Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-02-01
4 CHURCH INNOVATION
Ohio Pastors Novel Plan to
 Defray Expenses.
NO SUNDAY SERVICE ooLLEoTIoNa
Fairs, RasaArs and Other Methsa4 For Making Money Are to Rs Avofdea--PIedges Are Made once n Tear to Pay All Expenses-Chureh sociaIs Are Thus Free to All.

Avofdea-Pledges Are Made Once a
 Year to Pay All Expenses--Churels
 sociaIs Are Thus Free to All. : An innovation in the financial man agement of churches has been introdne- cd at Glenviile, near Cleveland O.. by Rev. W. C.. Detling, pastor of the Peos ple's Congregational church, save the Cincinnati Enquirer The new plan provides for the aboiishnent of the col-s lections at church services also the admission fee at church soci8ls It is needless to say that the innovation jN causing much comment in church cir- cles, and that the result of Rev. Mfs Detling's experiment will be watched throughout the country with more than ordinary interest.
 Under 2 new regime not only lie there to 10 church collection in cons nectiun I the church at Glenvilies but baza $ and church fairs as M means of laking money are to be sts1- siiorsly avoided, to say nothing Of qudl1 rallies and like enterprises wbichs ars sometimes resorted to-
 The means under the new plan with which church is tc be supported may be summed npa in two words--p personal contributions. On a Sunday ih De- cember at the Glenville church. at both the morning and evening services, piedges to cover the expenses of an en- tire year were requested. These were made in sums varying from a few cents to several dollars per month. It is noyv planned to make no further reference to contributions at aby church services for one year to come. If any further funds are needed during the year ths' members of the church will be informs cd Of the need privately.
 According to Rev. Mir. Detiing one advantage of the new plan is that it leaves every one, whether member or. an outsider, free to attend church serve ices without, being avrassed or am moved by the constant call for money. Secondly. it avoids all possibility Of tn- troducing questionable ways of rnakinE, money at church socialss Tn the thirds place, it is the truly businesslike ways1 of conducting a church. Patrons oR' church entertainments or suppers usss- ally are paying but a small margin t0 the church when the cost of giving tho affair is considered. Again, the nesv plan leaves the church socials open t0 the we'll to do and poor alike ana makes of these events what they shouId be. 4 ssS
 Tn the statement of Rev. MT. Detling to his people tn inaugurating his xewl plan he said in part: T believe that while these sociais, entertainments. suppers. etc. JuIader certain restrictions for the support of the church may.l not be wrong, with certain other fea-' tures and conduct added -such as clap-1l trap, grab bag. catchpenny devices ands schemes they are pernicious anJ post lively harmful and tend to lower the respect of the community for the! church. These indirect methods, even under the wisest direction, are unbusl- nesslike and often the source of con- fusion in the community. and very often end in the depleted church txeas-l ury, while the more direct, businessltks methods would have left a credit bals ance"