The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-14
CHANGES in CHURCHES
GRADUAL PASSING OF THE ONCE
COMMON RENTED-PEw SYSTEM.
Use OF Robes by Ministers Increasing
Pulpit PerfOrmers-Medici
Chests for Emergencies.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

Special to the indianapolis Journal.
NEW YORK, Aug. 13.-Churches in which
pews are rented are passing away. The So
called free church is not free, because some
body has to support it, but it is without
some of the Objectionable features of the
rented pew system. Methodists. Christians
and Episcopalians are leading in the i'm
rrovement. In New York city only two
prominent Methodist churches rent their
pews. In the East Episcopalians still have
many rented pews, Trinity, in New York.
being still conspicuous example of the old
style. But in the West their churches are
for the most part free, their total for the
whole country being IS per cent. free. Pres
byter1ans, on the other hand, cling to pew
rents, in New York there being but one con-
spicuous church having free pews, and that
has recently been offered for sale, and an
Oakland pastor has declined to leave the
Paclhc coast to take its pastorate on the
ground that it has not the financial back
ing to make it successful Congregational
lists also cling to the rented pews. But on
the whole the rented pews are giving way
to the free ones Voluntary offerings are
supporting more and more churches every
year. The new plan sometimes proves in
adequate, and leaves somebody TO make up
deficits but so does the Irented-pew plan.
The use of robes by ministers IS increas-
ing. This growing practice is most marked
among Presbyterians, Congregationaists
and Baptists. So far as can be ascertained
no Methodist minister has donned a robe
of any sort in the pulpit. Time was when
Reformed and Lutheran ministers were &C.
casionally seen without them. Now they
never are. The reason behind this practice
is to present uniformity in the pulpit and
reduce distraction to the worshipers to
minimum. There is also gained habit for
the minister of Christ, as easily recognized
as the habit of the general in the army.
OF course there is no change in the Episco-
pal habit and no tendency by ministers of
other denominations to ape that one. The
pulpit habit growing most rapidly in favor
consists of Wide-collared cassock that
reaches to within few inches of the floor.
1t is rarely buttoned in front, but when 1t
is it is full in 'front.' sometimes pleated,
and something white is worn at the neck.
There is usually wide collar. The ma
terial is Bedford cord. The color is black.
The increased number who wear this habit
in the pulpit come not from ministers sud-
denly putting them on, but from semi
narans just entering pastorates. But the
increase in this way is marked.
If it were in good taste, several scores of
churches could be named located in widely
separated cities, where the practice of en-
ploying one minister at high salary, and
he almost solely because pleasing and able
pulpit performer-the word performer is
not employed in an offensive sense-is prov
ing inadequate. Preaching is no longer re-
garded as the one and all sufficient means
of reaching the people. It reaches people,
of course. but it does not reach SO many as
another later and better practice, and in
aROa xryif ie
going out of fashion. That better practice
is the employment of several ministers
two, if more cannot be afforded, often pay
ing the two little more salary than the one
formerly received. Men are chosen pos
sessing different gifts, that one can
and faces, and is therefore capital at re-
ceptions and for parish visiting, and a third
is good in the Sunday school and with young
people. Hundreds of churches in the large
cities that have as yet but one minister
have already changed their church rules,
and intend, upon the. retirement of their
N salary over the amount now paid to one.
The whole tendency is undoubtedly toward
plural Dastorates
Not a few churches maintain in their
vestibules medicine chests of not small
proportions. Many new churches build
closets in the vestibule wall to hold these
chests Some go so far as to provide a
physician to remain in call during services.
But the latter is rarely found necessary, it
generally being the rule that physicians
will be found in the congregation if need
ed Still confusion is sometimes occasioned
in getting calls to them, and SO some
trustees arrange with physicians, one at
time and often under salary, to sit near
the rear doors and be on hand always in
case of need. Churches largely attended
by strangers, especially if these strangers
be Travellers find medicine chests handy
oftenest In some large cities all prominent
churches are thus provided, and scarcely
service fails to call restoratives into use.
Attendants are so well trained that confu-
sion rarely results. The chest in the vesti-
bule contains simply reStorativeS.