The New York herald., 1873-09-30
THE METHODIST MINISTER'S.
Ciosc OF the Discussion ON Methodist De-
cfne-A Review OF the Situation by
T.

Close OF the Discussion ON Methodist De-
clfne-A Review OF the situation by
Rev. G. G. Goss.
Yesterday, being the regular day for the reading
OF an essay before the Preachers Association Rev.
u y. Goss, the statstician OF Methodism, who
opened the ball with figures ON the decline of
MethOdism, acted the part OF essayist, and read q
paper reviewing all that has been presented on the
question during the discussion. He repeated some
OF his former tables OF churches and OF MEMBER
Ship which have been published already But he
added to these many additional statistics relative
to the benevolent contributions of the several de-
nominations in the city, pastors salaries number
OF churches built here since 1854 or now In process
OF erection and their cost mot their present actual
valuel OF these the Methodsts built or are building
Is, at cost of $685. 900; the Bapsts o. at cost of
900; the Roman Catholics IL. at cost of
$l7l1, 900, not including over $1,oOO,0oo already
expended on the new Cathedral on Fifth avenue ;
the Presbyterians 10, at cost of 81, ,ss3,o0O and
the Episcopalians 25 churches, built at cost OF
$3,s25, 900. These several churches range in value
from $50, 900 to $75O,O0O. or
BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS IN THE CITY
the MethOdists have of oil sorts 4, the Baptists I,
the Presbyterans tine product, however, of the
Len0x estate rather than of denomnatOnal en-
terprise or benevolence), the Episcopalians have
II and the Catholics II, besides ~ schools. The
contributions of the leading denominational
churches in this city for all purposes
for 1872, including liberal estimates for
such as had not been actually reported
amounted to:-Baptsts, $1sO,OOO; Methodists
$212 900; Episcopalians $747 OOO and Presbyterans
$S63,0OO The membership Tor the same year
stands :-MeIhOdsts, l1lS5 Baptists. II, ,25O; Epis
copalians, H. 163 and Presbyterians, 16,095. In
1880 the Presbyteria OF this city numbered as
many members as the other three denominations
together, but they have not advanced In the same
ratio as the others since that time. From 1910 TO
1870 the MethOdists show decline; from 1850 to
1870 the Presbyteria and Babtists have declined;
from 1850 to 1860
THE EPIsCOPALIANs DECLINED,
but since 1860 they have been gathering up strength
and pushing ahead The PresDyterians nave been
dong the same since 1870 and have grown very
rapidly. Mr.. GOss' tables were very elaborate and
detailed but the above are the new and
salient points After he had finished read
Ielievre OF Paris, both delegates to the
Evangelical Alliance, were introduced, and the
lOrmer briefly addressed the meeting on the pro-
gress OF Methodism in France and in French
speaking Switzerland, of which he gave some few
statistics. The work is divided into three DISTRICTS
In which they have III chapels and preaching
places, manned by rs ministers and IL evangests
colp0rteurs and teachers and 96 local preachers;
they have 1,945 members and SO probatiOners; 10
day schools with 376 scholars SO Sunday schools,
with $50 teachers and 1857 pupils, and their Sab
bath con gregations average 0.34S.
Rev. Dr. Crook, OF Belfast, ireland, another
delegate to the Alliance, gave, aso an interesting
sketch OF
METHODIST WORK IN IRELAND
Patiently the preachers remained through the
afternoon to listen to an interesting and highly in
structve lecture on 'Oratory," by Professor Gus
tave Watson OF Boston, at the close OF which they
passed a resolution complimentary to and recon-
mandatory OF the lecturer and his lecture. The
meeting adjourned until the second Monday OF Oc-
toher admit OF attendance the sessions OF the
Alliance