AN APPEAL TO THE BISHOPS.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume III, Issue 140, 18 September 1863, Page 6 (Supplement)

AN APPEAL TO THE BISHOPS.

To the Editor of the Times.

Sir, —I beg that you ■will allow me to submit the following facts to the Prelate of the Established Church. They are sorely grieved at the lack of accommodation of which church-goers complain ; and are daily employed in stimulating the wealthy to subscribe largely and build more churches. The suggestion which I am about to make will provide room for thousands who are now excluded from worship, and will cost nobody a sixpence. I frequent a church in the south-west suburbs of London, built to accommodate 1,800 people. The expansion of the female dress, has, however, so contracted that accommodation that 1,200 people can now scarcely seat themselves where 1,800 sat very comfortably ten years ago. The pew I occupy costs me £1 10s a year. It contains three sittings, and used to contain three worshippers ; it will with difficulty contain two, if they are both women. It is one of a row of 50 ; therefore, from that row alone the absurd fashion of dress which now prevails excludes 50 worshippers from every service of the church ; while the rent of one sitting is raised from £1 10s to £2 ss. Yesterday the pew in front of me the same size as mine, was not occupied by the family who rent it. Shortly after the service commenced a middleaged stranger, wearing spectacles, and otherwise unattractive, surrounded by an exorbitant cage, sailed up the aisle and hove to opposite the empty pew, entirely blocking up the gangway. The pew-opener thus obstructed in the conduct of his business had no choice but to shunt this monstrous impediment into the empty pew, which he did. Presently he introduced a lady and a little girl into the two other seats, whereupon the caged leviathan arose, declaring vehemently that she would rather have no seat at all than be crushed in that way, and flounced out of the pew, blocking up the gangway, which she occupied standing, till the sermon began. Then a humane gentleman, who had seen her previous manoeuvres, and who had a couple of vacant places in his pew, took compassion on her, and let her in, submitting to be smothered in her hoop iron, and dirty flounces for the rest of the service. Is it not time, Sir, that the clergy should interfere in this matter ? If the Bishop of Oxford—if the Eev. Mr. Brookfield —if any preacher of influence skilled in adapting the Gospel to the aristocracy would induce half-a-dozen Duchesses to lay aside their cages and paddings for church, as they invariably do every day for the saddle—the rest of the world would instantly follow their example, and as much good would be done in the way of Church extension as if a dozen churches had been built. I Lave, &c., A Peimitite Christian. London, May 25.