The New York herald., 1878-11-17

2
Methodist Episcopal Church in American cities and
then gives some OF these facts. For instance there
are about forty Methodist Episcopal churches in that
city; three of them are strong perhaps seven more
are In fair conditions of property with manageable
debts The other thirty are struggling with difficult
ties OF q somewhat serious character and few of
them are in precarions condition. Stating the
In general terms. Brooklyn Methodism will look
pretty well in table of statistics and measured by
general standards it il subject for grave appre-
tensions. But you il by the plans OF its
best ministers and laymen-if you take account Of
the hberaty OF the latter and the dey otedness
of the former-a careful observer would be
compelled to regret that for reason the
Methodism OF that city has not attained the it
deserves. The fact which has most significance in
explanation OF the difference between plans and
suits is that there are probably not less than one
thousand Methodist families in Brooklyn who are
now connected with other than Methodist churches
These families probably contain 1900 church MEM
bers and that is not exaggeraton of the loss which
Brooklyn Methodism has sustained. And one of our
city exchanges very pertnently asks how long Method
ism can go on giving off such colonies and yet main
tain itself ct all But the Methodis regret Is not
much that the Church has lost 1000 members that
II has lost than the equivalent of financial and
social strength It could easily spare 5000 of its poor
members who have little or money to give, but
can i'll afford to lose men with long purses and well
filled. II the Methodist doctors who are diagnosing
for the disease Of Methodism and the convention
which is to meet tomorrow would give little atten-
ton to this feature of the they might get
light on their subject. No Church is can be
cessful that practically ignores the poor and
ures mans piety and standing in the Church by the
size Of his contributions But contemporary adds
will find that ninety-eight per cent of them give
but one reason for changing their church relations
That reason is the changeableness and uncertainty
of the pastorate. I'VE may add that some who
remain in our communion. and usually attending
our services have been known to take pews in other
churches in order to establish connections with
permanent pastor. 1t does not matter whether
their feeling is right it is the fact that is important
They have feeling that family pastor and family
physician are about equally necessary to them But
why should either be necessary? Why should a
healthy Christian church have family pastor or a
healthy household family physicianG If Methodist
pastors taught their people to think more of Christ
and less OF Paul or Apollos or Cephas. change Of
pastors in three years would not effect such ruin
as it is claimed it does.
THE sExrIMENrALIsM OF rr1SERAcY
So far as Methodist doctrine and usages con-
cerned the dissatisfied who have gone and the un-
easy who remain are as loyal any Methodists any
where-with the single exception that they noncon-
in the maintenance Of the custom Of changing
Gently said sharply to the Methodist editor-"H you
really Methodsts, as willing the fathers to
be taught by Providence, you would have dropped
the limitation when you dropped the circuit system
Another man. when told that he ought to have
stayed in and fought for reform" replied:-''I
did think to do that; but one day minister
told me that il did not like the Church should
leave 1t, and thinking he might be right I
left" Another man who was expostulated with for
some twenty years-and my family tired Of wait
ing for this change. do not believe that Methodsm
consists in changing pastors every three years but
the vast majority OF the Church do and how two
walk together except they be agreed The demand
for change is not kept down by management 1t is
Methodists to discuss. If individuals repress dis.
cussion with charge of treason the Church does not
do that and her leading ministers do not But those
who come to feel the need Of change rather kecnly
have in this case as rule quietly gone out of the
Church. As soon this matter assumes personal
Importance to any one-minister or layman-he
usually ceases to advocate change
Another thing that shows that 1.-The root Of all evil'
is at the basis Of the agitation is that editors agents.
secretaries and college professors who affected
by pastoral limitations give their pulpit services
during vacations readily to other denominations
than to their own. The Church is u good deal to
blame for taking out OF the pulpit some of its best
preachers, and once out the men left to preach
where and as they can find opportunity And this is
fact is that churches cannot afford to pay
the big salaries that such men demand.
There are more high-priced preachers than
command the talent they want from any part
Of the country few weeks ago one OF the leading
pastors OF Brooklyn resigned his pulpit on account
Of i'll health and Immediately the church. which is
one Of the wealthest in the Conference, got a man
from Baltimore. Now. nobody. and certainly no
Methodist supposes that if that church was S40O
charge instead Of $4,000 it could call its pastor
from Baltimore. But "poney makes the mare go
In the Methodist Episcopal Church as well as out of
It, and bishops and pastors only too susceptible
to the golden influences While nominally the bish-
ops have the appointing power over all preachers re-
ally they have 1t only the poorest preachers and
able preacher Ia conscientious enough to hold to
the old landmarks of Methodism and does not bar
committees. The writer knows Methodist ministers
who have brought fictitious calls with large sal
aries to bear upon churches AZ to secure higher
pay than the latter could afford and their retention
FOR three years when the church did not want them
more than one year. The trouble with the itinerant
system is not in the pastoral term 80 much a. in the
partiaity and inequality with which 1t Is admins
tered. And until the appointments are left wholly
and as of old with the bishops or are taken in hand
by all the churches. rich and poor, without regard to
Episcopal oversight or approval dissatisfaction must
ensue. What is sauce for the goose ought to be
ought to be for poor and especially since in the
sight of God piety and not pounds counts 1t Is to
be hoped the Convention will not be afraid to con-
slider the subject in all it's bearings and give deliver
that shall be clear and unmstakable the great
question.
CLOSE OF THE PRAYER WEEK.
The week Of prayer for young men closed last
evening" but the results cannot be counted up
IT, indeed they be. Meetings have been held
in the Presbyterian Church in Lexington and
Eghty-sixth street. and in the Young Mems Christian
Association rooms on Fourth avenue and Twenty
third street. In the former the Revs. DIR. Bevan
Hyatt Smith, the Rev. +. Courtney and other cmnen,
ministers Of this city and Brooklyn preached nightly
In the latter committees Of the association took
charge Of the services. which the ordinary
prayer meetings simply directed toward the topics
suggested by the international committee. The sub
ject considered and prayed about yesterday, the
CLOSING u0y, was, 'Cnr1tt the Pettern Tor Young
Men," In Brooklyn special services held dur
ing each afternoon Of the week. but with little
regard to the week of prayer for young men or to
the topics suggested in their behalf to be
sidered. In the Association Hall Mr.. Needham. of
Philadelphia. gave Bible readings to congregations
composed more largely Of ladies than of young men.
In the regular prayer meetings In the evening prayers
and cxhortations had reference to the temptations
and dangers and powers Of young men, In East New
York and New LOTS L. l.. suburbs of Brooklyn, the
Protestant churches and the young men of those
towns united In services observing the week OF prayer
The Rev. Charles Coleman. Baptist Rev. 7. M. Terry,
Methodist Rev. NJ. Pierce. Reformcd Mr.. y. Clifford
Nelson and others have addressed the meetings dur
ing the week. The services have been held In the
Baptist Church In East New York and have been well
attended The observance of the week Of prayer has
led many churches in this city and Brooklyn to start
extra meetings for themselves. and these will be in
creased this week In both Cities The Misses Smith,
two noted envangeists from Pawtucket, r. l.. oper-
atcd In Grace Methodist Episcopal Church. Brooklyn,
last week. and this week Mrs. Van Cot another noted
evangelist begins in this city. An almost lmtlcss
number OF male cvangelists are here the way.
so that II the young men Of those cities not
crowded between DR.. Talmage side and the
evangelists the other into the Church IL will be
very strange.