New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-05-12
CHURCH or THE ASCENSION CHANGES.
A LIVELY DISCUSSION OVER MAKING THE PEws

A LIVELY DISCUSSION OVER MAKING THE PEws
FREE-oTHER REFORMS.
The fact that the Church OF the Ascension mas
become a free church, has set church people ~
this city TO talking. and the opinion OF many oi
them, and IN particular the opinion Oh the Younger
ones IS that the time is wien chnrches VIII "o'
denond on new rent for revenue warden OF one
# the popular churches In this city saiu NeS"'"''
that the change made BY the Church OF the ASCENSION
was one OF the happy signs OF the times. ana 'na'
II would bring about n reform. the effect OF WHICH
would be felt all over the city.
Taking into consideration the fact that charch
must have funds to carry on its work, ne Sa"' ''e
idea Of paying for the privilege OF sittIhg III
church +, still hard to hold. and the mere ilct oil
coupling finance with religion takes away P'r' vi
the solennty Of our faith. l think that am sair
I'm saving that in the next ten years there VIII Dc
n radical change in all the churches IN the lahu
which now depend largely on their pew rent io'
existence
The change at the Church of the Ascension was
due rs was printed in yesterdays lnoune' " Wv
nev Percy y Grant Of Fall River. Mass WIN n''
been called rector 10 the Chirrh vi Tue Ha'
in Mace Of the Rev Ur. f. Winchester Donald WIZ
has conc IN pos,on Mr. Grant, in answer TO the re-
crcet NJ fine CONGREGATION of the Chiirch oi Il"
ASCENSION said that he would come only on conu'
ion Of certain changes, the foremost one pe"s '','
;he renting Of pcws BE- discontinued anu al" So
free 10 the public. As the income rom P'" 'c"' "'
been sl7.C0O II year. this CONDITION surrcd up CUT
siderable discussion. H.,
Tho meeting 10 take final action the question
a held I'm the Parish House Wednesday AFTERNOON
and for two hours the subject was hotly ui'o"'S'
Mr. Grant was present AMI gave his views on TN
subject He said that when he received i'' can U
the church he was confronted with the vast pi"cin.
between II and his church in Fall River. lhere n'
lfe he said, one q haru laOor "'''"7 "
masses lie could not Eow think OF elVlhs up III
cr, and d.vo,ing all his attention to the narrov
walls Of one church.
There are many hard ard earnest workers IN '''
,.rc, NJ tho Ass~,nsl,n and the opportunity 10 eX
ton, their work in the direction where 1t Is needed
WIS READILY embraced by Them and when the Ves'r'
Announced that tley had voted To rccNi'hu NV
change those who anxious that inc chrch'
work should be- Of n Wider C aracter voted i"r wv
free pew system apd ii was found that 'hey o"'
numbered BY a large majority those op9o''u ~ va.
change There are many Other changes when Mt
Gran, recommended before he could accept the eau
20 The church For many years. and IN lac, lac. ever
since tlr church was built we Or.n No. GaDt nnst,
that tie organ BE- placed In us proper dd h. Th,
chnncel-ant that supplied or d. a., ebare, i,
church already has IA supplied choir AT us cn"p''
member Of the Church Of the Ascension IN sp rar
ING of IFS affairs Yesterday said II an h'u bio :,
like Mr. Grant comes " Us sm ,n church people n
chang ana py 'T Tcnry ' Adams took charge Of tn
chmrch Of he Redccmr. Mr. ADAMS Is young, a nc
r.mr,rn what the clergy in this country VIII nv
M some fuur, period lic believes III an ono vca.,
aTrr tbe death Of the Lord. lie is what We can :
high churchman ritnaist WIN an s io,' york
ccmony. however h" is accomplishing vaS, W s ~
~ church Is thrown opcr 10 the masses anu ~ - =.
49,, masses that he directs his WORK p,' nS
W. Grant +, the same ki,d Of man. ana IL !,
-, saw NAT in "A years tim" the coHSrTati'' H.
mon or those of the old school. VIII hoN W. nnt
T., IA, IL horror AZ the AMI means nlr' ',iin'
n"c. m conduct his church. We AL wan, IN H., y,
"vcr and every induccmont will be offered MIN "
rfc church Of tho Ascension Is one OF me o.d on IT,,
n the city originally stood IN ,aia' So ncsi S".
nI,..H untovn about lfy-one years, ago' b'sLlr'
churcI II Fifth-ave. ana T'ntl-st.' ,ncl'
a.c chanc. in Wcs Eleventh ST., in West Foryifu
Il ami in Grccnwlch-s'