The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-01-16
XIV.
RENTING OF THE PEws, AND THE
CANTATA.
Continued !

Continued
Well. ] must say we've had a pretty
interesting time this season In trying TO
settle the pew question. You see we've
| always had our pews In the Westmin
ster Meetin House rented, and the re-
suit has been that the same seats at our
I church have been occupied by the same
/ families or their descendants for years
and years, and as they have been handed
! down generation after generation they
almost seemed the personal property of
| the holders. Under such circumstances
| it's easy enough TO propose a change In
| the system, but IL amt 80 easy to carry
| IL into effect:
The matter was called to the attention
OF the church members few weeks ago.
and the minister called a special meeting
for the purpose of disposing OF the ques-
| tion one way or another. and said ne
wanted all OF the members 20 be present
who could, because the subject OF free
seats as against rented pews was the
question TO be settled first of all, and
then the matter OF tho cantata of
Ruth" 10 be rendered by the church
choir at the time OF the harvest moon
festival was to be voted upon.
When Wednesday came. whcn was the
day set for the meeting. the church folks
came from far and near, for II had been
pretty well talked UP about having free
seats, and a lot OF the old-time members
didn't like the new notion OF things. so
| they came out In large numbers.
After Parson Holden had called The
meeting to order offered prayer. and
asked God TO guide the affairs OF the
meeting into the right channel 80 that
there'd be no friction or dlscord. he read
the call OF the meetin' and then said:
1T has been thought by some OF the
members OF the society that TO adopt
the system more or less I'm use In the
larger towns and cities, which provides
for free seats. would be good thing for
tne church. or course, II this idea
should be carried out II would be neces
sary 10 adopt a system Of weekly offer
ings to meet the church expenses, which
have been paid heretofore largely by the
pw rentals. The reason for this change
lies principally I'm the fact that Backus-
Vile and Howards Valley have developed
into quite busy centres Of trade, calling
into this section an increased popula-
tion, and as this society desires to make
ell OF the provisions that II can I'm behalf
OF the new families which are moving
into this neighborhood. IL IL believed
they will feel more at home and will be
more readily attracted TO our house OF
worship II the seats be all declared free.
your hands to decide ss you deem the
most wise thing TO do"
When he took his seat. Squire Howard
got up and delivered a speech as set and
firm as N he was instructing a jury, for
he was dreadfuly given 10 having the
seats free. Said he. The older members
OF the church viii undoubtedly want 10
retain the pews that they have coupled
so long, but as the best good of the
church and community Will be served by
adopting this new system, IL should de-
volve upon them 10 waive their wants
and submit TO this new system Of pro
viding free seats for all persons who de-
sire TO worship in tho Westmi ins ter
church. trust there win he not a
dissenting voice: that all will be united
upon this plan which II carried into
effeot. will mark step forward in the
line OF religious worship that will tend
to influence other churches To- do like
wider blessing"
There were three members on their
| feet at once as the squire sot down. but
Deacon Lamson he begun first to talk.
and he was allowed to 20 on. SAYS
/ he I'm agin free pews. First rm agin'
/ them out cf principle. and. secondly I'm
/ agin them because our folks have set In
/ the same pew on the east side OF the
| house as long as ! can remember and
I for certainly one or more generations
back the Iamsons have had this same
pew which is numbered 20 Now.
wouldn't feel ~ home anywhere else and
my folks wouldn't. and go 7 stand opposed
/ 10 this new system When | come 10
church I want 10 make sure that I'm
going to set somewhere, and I want 10