Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-14

of them, upon which lie many Bibles. The
Bibles are in Dutch and they look as old
a the church itself. They are somewhat
like the 81 kind sold by our itinerant book
agents, each containing the hymns as well
as the full text of the Scriptures.
Fire Boxes for Cold Feet.
Underneath each bench is little square
box-like footstool with auger holes in the
top. These stools are the only heating ar
rangement of the church. Before service
the sexton puts little pot of glowing char
coal or peat in each stool and the women
put their feet on the top of the stools and
thus keep them warm during the long SER
vice. The peat must be well lighted and
glowing or it will smoke. making one think
that the church is on fire. When I went
up into the pulpit I noticed there were
holes in its f1oar. and was told that boxes
of burning charcoal or peat were placed
below it to keep the dominic hot.
The collections are taken up in little
black bags fastened to long poles, which
the e-ders carry about during each service
There are always two collections one for
the poor and the other for the church and
the elders. The elders have seats of honor
not far from which is the pew of the par
son. The poor are given the poorest seats,
being showed away on benches behind the
preacher.
took a look at the records of the church.
some of which chronicle the leaving of the
wrote my name in the signature book as all
Americans who honor the Pilgrim Fathers
and appreciate the hospitality of the Hol-
landers are requested to do-with a dona-
ton. / also gave the donation.
The Dutch as Church Goers.
The Dutch are very much like other ma
tions as regards church going They attend
more regularly in the country than in the
city. The village churches are full in the
morning, and notwithstanding the long SER
mons the people usually sit out the service
The first chapter is read by the school
master, and in some churches part of the
collection Is given to the school master.
The offerings are more often copper than
silver, and in the poorer villages a cent is
a common donation. The preachers are not
well paid, especially where they depend
upon the people for their salaries.
The government gives certain yearly al
lowances to the different churches. The
Protestants. who are in the majority,
get a little over half a million dol
lars a year. the Roman Catholics
not half so much and the Jews onIy
about $4,000. All religions are tolerat-
ed. but the royal family and the most of
the people belong to the Dutch Reformed
Church. which is governed according to
Presbyterian methods.
Hollands School System.
Speaking of the schools. they are about as
good as any in Europe. The Dutch are
noted for their intelligence and learning
and the government has for almost a hun
dred years paid more or less attention to
educational matters. Only lately. however,
has education been compulsory. the school
age being from six to thirteen
Holland has four universities with about
three thousand students. 1t has TWENTY
nine classical schools with more than two
thousand students and has academies and
schools of all classes. There is a national
academy of art. royal school of music. a