Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-01-05


ton of the present rule each member
was requested to state the amount he would
give during the year for his sanctuary
privileges and those subsequently joining the
church alike pledged themselves to give
such sums as they saw fit. At the begin
ming of each church year the same order of
procedure was observed, the members In
many instances increasing their subscrlp-
tions to greater or less extent as they had
prospered more or less in business. The per-
iod alluded to has passed along smoothly
with us and this fact alone furnishes sufi-
cient ground for the general adoption of the
free pew system.
DIR. PURvEs FAvoRS RENTALS.
Quite different view was taken by Rev.
George I. Purves, of Pittsburg, who
strongly advocates the rental plan. Said
he: "During my pastorate in various
churches, 1 have observed very little differ
ence as to the hospitality extended strangers.
Now, while advocating the continuance Of
rents, for some reasons the free system
is a good one. Everyone should be
welcome to church and SO should
everyone contribute something. With
new churches, however, it is absolutely
necessary to secure some assured revenue,
and no other source seems so reliable as that
of renting pews, affording as II does, too,
fixed amount which can be positively re-
lied on, though with this assurance there
are always a certain number of people in
every congregation who fail to meet their
rents.
Families naturally prefer to be seated to-
gether. and it is an advantage to both them
and the minister. The great aim is first to
provide for the regular seating of your own
people; then the proper care of strangers,
finally to secure a stable revenue for the
church. l am of the opinion that con-
gregation can, by the exercise of a proper
spirit, accomplish this under the rental sys-
TEN. No r1ght-minded person renting
pew which he or his family does not fill
would object to its further occupancy by
strangers. 1t is very we'll to compromise
and let it be knowa that the seats are all
free at second service. In the morning the
children all go and then it is important to
have the family seats preserved.
81 have seen churches with free pews so
cold and so stiff that strangers felt very ill
at-ease, and, on the other hand, those in
which the pews were rented extend the
warmest and most cordial welcome. After
all, it depends upon the spirit of the con-
gregation."
DIR. HOLLANDS BRIGHT TALK.
Rev. DR.. W. ]. Holland, pastor of the
he was not aware that general move in
favor of the abolition of the pew system had
originated.
'If so, ;" said DR.. Holland, "this move
ment has sprung up like mushroom in the
night when 1 was asleep. In rural districts
and IN the far West the pew system, outside
of the large towns and cities, is not gener-
ally in vogue, people generally preferring
the old-fashioned method of subscriptions,
or in some cases what is known as the EN-
velope system, by which the contributor
makes payment in weekly installments.
SIN the older communities and notably in
the large cities, so tar as my observation
shows, the pew system prevails. There can
be no inherent objection to it. 1t is simply
method, one out of many, for providing
for the current obligations of the church.
While salvation is free, the gospel is not
free; it costs something to maintain and
perpetuate churchly institutions. Under
the pew system, when properly ordered,
the relative ability of the rich
and the poor to contribute is recognized. In
a well-arranged schedule of pew rentals the
poor man will have an opportunity to geta
good sitting as the rich man, and the rich
man will have the privilege of contributing
according to his power to the maintenance
OF the church.
UNosTENTATIoUs WEALTH.
"One of the richest men in this city was
in the habit for many years of paying for
the rental Of two or three of the highest
priced pews in the church of which he was
a member, but always occupied with his
family low-priced pew at one side of the
church, instructing the ushers to assign
strangers and the poor to the high-pricedI
pews for which he paid.
"There is advantage in the system arising
of collection and equity in dealing with diff
ferent classes upon the well-known prin-
ciple that a man should contribute to
Christian causes as God has prospered him."