The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-02-23

A METHODIST CONVOCATION.


THE FIFTEEN EAST SIDE CHURCHES IN CON-
FERENCE--MONETARY DIFFICULTIEs-A PLAN
TO ENERGIZE THE CONGREGATIONS.
convocation OF Methodist ministers and laymen,
holding official positions In the churches of the denom
inatlon tho east side OF the city, assembled yeser
day tho Seventh street Methodist Episcopal church.
Bishop Peck presided, and tho object Of the Convoca
tion TO consider which, If any. Of the Methodist
churches in that section Of the city arc in critical
condition financially and numerically. and why arc
they sos And whether any OF the positions should
be abandoned and others united so to form
fewer pastoral chargcs And what measures ought to
be adopted to utilize the correctional principle OF
Methodism so that the stronger churches may feel
responsibility for the weaker and render them such
aud Is necessary The propriety OF having week
Of prayer In each church distinct from the Worlds
Week OF Prayer was also considered. And as vital
izing element in tue interests OF Methodsm the Bishop
suggested that visiting committees OF live IRON each
church might be appointed TO 20 from one church TO
another and help and encrgze those churches. very
important matter also considered touching the APP
polnlment OF Board OF Church Councillors in
each Presiding Elders district o, the Conference,
whose business II snail be TO give advice ms TO church
Indebtedness, cncumDranccs oil property, location OF
churches and church building All those topics
more less discussed In the afternoon session and
then referred 10 committees, who reported IN
the evening. Each topic was allowed TO have thirty
minutes discussion but the first three found
important that the greater part OF tho alter
given 10 them. While II found
that OF the fifteen churches the east
one half of them moro less heavily debt and
some OF them running behind during these hard
times, yet more we're considered as in critical cOnd
dillon and none sh ouJ be abandoned though IL might
be deemed advisable 10 unite two or make
strong church anu then use the vacated buildings Tor
mission purposes
cmuacn LOCATIONS
Very much VI the difficulty that exists In the Metho
dist Episcopal Church arises from iDjudicious loca-
tons VI buildings, and the General Conference OF
1850 shall cothc the Board OF Church Councillors with
Official authority this trouble ut least will disappear in
lew years IN this section And n such Boards could
he organized throughout the entire dcnomIna-
ton 1t would produce bealthIul grown and
increase the Churcn's prosperity. Dr. NJ. L.
Scudder, who had the documents to lortify his pos.
tons, argued IN favor Of breaking down the Confer
line which divides this city between Two Confer.
onccs, so that ST. paus, winch strong church,
not, If It would, support mission east OF
rhird avenue, because that territory belongs
to another Conference Tho Presbyterian and
sions. The frcsbyterans have thirty churches
In this city and the Mcthodiss have thrtyninc, and
yet the former have 5000 more members than the lat
ter. In 1S46 when Dr. Scuddcr was pastor here The
Methodist Episcopal Church had 1000 members aud
eleven churches on the east side OF the CITY. Now
there are fifteen churches and 900 members Then
then there were ass members TO church now there
are but us on an average. Mcthodism has increased
New York within thirty years about 800 members
The average cost OF MethodIsm those Gays was -
per member; II runs now from SIG TO $50 per member
THE FORSYTH STREET CHURCH.
Whom the reports were presented IN the evening u
appeared That Forsyth street Is tho only church that
IN critical condition now, owing to building enter.
AID from sister churches IT Will probably tide over the
present difficulty. seven years ago II was not only free
from debt but had IS 900 invested There are AZ least
40, QUO Americans the limo Of the churches which
have been under dscusson go that mono can DO aban-
doncd but OF them gnt 10 placed under ono pas
tor could the committee SEQ any feasible way 10 con-
solidaio them.
EARNEST WORK AHEAD.
council OF nftccD, composed OF one from each
church, to be appointed by the quarterly confer
cnces OF each church, and the pastors are to provide
SUNDAY afternoon service every week to DC held In
one church that may hereafter be selected and TO alter
nate among the churches. For this purpose tho
fifteen churches are placed In three groups After
snort closing address BY the Bishop the Conversation