The New York herald., 1871-03-26
The Methodist COnfererences.


country as fast as the bishops can meet them.
Next week the New York and New York
East Conferences, whose chief appointments
lie in this city and Brooklyn, will meet-the
former in Poughkeepsie, N. Y, and the latter
in Stamford, Conn. Among the many i'm
portant interests which will come before these
bodies is one relating to the support of super
anuuated preachers, on which subject commit
tees were appointed at their last session. 1t is
well known that very few Methodist ministers
get salaries large enough to enable them to
save anything against sickness and old age
so that when either of these come upon them
they are found in great straits and dependent
upon Christian sympathy and bensvolence for
the ordinary necessaries of life. When minis
ters become old and broken down in the
service of the Church they receive an appor-
tionment annually for their support; but this ia
sometimes so small as to be hardly entitled to
the name of benefaction. Should minister
die while in the active work of the Church his
family become claimants upon the Conference
OF which he was member. Both they and
the superannuated preachers are thus sup
ported by collections in the several charges of
the Conference, and at its annual session dis
tribution is made by committee of ministers
appointed for that purpose, and who listen to
arguments and appeals for or against an in
crease or reduction in each individual case,
provided there are any interested persons
present to advance or oppose such claims.
This burden grows heavier from year to year,
while the support from voluntary church col
lections grows less, many churches not raising
anything for this object. The matter of pro-
viding conference homes for such ministers
and such families was brought up in the New
York Conference last spring, but at too late a
date to do anything more practical than to
appoint a committee to confer and act with
similar committee from the other body of min
listers. A dozen such homes established in
either Conference would greatly benefit those
who have claims on them and would very
largely relieve the churches.
The highest salary paid to member by any
Methodist church in either of the two Confer.
ences named is $1,000 year-paid by st.
Pauls, in this city. There are six which pay
$4,000, about twenty pay $4,000, and the
great majority range from $500 to $500 q
year. The highest salaries are paid in New
York and Brooklyn. A few years ago min
lister presented his case to the New York Con-
ference, asking for supernumerary relation.
He had served two weak churches on the out
skirts of this city, and had received for his
years labor, in money and value, $500, where
with to support family of seven persons.
Such cases are not isolated, and provision
should be made by the Conferences in some
way to secure living salary to their members
proportioned to their necessities. There is
money and wealth enough in the Methodist
churches of those Conferences to secure to the
poorest preacher at least as much as an ordi-
nary mechanic can earn-$1 ZOO year. In
this city and Brooklyn and the immediate vi
cinity there are eighty-two Methodist churches
and thirty-two parsonages, of the aggregate
value of $3, 79O,OO Of these ffty-six
churches, valued at 2,O67, 900, and twenty
two parsonages,. valued at $4,000 be-
long to the New York East Confer
ence; and twenty-six churches, valued
at 81, $50, 500, and ten parsonages, valued at
$l53, 900, belong to the New York Conference.
One of those churches is valued at 5000, 900,
another at $4,000, and very many of them
range in value from $50, 900 to $500, 900 each,
and indicate very clearly that the congrega-
tions who have built them are fully able, were
they SO disposed, to make suitable provision for
the aid Of feeble churches and less favored
ministers than their own. The total number
of churches in the New York Conference is
364, and their aggregate value $3, l3l, 800, and
in the New York East Conference 259 of the
value Of So, 5S7, 700. The former has 152 par
sonages, valued at 1926, SIS, and the latter
Il6, worth 1915, $50.
Under the Inherent system of Methodism
very large number of ministers in this city
and Brooklyn will change places next month.
Among the most notable OF those which have
coAe to our knowledge are the following:- =
The Rev. DR.. Ridgeway, of st. Paul's, goes
to the new and beautiful First Methodist Epis-
copal church Of Harlem, which has been built
under the persevering industry of Rev. H. G.
Corey. The edifce is not yet finished, and
will not be dedicated until May. The Rev.
John E. Goodman will success DR.. Foss in
Trinity Methodist Episcopal church; Rev. DR..
Crawford leaves Eighteenth street church
Rev. A. d. Vail, Thirtieth street; John
f. Gorse, West Twenty fourth street William
Goss, st. JOINS, Fifty-third street--a new
edifice which he has helped to erect-aud
Alexander Mclean, Duane church, in Hudson
street DIR. Ferris will cease to be Presiding
Elder of the New York District, New York
Conference, and will probably take the pas
torate Of city church. In the New York
East Conference the Rev. w. McAlister. now
of Allen street Methodist Episcopal church,
will succeed Rev. Dr. II. f. Pease in the pre.