New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-11-29
THE JOHN STREET.-THE. CHURCH CASE
THE TRIN-FIRsT DAY

THE TRIA,-FIRsT DAY.
TIKI. Case cane on before Bishop Simpson ono tte
bishops of The Methodist Episcopal Church a. moot
yesieto sy In the lecture r,om OF the John street
i,bnrcb. There were about six,y persons present.
Counsel for the part IN favor OF fesaoing TINS ccu'cn
were I.vi Cbst6eId a,d Chauncey sh,fsr, aud
70, those in favor OF the rmovsl Il. L. Faacher The
session was opened with prayer by bsnop jams
MI. Fa,cber then gave brlsf history oil the case.
IL co the question OF the eecuon oi threo
,s,ees which election was contested, and an injuu,-
lion was obtared restraining the Board OF trustees
from proceeding with the sale and removs, Oh .ne
church. Mr.. Barnes and others made sn aPpneannon
IN the Supre me Court dissove the ipJ lnchon Inc
Court ne erred the whole matter TO Bishop simpson
foy arbtretion-'o decide the case hna'ly as ne my
Saem lust He Is authorized to oecide the qutstlon OF
tbs election of the trustees, and may connrm OF
cslsre void that election, and ORDER nex election,
and NAV decide the qusso OF removA.
a. Su.PrER then cad on agreement, made by the
asone,s il wralg that ne{ wosa aUias ~ tine
In the most important oie OF these suits toe one 10
which Bsnes and Others are the plaintiffs, he main
on.,tjop is whether CT not these trustees snAu DO
r,s,y aimed from the sale of tots property.
II was then ssreed bstsetn the at orneys tta:,
although here are two suits pending, IN one OF when
T.. party ia favor of removing the conicn are me
sn1ff and IL the o her tbote opposed TO are
the Plaintiff yet the main Issue being tho question OF
the r. novel Of the cnurcb, tie trial should be con-
Quoted mainly with ,f.rence to tois issue.
nwss further agreed TO proceed to proof. on the
main question without for NAL openiog, and that It
should De lett 70 the presdJg Bishop 10 intimate When
he would hear counsel AID Ia what order they should
be heart.
M. FAScnER then male statement Of the iscu.
In Anil last the quesi in the BOHd Of Tfus-
ties as 10 the pIopiie'y Of telrg the John street
Church property and the use Of the proc In ne
ere con Of Methodist Church for this Society 10 tho
vicinity Of NJ .dison square Toe trustee, received
conmnI on said u have bees 81 <ned by majority
of the male members OF the sociey 10 favor vi the
ntoposee e.le ard removal Six OF the Bins trustees
we're In favor and three were OPP sed 10 the move
Ind. Rocaeyel uDn the bHsis OF petition
from the majority Of the Trustees Bsled an order ioc
tbs sale ana removal of the chu Oh fne reasons stated
IL the te,it in substance these; the paaor coud
pol reside cOnvene 70 his church ana 10 the msmoefs
of the burch at u time The church Is co small
10 accommodate large congregation, sna YET " 10
very expensive to sustain 1t In is present ooAhon,
property being of great value there. cnufon up
town sustained at the same expense would acc bnmo-
dale q any more persoDs and Do much more conve-
Ient 10 large proportion Of the members OF this so
ciety Not over thirty members OF this society 1--we
neaier this church than 10 some other Methodist
church. The q tendance does not average one huu-
bred persons. OF nuDe red and sixty tam IS liy-
ing In the tract district in which John sTest Church
situated, hundred Gil fifty are Caholc families 10
ten of ali other eassss of res ioDsts. Those who at
tend DO Ceay the ex 2eDses vi the church, and me
society er counters considerable pecuplsry dicuify.
Methodist church is much Leeded at sduon square,
and many OF the families Of the old John street Cnarcb
reside Ia that vicinity. The futds OF the church and
ifs I. mporaities would be improved oy the removal
The aon OF the church has not averaged one
hundred pCTfOLB
ffry uersons sent at tas services Woen the Pres
ent church edince was constructed It was made much
smaller than the former one, account OF the sale OF
los 10 relieve this church corporation from enoarass-
rnept Such arc briefly, tee grounds upon which the
Court was peiiiOped TO order tie sale aud removal
The eyicel ce was then commenced Sewers original
deecs Of the lots upon which this church stands were
read and pat into evidence and AID Den 50, VINO had
them in custody, briefly examined VIII reference
10 toen. .
Tie Rev. Mr.. Hare, psstor Of this church, for the
CONF rel &c year OF l54 IS, examined with refer
81 &C 10 he membership OF the ch urch during the period
OF biz ministry. Tie attendance vas usually one
hundred on The average; IN the morn,ns ussaly
more, ard in the evening com whsf Fss. lay
atsndaD ce 10 Spring aid Fail vbne me1chans e1'
in the city purchasing gOoos consideraoy ncresseo.
Imu eoi.;el, sf.r lie 6rst Of Nay, less, nonced
oiu,iDutiop in the connega ion arising fom The 70
moysls Of families 10 the upper Psft Oh t'e cy. IN,
o;,r "a yicini " Most Of the ianiss I've up IN.
I I',sd Ia yanoe .ter stfett up 10 he fnt OF My
last; tia: IS convenient 70 me church and resi-
dencss Of tue members any other I1c ioo. Oa the
DIS, of May l removed 70 no. loo Wes; rseny tiftn
sneet which was not convenient This removal
was rot In vtsw Of the sale and removal OF
TIE church never rmarked hs. II had
my way the new church would have been
bGiIf before this tine; did not attend the meetings Of
The irustees Of tie church; frequently called into
Mr. Benson's office; knew during the ia1er part or
the year u at be in favor OF the sae ana remov0
Of the urch never used my Influence or exeftions
10 secure he removal Of the cnurca; reseat o.
Q meeting in April lsst, which ives called by tbs
Trustees WHO W. ~ 10 favor Of t3e removal; thu cal
il ,luded OILY male membsrs over 81 years Of sse
woo bad been members Of the church for one yes;
some voted sbo were no. members desigDs'ed n
the coll ier the meeting; l attempted 10 divide the
metiir x go 10 ssc.rtain who voting IN nbers,
but The proportion voted down; majority OF ms
uee i was evil emily opposed 70 the naval ~h1e
striving 10 tet division u the house sn oufnneos
Was carried; another meeting VS. orgsnzsa si'er-
yard ct which rem siDe5 bat few nis1tes, and 10
Which cid Dot participate rsd been requested %
presice az the first meeting.