New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-05-27
PROBABLE DISRUPTION OF a MISSIONARY
SOCIETY.


The American and Foreign Christian Union,
which has greatly increased in Importance and useful
ness during the last six years is threatened with
complete disruption caused by eaOusies existing among
the members OF the Board of Management. Some years
since it deemed advisable TO divide the Secretary
ship, then under the management Of the Rev. Mr..
scudder into branchesa foreign and an American.
Dr. Butler placed in charge OF the foreign, and Mr.
scudder continued in charge of the American depart
ment For a number Of minor reasons a disagreement
arose between the heads Of the two departments which
gradually spread TO their respective friends until it
deemed advisable to relieve Mr. Scudder from his po-
sition-a proceeding in no way calculated to
appease the hostility Of his friends These were,
however, very much in the minority so that
their efforts 10 make any change in the organization
were futile. The matter thus went without any scr
Gus interruption until the 18th inst, when the regular
election Of officers took place. The Committee on Eec
ton reported favor of the old board of officers, and
the vote was about be taken when OF the mem
beers arose aud proposed the Of the Rev Mr. Crit
tenden Secretary, in place OF Dr. Butler In the bal
lot then taken IL was found that the latter gentleman
had eleven votes while the former had sixteen the
opposition having it is said secretly influenced the
minds several of the members against Dr. Butler
Mr.. Crittcuden therefore declared elected. upon
which William \. Booth, who had already been IeCeced
President Of the society arose ana sld that under tine
circumstances it would be Impossible Tor nun to accept
the Office. In the previous years OF ms administration
he had suffered from the opposition OF inns parry ana
now he did not wish to place himself ID situation IN
which he would be liable 10 perpetudi GOhlcts win
them Indeed ne did not see how IL would be possible 10
have harmonious action while such a division existed
The meeting soon after adjourned without coming To
any definite agreement
During the following week there was meeting Of the
COngregatiOnalsts and most Of the PresbyteTaus con
nected with the Board OF Management. at which u was
agreed that, consequence OF the manner in which the
members OF the opposition had acted IL was better mat
the Association should be broken up, as would De i'm
possible hereafter TO carry the work with any degree
Of harmony. Resolutions to this effect were presented
AT the meeting of the Society last Thursday These icso
lutions provided substantially, that committee should
De appointed 10 der the advsabity OF dsbandlng
the Society and TO propose some way IA which TINS OBJ
iect ght be best carried ont. After considerable dis
cussiOn the resolutions adopted, and "a committee,
consisting Of representative from each Of the six
denominations connected with the Society, APP
pointed consider the subject and ordered to report at
the meeting next week. 800
There Is hardly doubt but that IL will be thought
best to give up the organization, as the COngrega
tOuaiss and Presbyterias that urging IL represent
about 90 per cent Of the income Of the society the
opposition mainly consists of delegates from the Meth
odst and Reformed churches who have had hitherto
only a small pecunary interest IN the maintenance Of
the Society 1t is thought that when the DISCRIMINATION
takes place the different churches making up the Society
will take their proportion Of the missions, at present
under the general management and carry them under
their several UNCONVENTIONAL Societies already eAlsng