Early History of Ushering

        

        

Four thousand and four years before the coming of Christ, men were serving in the same capacity, similar to that of the present day usher.              

        

Bible history teaches us in Numbers 1:48-53 that God directed Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, to organize which has been suggested to be the great usher organization as watchmen over the Tabernacle of Testimony and over all vessels thereof, and over all things that belong to it and keep charge of the Tabernacle.

        

In Numbers 3:12, He claimed the Levites as His own. In 2 Samuel 18:24, 25, they are spoken of as watchmen.  In I Chronicles 9:17, 21, 22, they are given the name of “Porters.”

        

In 1 Chronicles 15:23, 24, they are called “Doorkeepers,” a title which has lasted for a number of years and centuries. Until today, we find people rendering the same kind of service to the church, being referred to as ushers; but you will not find the word “usher” in the Bible.

        

In this, we see the usher has a wealth of Biblical background and the church usher is claimed by our Lord as His own, for He says in His Word, “Therefore the Levites shall be mine.” Since the usher is serving in the same capacity as the Levites, we must be chosen people.

        

The origin of the first ushers’ group in modem times was one thousand, one hundred and seven years after the birth of our Savior.  Man felt he had discovered a new service for the church.  It is true that these servants were given the name, church usher, at a later date; but all Bible students know that this service had its beginning in the services provided by the Levites.

        

The first ushers’ group in modern times was organized by Mr. Ambrose R. Clark of New York, in 1897, in an endeavor to improve church ushering.  His purpose and procedure for organization became the foundation of modern organized church ushering.                        

                                                                             Ushers' Manual pg V