The New York herald., 1874-11-14
METHODIST MISSIONS.

Appropriations for Missions to Foreign
Populations in the United States
PenuriOusness of the Methodist Epis-
copal Church-A Com nmittes to Consider
the Benevolent Finances OF the
Denomination.
Bishop Bowman presided over the morning SEES
sion or the Missionary Committee yesterday A
proposition pending at adjournment on Thursday,
to appoint committee to consider the rates OF
reduction on the home mission work, came up and
was discussed pro and con-, and the matter was
then laid the table, and the committee pro-
ceeded to make the appropriations for the home
mission work. Bishop Ames thereupon offered
resolution that the sum total OF the appro-
Driati0ns to Minnesota, Missouri Nebraska, North
western Iowa, Kansas. Southern Kansas, Texas
and Western Texas be the same as last year. Not
that each conference shall receive the same sum-
Bishop Simpson moved that general reduction
OF 25 per cent be made, and that exceptions be
made to the individual conferences as they went
along. The Swedish work In the Central Illinois
Conference and the Lake Superior region re.
ceived $4,000; the Erie Conference received for
its Swedish work 5000; the Minnesota Conference
received $4,000 for its Swedish work and for its
Norwegian work s., 600; New York Conference re
ceved ST. 600 for its Swedish Bethel Mission; the
New York East Conference, after a good deal OF
pleading Tor 1000 for Its Swedish work
In Brooklyn received $3.50. The Norwegian work
in the same city got $1,000. Newark Conference
received $500 for its Swedish WORK. The scandi-
navian work in New England was recognized and
$500 were appropriated to the New England Con-
ference for this work. The Norwegian work in
Wisconsin received $50. The California Confer
ence got $500 for scandinavian work in San Fran.
cisco. The Danish work In Des Moines Conference
got 5000. St. Louis Conference received 5000 for
its Swedish work.
At this point Dr. Nelson moved TO reconsider
the motions by which appropriations were made
to those new missions 30 that they might be left
on. rhe society Is In debt and must curtail It's
work. Bishop Ames wanted the Finance Commit.
tee to instruct the treasurer not TO honor any
Curry wished it to be understood that the credit
OF the society was good and there was
The missions OF the Church viii not be cut OF.
though their appropriations may be cartailed.
The members OF the committee tnen took re-
Upon the reassembling Of the committee the
motion to reconsider the appropriations to the
% p b. * Sa Govc vss
the subject involved was deemed Of SUCH impor.
tance that the entire afternoon was given to its
consideration. the discussion brought out
OF the Methodist church at large. il
was shown sUU n that the great Methodist body, with
number or nominal adherents, and wealth much
a greater err. than that OF any other denomination IN
the Church the very small pitance OF sixtysnree
cents per member, the prubatloners and congre-
cations not being counted at oil in tins average.
Tne Pnlisdelphis Conference S s'' with 5000
10 Of osss ss Ts Tne
tlmore Conference follows with thIrty.one thou.
sand and odd dollars-nearly 81 member; but alt
fhn n n nnn nf hrnF Ia
knew men In the West who were worth $loo, 600
ana who thought they had performed their duty
bishop Foster, VINO led the discussion, In an eIo.
quent address remarked that it was disgrace TO
But the fault s not with the people.
THE MINISTER'S FAIL To EDUCATE
them; some OF them hardly allow the connec.
their congregations. The Church, 1t was said, was
deterior.ating put this statement was Indignantly
panic q the last fiscal year the Church has given
into the missionary treasury ss75,ooD-s noble
Sa to rne wses
AIN, wlih less less than onethird the membership OF
the the Methodist Episcopal Church and less wealth,
y was considered a shame that they
should 80 r a. ell 1 s
when the present missionary secretaries came
into ONCE there was balance In bank OF $4,000.
the same balance In bank but against 1t there
stood drafts lor 95o0oo winch lett the treasury IN
ueDL $lu,uoU ~ mas q OalanCe IN DAuk now Oi
$4,000, and $1,000 undrawn RON the foreign
treasury, against which are drafts for $4,000,
which Will leave tho treasury IN debt about
$1l5,O00. The contributions OF the people have
not kept pace with the increase OF membership,
and the Church and the Missionary Society nave
been going on from bad to WORSE The aggregate
CONTRIBUTIONS FOR BENEVOLENT OBJECTS
for the last ten years Is nearly S700O,00
IL was urged by brethren In debate that the
committee should have more ialth IN Cod and In
the people; and tnat the Missionary Society
did get into debt the people, when they knew It,
would wipe II OUT Against this, however, were