let IL come tugethel
again 10 consider whether there Is not
decline of Christianity in the
churches themselves; for unless tho
preachers are in earnest and act as i
I they were In earnest, il Is not possible
for them to arouse the people gcner.
ally 10 the enthusiastic faith and de
yotioa without which there can be nc
real Christianity.
.