Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-20
NO STRANGERS WANTED.
The Rule Prevailing I'm q High-Toned
New York Church.

New York Correspondence ChicSgo Herald
I'VE haven't any room in our church for
people who haven't paid for their seats. Our
trouble is not to find places for strangers, but
to keep them out. We don't ask them to come
and we don't want them. If they come they
are in the way, and we have hard work to get
them out of the way; but we manage to do il
nevertheless. We have to watch them, but
sometimes they elude us and contrive to find
seats somewhere. Then we have to tell them
very plainly to get up and go out. And we
make them do it," BENZ. w. Williams said
these words tonight at his home, 167 west
45th street. He is the chief lay man
ager OF the affairs of the Protestant Episcopal
church of st. Thomas, at SD street and
9th avenue, and it was of st. Thomas church
he was speaking. The congregation Of the
parish OF st. Thomas is probably the wealthiest
IN the city. Its members are foremost among
the four hundred Of fashion and the four hun
dred of wealth. Rev. VIM. F. Morgan, d. D.,
one OF the most noted ministers of New York,
was the pastor of the flock for many years. He
died somewhat more than a year ago. and Rev.
John Wesley Brown. d. D. was selected as his
successor only after considerable searching by
the congregation. He gets large salary and
has an assistant who is well paid also. Mrs.
Gerry w. Moore, of Detroit. who found her way
to a pew in the church last Sunday, kneeled in
prayer, and while in the midst of her devotions
she says that Mr.. Williams came along. placed
his hand on her shoulder. and thus forcing her
to raise her head. said to her:
who told you to come to this placer"
She answered that no one had told her. and
she says Mr.. Williams said to her: "Well. this
is not your pew. and don't you come in again
unless you are invited. Now get out"
She was surprised, and doing as she was told,
rose and went away. When the story was re-
lated to Mr.. Williams tonight he said: well.
l did tell her to get up and go out She had no
business there. 1t was not her pew, and she
was not placed there by any usher
asked Mr.. Williams.
1T isn't any theory; it is plain business. Do
you suppose you could go into the theater and
take any set you please. No, of course not
But a church isn't theater."
That's something don't have to take into
consideration. All know is that these seats
titled to them"
Then the plan of free salvation is not
favored?''
mo, sir; not at ALL That's all sentiment It
won't work in this age and it won't do in such
a congregation as that of st. Thomas. We
don't ask people to come, for we don't want
them. 1 am not looking for souls for the pews.
It's the dollars that are wanted"
But do you consider that consistent with
the idea of Christianity?'
Il don't consider the question of Christianity.
It's none OF my business whether the people
that nave seats are Christians or pagans.
We'll, isn't it believed that the rich and the
poor may be saved together, and isn't there any
encouragement offered at all to the poor so
that both the poor and the rich may worship
together"
mo; there isn't any of that sentiment. and
there won't be until the spirit of the Holy
Father reaches the earth and spreads itself
among mankind in a different way from the
present way"
aren't there any places at all for people
who may want to worship but who have not
pews!"
NO; there are no good seats. We have a
place where hundred more may sit but
they can't see anything. 1t Is in the north
wing. where the view is cut off. We let them
go in there, and l suppose if they are devout
and sincere it is just as good for them as a bet
ter place would be-"