The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-06-10
DECLINE OF METHoD1sM.

DECLINE OF METH0DIsM.
interesting Religious statistics or New
York and Brooklyn-Dr. A. 3. Hunt and
,. m. Buckley On the Dcnominat ional
Decline-Mr. Buckley's Prophecfcs.
ne Methodist ministers had alarge and interest
lng meeting yesterday at sos Broadway DR.. Mer.
WIN presided and Rev. O. @. Keyes led the devo-
tsons The topic for discussion provided for q
veek ago, was the relation OF Methodism TO other
denominations In Brooklyn and also 10 the popula-
sion. Rev. J. N. Buckley, pastor OF Summerneid
church washington avenue, Brooklyn, had been ap-
pointed TO open the debate. He asked that certain
statistics, which had been prepared by DR.. A. 8.
Hunt for another clerical body, might be read and
- considered as part OF his speech This was DONE
DA Hunt gave
INTERESTING TABLES OF STATISTICS
q the Presbyterian, Baptist, Episcopaian, Con-
wrerationalst and Reformed Dutch Churches re-
htfng 70 their membership, probationers churches,
sunday scholars, &c. for the years 1850, 1865 and
aS7o and few for 1873. These he contrasted with
she statistics OF Methodism in Brooklyn for the
same years. and showed the ratio OF each to popu-
lation ana their relative increase within the period
aamed. The Baptists, for instance, had in 1896 II
churches and A6l3 members ana in 1870 20
churches and o,812 members. The proportion OF
their membership to population in 1865 was o. 400
and m 1870 SO 600. They had also in the lat
ser year s,4s7 Sabbath scholars The Presbyteria
had in 1865 10 churches. and in 1870 % Their
membership In 1856 was 1887, and in 1870 5972 OF
an increase OF SO per cent. The ratio OF member
ship 70 population in 1866 was 90, and in
1870 81 The population Of Brooklyn in
1895 was in round numbers 3ll,001 and
q 1870 $4,000. The Protestant Episcopalians
or Brooklyn had in 1865 % churches, and in 1870
IA nufh afxU fha oy Mo-
York was divided and the diocese OF Long Island
was formed The increase in churches in the lat
Ter year is more apparent than real, Tor II in
studies missions and societies OF every kind. Their
membership in 1865 was 6,21l, in 1870 1927. The
ratio TO population was in 1865 SO; in 1870, 65.
Their Sunday school children In 1870 numbered
am. The OongregatiOnalists and the Reformed
0utch show corresponding advance; but when
THE METHODIST STATISTICS
were presented they showed a lamentable decline.
the membership had fallen OF GOT between 1870 and
1873, and the probationary declined 462. AZ the
vame time the population has increased about fifty
thousand There have been added to the churches
some 1890 or 400 members since 1870. In 1865
there were 20 Methodist churches in Brooklyn, and
n 1870 "a. The membership and prOoationers in
1855 numbered 1885 and in 1870 9035; increase,
s0n in 1865 was AZ in 1870 AZ. The Sunday school
scholars numbered in 1865 1904, and in 1870 042
samaHtshIe snronrt,on SetWeem he nnnher u Of
probati0ners 10 enc year and the increase Of full
Nj Buckley read some incomplete statistics for
He then undertook to dead with the facts as he
measure at least, for the decline. Among the
CAUSES OPERATING ADVERSELY TO MErHOD1SM
st0n OF the doctrines Of Methodism. When they
began to preach them the people had been repres-
preached IN the same way in Calvinistc churches
In Armenian or Methodist churches. And Metho-
aist hymns and songs are sung In Calvinistic
shurches-he thought, indeed, sometime much bet
ter than Methodists sing them. Hehad lately heard
sung IN Congregational church the very hymn on
<1k hnw ~ I'm phvyyah with nl1f
ore and zeal of early Methodism combined with
congregational understanding, so that they full
6led the apostolic Injunction OF singing with
The spirit and with the understanding also. An.
ether cause ID the natural laws OF association,
Se wealthy
from the denomination TO unite with others. He
acknowledged that, in the language OF simple
man. I'VE have among us vet a few who have Tis'
ana kept humble, But he called his Drethren's
attention to the contrast between ST. Panl's Metho
presbyterian church just opposite and also be-
tween his own tSummerfeld Methodist Episcopal
church) and DR.. Buddington's Congregational, or
Or. Duryea's DR.. Cuyler's Presbyterian churches.
He admitted that in his church were men enough
ELDERS and class leaders; but there is no enthu-
masm among them and no Christian vitality. Our
IRON Tie church-say at the age Of f1ty Another
canse OF Methodist decline is the character Of the
Immigrants that come to our shores and stay in
RoMANIsTs AND rREETHINKERs
70 preach-to some OF whom is like preaching to
she middle classes, from whom Methodists are
drawn. Another and, perhaps the most important
OF all, Is the changed relation OF the Metho
nis youth to the Church. The question for pastors
now is, not how TO get the youth converted, but
church at all And very few Of the best Of our our
gOung people ever come into our churches. True,
afew do come IN as Sunday school teachers, or the
like; but Ii Is very rare thing Tor Methodist
husband and wife to bring Baptist or Presbyte-
nsn partner into the Methodist Church. while it
frequently occurs that Methodist 60 into other
churches in this way. We have, said Mr.. Buck
ey, nothing TO attract the wealthy into our
ranks, and we cannot compete with the older,
weather and long established churches in our
Nidst Another cause is the increasing Journalism
IN the Methodist Episcopal churches to-day are
men who came into the Church thirty or forty
pears ago; They were then young and enthuslas-
and sinners we're brought into the Church through
their instramentality. Tney say the very same
this Journalism is suppressed Meihodism win go to
was so reierrea to- though Re was not in iavor Of
u and he believed the laymen Of the Church to-day,
serase OF four would vote for TWO. and thew Would
not have permanent pastorate at all. The SINH
iartty of Methodist preaching is another hndering
cause. We can always guess what the ministers
viii preach about in September, and we may be alb
soluten certain what will be said in October or
DECLINE OF TIE CLASS MEETINGS
y another cause. and Mr.. Buckley contended for
perform marriage ceremony, and found that they
ksdnot had class meetings there for three years.
He predicted that If the class meeting system s
not revived we shall have greater decline in
methodtsm, eensationalsm VIII increase, and some
u the churches that cannot keep their heads above
water VIII have the Church by individuals and
those that remain win try to upset the itnerancy,
and long before the ministers become sixty years
oM-before winch age they should not think OF re.
tring-the people Will have become tired OF them.
This interesting discussion was continued to the
next meeting day two weeks hence. The assoca-
Don Will meet next Monday with the District Con-
ference.
WRECK OY THE TVEIn nvNRSTv