The Washington herald., 1910-05-30
Finances Versus Pew Rents.

Editor The Washington Herald
We might properly use the adjective
in the comparative AID consider that
while no one expects TO find the raising
Of money an easy" operation. an easier
way may be found than I'm pew rents.
Church officials addicted to Wall street
methods-as. alas. very many are-may
regard il as the simpler and reader
method 20 assess a valuation on the
holdings" and rent or sell them 20
Gospel hearers. a thousand or two being
not infrequently paid for the use Of
one section OF Gods house. Such men.
with a proprietary interest and renters
at several hundred per. are regarded,
from the financial end. at least. as the
pillars" TO whom special consideration
may naturally be accorded-often uncon-
sciousIy- the pulpit The reader
may recall that I'm these columns. on
May o. it was shown that in actual prac-
tice in this city the financial was set
ahead Of the spiritual in importance.
In a very long church experience I
have found 1t generally conceded that the
pew renting system as a dependence has
been open TO manifold objections, and
the only apology for its continuance and
liberation has been that of necessity.
Surely We have a right TO challenge this
view, having no warrant for the plan In
Scripture our acknowledged Magma
Charta-If. by the Spirits aid we may
show you a more excellent way" and
one that is laid down in Scripture. and
does not SAVIOR Of "commerciaIism' "a
quality that in the first house Of worship
vas so severely rebuked IN person by the
Master Of the house. even to making
with His own hands the scourge with
which He drove them out" with no
ceremony and the excoriation, "Ye have
made Il a den Of thieves"
II commercialism met with such ter
rife condemnation. dare we claim that
the same Master Of the house will palu-
ate it to-day on the ground Of expedi-
ency?
This feature having thrust through and
found a Judgment, has made room for
entertainments" that had no place with
in sacred precincts-suppers. fairs. voting
for popular and pretty candidates. grab
bags, gambling. &c, that seemed 70 have
no limit, and are palpably far more
offensive than selling doves and other
sacrifices TO go on the altar,
The writer attended i'm this city a
Christmas celebration. and was shocked
to see troupe representing Indians spring
l.
wild stamping, whoops. and wncanny
yells. and language that overstepped all
bounds even into profanity. The church
was highly respectable. and the pastor a
good man. The only excuse heard for
the outrage was that the church had
been sold TO another congregation and
would soon be vacated by them
Ny individual belief is that had the
pastor felt free and independent, as one
should be. he would have risen in his
wrath and stopped the disgraceful per-
Torrance.
The financial needs seem 10 be the
standard excuse for these violations OF
thus saith the Lord" that are sapping
the life Of many churches and do not
provoke the stern repression they should
Of church iudicatories
Every Christian reader VIII concede the
justice Of these structures, asking only to
know the remedy.
Read 1 Cor. xvi:2 You find the specific
direction Of ST. Paul the great authority
in such matters. This is in line with
and confirmatory Of the divine direction
uttered by Jehovah himself that you viii
find in Malachi 3D., eighth to twelfth
verses inclusive, referring 10 "tithes and
offerings" SO much for the law that 1
fail 10 see we have any right TO disre-
gard and substitute "some other way"
Now shah we consider the equity OF this
matter?
Here is A. who enjoys an income OF
$4,000, as very many do.
Here also is 3, whose income, with
harder toll. is but $500
The 1.-THE OF a is $3.50, leaving him
$500 for himself and family.
That of p is $50, leaving him $3.50
for his support "a
DOesa any one suppose that the Lord.
after these annunciations and denuncia-
tons, credits A with his $500 and B with
his $50?
Nay. verify. He regards only AS $500
and BIS 1880 as what they have left
after passing over to the Lord that which
is His own and not a gift. These amounts
they have left and call their own they
still hold as His stewards and Of which