The New York herald., 1878-03-25

year per member which Methodism demands. And
Tor The expenses ~ The General Conference.
NO UNION MErHODsM
The theory Of Methodism sacrifices something OF
IN correctional power. But what power
does New York Methodism exert? A good deal, no
churches when missions, &c, ask money; but very
little when the growth OF Met hodsm this city
garded as the chici object OF having Methodist
churches here. Each church Oh In a corner by
ITSELF consumed by its own an nxiciics and scarcely
conscious OF brotherhood with neighbors ana with the
whole The struggles OF dying church are as likely
10 attract attention Germany in tho next ward
and Il II dies the death Will awaken lively family
grief The island Is split by Q conference iiue, ana two
presiding elders have each part OF his jurisdiction
In the city. The church has long wanted ecclesi.
astical boldness enough TO make one conference o;
Now York and Brooklyn, or 10 assign tho whole OF
either city TO one presiding elder. Neitner city has
bishop or conference or presiding elder that u
has been definitely set aside aud may as well DC sct
down among 'lost arts" so lar as these cities are
concerned.
THIS Is perhaps the greatest fault OF Methodism
10 these two citles and the cause OF its relative and
growing weakness There Is no connectional bond
between the churches, and the denomination has
steadily grown INTO this unfortunate condition Of
things with very little likelihood that II will ever
change Tor the better. Great things were expected
from the Methodist reunion IN Brooklyn last
November, but the affair fell fiat and fabDy
Instead OF the $4,000 that were expected,
800 with which to save two churches that
loudly called for nep and In danger forecos-
ure sale. Out oil the III, QUO MehOdists the CITY
and villages adjoining lve-sixths OF them took
terest whatever IN wuat was designed TO be common
denomnational effort Tor Relief And when subse-
quentiy proposition was made to give permanency
10 the committee that II might take tins kind OF work
hand, II was spurned AS an interference with OIL
cial organizations already existing. Al tho last
nuai conference year ago boards of Church coun-
seors appointed or ndoi sed who were suppose
to meet all The wants OF the Methodist Episcopal
Church in Brooklyn and on the east sidc Of New
York city. But a. Church counsellors they are not
expected to give advice when none Is asked, nor To
trouble themseves much about local church m alters
unless brought 10 their notice officially.
WEAKNESS AND COST OF CRY MkTHoDIsM
During the past tnr.y years Me.noalsm IN New
churches II has grown scarcely any in strength or
numbers. The City Missionary society has built four
churches within the bounds OF Tho Conference here
within fifteen years, ana they strong and vigor
One ol the old ones, also, has passed into tho
hands Of the SOCIETY," While the Prcsby tcrians havo
only lortyiour churches to the Methodisls' nlvtwo
IN city they havo over SIX thousand more church
members than the latter In 1916 the Methodists had
eleven churches aud 5000 members, now they have
forty-tbree churches and Il, ITO members aud pro-
batoners IN the same tcrritoiy here Then they had
454 members 10 a church, now only ISL The Eps-
copaliaps have IT, 900 ommuncants Methodists'
IL 900. Thirty or more years ago II cost Methodist
church member 81 per annum 10 run church, now
II costs S25. Then the hghest salary paid to pastors
was 5000, So 900 to S. 600 The only remedy Tor
this anomalous condition oil Methodism In Now YORK
and Brooklyn Is obliterate tho Conference line In
this city to double up the weaker churches and
make two three strong ones where there
many sicky. Tho churches are not deserted because
there are no people 10 fill them. tor the line OF
these fifteen churches east of Third avenue, there re-
side at least forty thousand Americans who ought
to bc IN church and would be II proper
efforts were made to gather them In
The real reason why tncy are not churchgocrs Is
hurch officials can't dime shows, concerts, fairs
and exhibitions and religious meetings with equal
success They may run one or the other. Dut tney
cannot run all A minister can hardly be expected
to manage small theatre and preach the Gospel too
And people who attend eccle shows In houses
devoted to the worship and service of God will have
m cary raQl
practised them. 1t Is hardly worth the while 10
spend 500 900 to erect church TO be used
two throe times week by sixty persons, aud then
10 spend So OU0 81 900 year TO keep machinery IN
motion for tnem. Nearly years ago OF the
use In keeping large and expensive building
open Tow people Tney were dissuaded from their
purpose, and a year ago 400 persons were added to
their membership, ana II IL now one OF the strongest
churches in the New York East Conference.
CHURCHES PROBABLY ABAND0NED.
Mothodism Is going backward and not forward In
these cities not because OF change IN character
OF the population. but because o. lack Of adapta-
tion. There are to-day IN New YORK 6O0,O00 people
who need the ministrations OF the Gospel almost as
IN ach any heathen population on tho globe. They
CLEAN their religion II they have any, from tho secu.
lar papers. In the Seventeenth ward there are but
two Methodist churches IN u population VI 96, 900
souls. Forsyth street church IN this city VIII prob
ably be abandoned by the MeIhodists. 1t ha. debt
OF 00O which s increasing at the rate
OF $40 q month. Its nominal membership 10 eighty,
though that number would be considered large con.
gregatiOn for the sabbath. Eight years ago this
church. of the oldest in the city, out vi DEBT
and had 900 surplus Invested; but the trustees
undertook 10 Oud three fine tenement houses WIN q
chapel In the centre. Their idea was that the
income rom rents would support the church
perpetually. But the financial NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
OF the last few years SO completely upset
their plans that they have not been able 10 pay in.
terest on their mortgages II sold at forced Aao 10.
day the property would hardly bring the lace value o
the mortgages. In Brooklyn the condition OF some
churcnes Is very little better Wiliiam street and
Flatbush churches tor which the reunion was
held III the Academy OF Music last fall, are hoavy IN
deDt
some time Including mortgage anu floating debts the
aggregate Indebtedness OF me former Is about ssooo
that the Cnurcn do financially 10 TO raise 600
year LOT the support of pastor. warren street
Church nearly In the same plight lis membership
10 be- sure Is than four times large as that OF
William street, being 37O though It's strength
is not proporonatc. York Street Church Is keiy 70
die also Tor waut support few years ago II was
of the strong churches OF the Conference, put
has deDt OF O0O aud increasing a. me rate OF
5000 $500 year, aud only handful Of people at
tenc its services Centenary Church owes $5. 900,
and Fla,bush $4,000
THE REMEDIES PROPOSED.
The churches OF this city belonging 10 the Now
YORK Conference are generally IN better conoition
than those on The east side, but even here BEDFORD
Street church is mortgaged TO one-fourth It's value
and Perry street to one-third. 81. James Is mort
gagged about the latter figure Also aud Washington
Heights about onc-iourth lis value. The member
ship o these churches s relatively large aud WEALTHY
and there immediate lear OF loss 10 any oil them
There ~, besides, closer bond o upiCn existing De-
tween the churches side OF the city tnan
properly in this city only $4sO 500 ou properly
valuation Of 81, 799, 100, or ntle more than one
SIKH, not enough 10 seriously embTrass the Chureh
u whole, though II might inconvenience It's parts.
BY juuicious appointments these churches might oe
made strong sell-supportng without borrow ing,
begging running into debt or adding theatricais ~
their oIhcr good things But for churches already SO
heavily Ia deDt, and with relatively no uoi-
ity to pay, not tho part OF wisdom 10
20 on addiug to that debt, and TO the inability
10 obligations ut the Same time, as several OF
churches DO from year TO yesr Maniiestiy churches
should be looked upon ecclesiastical hospitals
for OF ministers, but as institu ops
Tor disseminating Christian truth building up the
kingdom vi God on the earth IT, therefore, church
able support the institutiOns vi tue Gospel
without begging or running In debt II bus no right To
Keep open house, unless II can obtain service as
IL necds for nothing or within ITS aDiiity 10 pay
church debt Is OF lar less vauo TO the Lord than 10
men. Lot the weak churches be formed into circuits
on the old MetnOdist or present Wesleyan plan and
let pr osidng elders take charges ike other
all selisupporting churches choose their own
pastors, they d. now and let the bshops as pre-
siding officers give Official sanction TO the CHOICE and
let the unacceptable ordained preachers VINO have
served hun quarter o cen ury be dropped Just
Unacceptable unordained Candidates Tor aamis-
sion 10 ministry are now dropped