The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1889-11-03
AURCH FINANCE.
oW the Money for
Their Work Is
Collected.
! fARIOUS METHODS IN USE
The Envelope System of
Contributions a Favorite.
What the Rent of Pews Amounts
to Where Seats are
Not Free.
VARIOUS METHODS In USE

How do the churches raise their reve-
nuesg That was the question / asked
myself, and / Immediately proceeded to
J. answer it by investigation. A church
must have money or its work cannot 60
ron. Some Of the city's churches have
Y large incomes, and found upon visiting
= the proper persons that the money is
raised, in almost every instance, in the
/, same manner, which is amply effective,
and at the same time as convenient as
pDssible for the members.
ST. JOHNS CHURCH.
I'm st. Johns Church, on the Heights,
every seat in the church is free, and the
revenue of the church is derived from
what is known as the envelope system.
On the first Sunday of the year pack
age of envelopes containing one for each
Sunday in the year is sent to each family
in the church, and each member of the
congregation. Those receiving the pack
age deposit such sums as they think they
can afford to give during the year in an
envelope and place it upon the aims
basin.
rhe treasurer of the church has book
in which each parishioner is entered OPP
posite q number between one and 500, the
present membership of the church. OPP
posire each name and number is recorded
the amount in each envelope so that it
can be told at a glance how each sub
Scription stands This plan works adj
mrably, the pastor of the church says,
and in his opinion more money is raised
in this manner than by the old pew
system.
Many people give more money in the
envelopes than would pay for pew.
The proceeds of fairs, bazaars and
entertainments which are given in this
church are always devoted to special
objects.
BERGEN BAPTIST CHURCH.
Tile pews are rented in the Bergen Bap-
tist Church, of which the Rev. Charles
Herr is pastor. Thisis one of the largest
| congregationsin the city, and the revenue
derived faoni the rental of its sittings is
a considerable.
" The prices OF the pews vary from S400
to SIS and are fixed by the governing
body of the church. The church con-
\ tains about one hundred and sixty pewS.
They are sold at auction. and there is
little, if any, competition for them. The
same families occupy the same seats
from year to year, and when vacancy
occurs the seat is readily disposed of to
others. The pews are rented in whole or
in part and there are many wOrshippers
\ who own but single seat in pew.
In addition to this part of the revenue
l MOL bUc CuuECH IL ucTlVeQ lIOul d SySlCll VI
Involuntary contributions which is con-
Hucted somewhat after the plan OF not
Netting your left hand know what your
bright hand doeth. A box is placed in the
khurch in which those who may wish to
No so can deposit inclosed in an envelope
Any sum they may desire to contribute
kowards the support of the church. No
Dne but the persons making the contri-
buttons and the officer who keeps account
Of them knows the amount of the free
will offerings.
ST. MATTHEW'S.
ST. Matthew's Church on Sussex street
lis another free church, which is sup
ported by voluntary contributions. Not
a seat in the church is sold, and the rev.
kenue of the church is derived from the
free will offerings of its parishioners.
These are mainly collected by an en-
N yeIope system similar to that in vogue in
\ st. Johns At the beginning of the year,
"a which Is at Easter, each member of the
congregation informs the treasurer OF
the amount he will contribute weekly OF
monthly to the support OF the church.
The amount thus designated is de-
posted in an envelope and placed on the
aims basin.
In addition to this a collection is taken
up by means.of the aims basin at each ser
vice on Sunday. Fairs and entertain
ments are also given Occasionally, I'M tne
proceeds of which are, in many instances,
devoted to meeting some particular ex-
pense of the church.
BERGEN REFORMED CHURCH.
When the present editice Of the Bergen
Reformed Church, of which the Rev. DR..
Cornelius Brett is pastor, was built In
1913, the pews were all sold at a liked
rate. The revenue of the church was
raised by an assessment of a certain per-
centage of the value of the
pews The change in popu'
lation and removals Of the original pew
kax, iY,tr fho bondc nj
the consistory all the pews except about
twenty-five. There is, however, no dit
ference in the amount paid by the pew
owners and those who rent their seats
from year to year.
A portion Of the church's revenue is
also derived from small fund in the
hands OF the CoEsistory derived from the
sale of lands which were assigned to the
church for the support of the minister
when the old town of Bergen was laid
out In the days OF the old Proprietors.
In addition to these sources of income
the plate collections on Sunday evenings
are devoted to maintaining the church.
The building contains 116 pewS and
seven sections In the gallery opposite the
pulpit. These rent at from $50 to S1s
each. while single seats can be had
forts.
ST. MARKS P. E. CHURCH.
AZ st. Marks new Protestant Episco-
pal Church, on Jersey avenue, all the
pews are absolutely Free and the revenues
are collected entirely by the offertory
system. The members are never asked
for any specified amount for the support
of the church, and as the oGertories are
deposited in a sort of handbag instead OF
plates or baskets it is impossible for any
one TO know who are the largest givers.
The Rev. Mr.. Mortimer, the rector, de
clares that this plan has proved very sue
sessful AS IA proof of the success be
points to the fact that when he came here
In 1881 the old st. Marks Church, rs u
body, had passed almost out of existence:
SO much so that Law suit was necessary
to prove it's identity as a corporation IN
order to obtain a small legacy bequeathed
10 Il by a Mrs. Wescott. He declares
that although $40, 900 have been expended
in buildings the church is In excellent
financial condition.
be has practically the financial man