The New York herald., 1873-04-01
CITY CHURCH EXTENSION SOCIETY.
Annual Meeting-Rcports-Ad OF
Bishops Simpson and Decentralization
or Omcers, sc.

Annual Meeting-Rcports-Ad OF
Bishops Simpson and Foster-Elccti0n
or Omcers, Sc.
The seventh anniversary Of the City Church Ex-
tension and Missionary Society was held in st.
Paul's Methodist Episcopal church, Fourth avenue,
last evening Rev. Bishop James presided The
minutes of the last annual meeting were read by
the secretary, Mr.. ]. II. Pelton, and the annual
report by Mr.. Bowes Colgate, an abstract of which
sets forth that the Society has now four missions
the east and three the west side Of the city,
besides eight churches, In whole or in part self
supporting. The city is divided into districts IN
charge OF four ministers appointed by the two
Conferences, and three assistants. Two fe-
male missionaries have also been employ ed to
Episcopal church during the year. There have been
received into the churches during the year PRO
M tSere were Ssmssed by eter Sd 3es M
present number OF full members, 1,019; present
number OF probationers, 296; conversions during
the year, $40; Sunday schools-number OF officers
and teachers, 80; number Of scholars s,o62.
During the year the society has received from
subscriptions and donations $sa24e; church col
rents, So 223 leans S0 S9S; total $567l1. The dis
bursements have been as siolows:-Salaries OF twen-
missions, $5,s2l on account Of land buildings and
furniture, $2l,970; insurance, interest and incl
dental expenses, $4Sss; making total OF $55.s67.
BISHOP SIMPSONS REMARKS.
After singing by the congregation Bishop
Simpson delivered an eloquent address, designed
to show why there should be united effort among
the churches in this missionary movement in
cities. There Is In large cities somsthng that
gives the idea OF unity. Formerly cities built
not been the motive. Since the angels sang the
glad tidings good will to men and glory to God in
the highest, the walls OF the great cities have been
crumbling to dust. The cities now are centres OF
commerce, Of manufactures and OF wealth. and
they are growing with unprecedented rapldty.
The increase OF population In the older states is
confined almost wholly to the cities, and the ten
dency is to aggregate men in communities more
and more the Bishop gave some reasons ior this
Che rural populations had larger number
Of ministers and churches, in proportion to
their population, than the cities. And also
this discrepancy. AS for instance, in California
there Is Methodist minister to every fifty church
members; in New Hampshire and Vermont. with
an aggregate population about two hundred thou
nual conferences and 200 ministers, while here
there are only sixty ministers to O population OF
LOCO 600. In the the city q phadelphia where he
ter to 300 church members, and he did not
know what the relative proportion is in this city.
church buildings for the masses and hoped ior
unity among Christians IN this evangelistic effort.
BISHOP FOSTERS APPEAL.
Bishop Foster showed how utterly impossible 1t
Is for city pastors to do the work OF tins society,
where there are three to one who never enter a
church. The Gospel must be taken to them, and ne
was glad that there were other churches and de-
nominations In this city besides the Methodlsts
engaged in this holy work. He knew Of
some individual congregations here who sustain
as high as ten missions among the neglected
masses He read the report OF one church lately
which had within ten years raised and expended
5000 900 for Gods cause. and while he thanked God,
he was sorry 1t was not Q Methodist church. The
Bishop eioiced In the number Of souls converted
BY the efforts Of the society during the year, and
said that God picks out his jewels among the class
to whom 1t ministers. Thirty years ago many OF
the princes Of Methodism to-day would be turned
away from the church DOORS but they are now the
leaders OF the Lords hosts and who shall say what
those $40 OF the society may become thirty
years hences He pleaded for conservation of the
church's wealth to this work.
The following Officers for 1874 were then elected,
and the meeting adjourned President John g.
Cornell; First Vice President George ]. Hamilton !;
second Vice President, General Clinton b. Fiske,
ing Secretary, Bowles Colgate Recording Secre-
tary, James II. Pelton; Treasurer, William X. Pey