The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-11-27
IvHosp1rALrrr IN cHUHCH.
strnpser's Complaint sf Her RseeP"er
a the Rev. Mr.. Nswton's Church.

To ryy EDITOR or THB SUN-Str: ! am =
stranger in New York, come from my home on
the Pacific coast ~ spend the winter mere.
Among the many pleasures that l looked
to find here, that OF seeing and hearing some OF
the great preachers Of New York was not the
least. IL was therefore with most Joyful antici-
pations that | took my way TO the church OF
which Heber Newton Is the pastor. Unfortu-
nately for me I had not counted the time well.
The surface cars Of New York are a marvel OF
discomfort and slowness TO one accustomed TO
the perfect car service Of San Francisco. was
late. The service had begun.
Just in front of me as I entered was q woman,
poorly dressed, evidently n seamstress or rome
thing of that sort. Her face was intelligent and
eager, and | was glad that she could have In
her hard life the wonderful grace and blessing
Of n Sunday morning In Heber Newton's church.
We went in, and in obedience to q gesture Of
one at the entrance. passed into a vestibule at
one side. Here were about twenty persons
standing, waiting, as ! supposed. for the prayer
to he finished. bowed my head and endeay-
Orcd to follow the prayer. glad again that In
pie to enter during. prayers was not allowed:
Presently three or four persons came in, They
pushed through the standing group and made
1t was only strangers who were kept standing
in penance for their hardness.
At the closed that part OF the service expect.
ed to see all those who were standing shown at
once to seats. This is what really occurred: The
usher, seemingly n most conscientious man,
looked sadly at the crowd, then walked up and
down the aisle. Occasionally he approached a
seat in which perhaps only one person was ait
ting. After q word or two with that person he
singled out one or two from the waiting group
and seated them. This slow process continued
for some time. The crowd at the door. being
continually augmented from the outside. did not
materially diminish. At last tho usher seemed
to think that he could not presume to seat any
more. He studied the pews ca~refully-there
were twenty or more that were empty; then he
came out into the vestibule and looked carefully
over a chart Of the church. Meantime an old
man, who probably did not feel able to stand
pcws. He was promlky shown to another seat.
Now the usher Of the middle aisle lent his aid.
and finally all were placed, my little seamstress,
So far ~ I could see. being the last one to be
seated. BY this time the Joy had departed. |
was tired and | was hurt hurt for the poor wo-
man who must have been made to feel that she
was not welcome: hurt for myself, feeling that !
could not go there again. 1t was with the great
est effort that could compose myself to listen
to the silver-tOngued speaker.
Personally. ! was repaid for the passing annoy
ance 10y the thoughts which | brought back with
me. yet cannot forbear asking this question:
Does Hcber Newton know and feel, as he stands
in the glory Of the lighted chancel, will the
white robed angel above him, bidding him pro.
claim the tidinEs of great ioy-does he know and
feel the cold. inhospitality that meets the
stranger and the poor Mt the church door,
] cannot believe that he does; but IL were well
for him and his people tn realize that the wall
they are building shuts them in from the great
world Of human lives, and that when their work
Is completed they will have built a sepulchre,
not a church. STRANGER.