The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-08-19

converts Christianity preaching the Gospel Is mani
testify the best But he Is TO preserve converts
as wei mako them. Education does this.
''What am TO do about going TO church? | can't
afford attend. l won't be pauper, aud paying pew
rent ID beyond my ability.' These the remarks
Of u OF family 10 = minister the other day. Tho
reduction OF salaries hard times has TAX en- SIS
week OF hil income and LETT him with barely enough
alter of great economy, to provide for his
family wants Such man need not want a seat
pew any church, whether no can pay tor it not
The presence u worshippcr who feels hts relation 10
God and tho Church kcenly should DO a welcome
guest at any shrine But il there not danger that
tween high priced churches on the one hand and
sions the other, we arc driving away from the
churches altogether that large middle class who would
contribute OF their substance to the support Of the
Gospel II u money value were not set that Gospely
They the best supporters OF churches in other
countries; why not in thisg But glad
there about many FREQ churches rented ones
Ia this city, need walk the streets or stay
homo for Of place OF worship, If he
avail himself OF the opportunities. He may not be
able always hear tho minister OF his choice yet
even. that Too, may DO possible to the believer
There IL q tremendous scare among religious
exchanges ali tho land because OF this
laton Of Vatican army dubbed 1.-The international
Catholic League" or "rhe Militia of Jesus Christ"
We dreadfully afraid the Pope going lead this
army first against Germany, then he will
England ana afierward will cross the and upset
things In the United States What shall we doP on,
dear! week or two ago tho venerable PontiG was
going TO Jerusalem to make that city tho centre
Of Catholic Chr,stcndom. But no has evidently
changed his mind since, and he is about
do terrible things among Professionals everywhere.
We shall have to trust in Emperor William. Queen
Victoria or President Hayes lead the Protestant
hosts and save us this terrible papal army But,
seriously thought from the defiant attitude OF our
contemporaries that they had little courage But It
they troubled at every discovery or report
that comes from the Vatican, and whine and vince
with If the devastating army at their doors
OF being, it probably is altogether on paper.
One our exchanges calls upon united Italy to pro-
hibt the Pope sending ambassadors TO European
courts upon those TO refuse to receive
Thorn us tho best means 10 stop "Papal intrigues.'
CLERICAL ASSOCIATIONS AND CLUBS.
PRESBYTERIAN, REFORMED, METHODIST, BAP-
OF MEMBERsAIP.
There arc several associations OF ministers In this
city vicinity. for social and others for intel
leciuaI recreation, and still others for Legislation
church matters. or the latter may be named the
over because Of their legislative character include
lay elders also from each church. The classes Of
the Kcformed Church in both ctes stand also the
same plane legislative bodies they merely carry
out the and will OF tho higher judcatores
OF their Church. They differ from tue presbyteries
this, that the assent Of majority OF the lator is
necessary to tho complement Of any enactment OF
the higher courts, while the synods Of tho former
make the laws for the Church and simply ask tho
classes to enforce them churches and individuals.
There arc classes with headquarters in Brooklyn,
North and South Long Island and until recently there
were two In New York. Now there is but one. There
are also among the Methods.s two conferences, with
modified legislative powers, whose seats OF power
iu this city and Brooklyn, but whose ecclesiastical
rtory like presbyteries and classes named
into the country further than they. These meet
annually 10 the spring. usually the first week In April
whom the preachers sstatonedh and sent their
appointments for the ensuing year. Tie presby
classes meet onco month or oftcner by adjourn
mcnt special calls Tho Methodist conferences
have yot adopted tue democratic principle Of ad-
hitting lay representatives to their councils They
in tho corporations and evidently to
remain long they can Keep tho aymen out II
they did nothing but assign themselves to places
for year they could got along without greatly Affect
ing the churches, because the appointments, q
enccs all. But when they loslsutc tor churches
beside assess them for tho support of bishops who
come around year, ana INDIRECTLY Tor presid-
Ing elders who get around among the churches
quarter very little purpose except to collect their
assessments, and for dozen benevolent institu-
tons OF the Church besidcs-thcn 1t seems to tho
men and women who are to pay the money ought TO
have "a voice in legislation that Affects them. No
taxation without representation Is as good for the
clesastcal common wealth as for the political The
General Conference OF this Church. after s,rug-
ples opened doors six ago to lay delegate
but the local annual conferences still bar their do0rs
against church representatives.
METHODIST CLUBS AND MISSIONS
"A Low Church Methodist, - evidently well ac-
1uantcd with machinery OF his church, contrib
that 1he Methodist Church mot Mcthodism) is owned
by tho prcachcrs.n And he proves his proposition in
this way Tho indv congregation has no Official
existence outside OF the Official Board This Board
to oil ncnts and purposes Is the local cnurch. 1t
consists OF tho class leaders, stewards and trustees
The trustees elected by the church members aud
hold the property for the Of tho Methodist
Episcopal Church. The class leaders ap-
pointed by the preacher and hold Office during
BY the preacher. This Board In church
OF 500 members CONSISTS of no moro than twenty per.
sons In church OF 900 It numbers only twenty
seven. Beyond voting for ono or two trustees
three years ,hs lay members have voice whatever
In tho man agcmcnt OF the church. lhcy not
favored with detailed account OF tho pecunary cx
pcnditures Theoretically the preachers assigned
10 the churches ny the Disno acting under tho ADVICE
Of the presiding elder, at the annual conference.
The aity not represented the annual conference
The General Conference, meeting once IN Jour years.
has small lay representations but II is so small
TO be worthless a check upon the clerical element
Indeed, n disposed to check tho clergy would get
to the moan considerably easier than he could get
himself elected 10 q Methodist General Conference
REVOLVING SYSTEM
Thc preachers elect delegates to tho General Con-
ference these ccct tho bishops, the bishops appoint
the presiding elders elders and the bishop station
the preachers Thus all things return again to their
Nush IA a. gfA q Inn
money or comfort. is Immensely powerful. ljut us
the presiuing elder begins to consult hi. own
antipathies, ana the preachers begin to tickle tho
elder IN order to got recommended to better uluce
(whcie tho salary hlghcrl and when tho boards o
the churches begin to exercise pressure TO secure
preacher able to ill the house, all these Signs that
tho end is nigh"
All these thngs do happen as the INDEPENDENTS con-
tributor shows. For instance is currcuy reported
and believed that tho popular Methodist preacher
al that time IN Chicago, d.. H. W. Thomas was year
ago to small because tho elder on the chi