New-York tribune., 1878-04-01
TITO METHODIST CONFERENCES.

MEETING OF THE NEw-YORK AND NEw-Y0RK EAST
CONFERENCES ON WEDNESDAY NExT-MODIFI-
CATION OF THE ITINERANCY.
The New York land New-YOrk East Confer
ences of the Methodist Episcopal Church will meet the
one in this city and the other in Brooklyn on Wednesday
next, April g. Bishop Andrews, brother OF Judge
Andrews of the Court Of Appeals of this State Will
preside over the former, and Bishop Foster over the
latter The NewYork Conference Is one OF the oldest IN
Methodism, the first Methodist Church in the omteo
States in John-s, having been occupied as early as
1769 In the order of tme however the Methodias are
the light of the religious denominations OF the state
They were preceded by the Reformed Dutch, the Epis-
copalians the Quakers, the Luherans, the jews the
Presyterians and the Bapsts. In 1871 the total num-
ber of Methodists in this State was 1s2416 IT Is now
over 100000. The two NewYork Conferences, haVihg
In their bounds the important Cities OF New-fork
Brooklyn, Bridgeport. Danbury New-Haven, ana Hart
ford and having also within them the chief publishing
house of the denomination and the headquarters OF the
Missionary, Tract. and sunday-schOo organizations
have always excited great influence upon the destinies
Of Mehodsm in the United States The business OF the
Conferences is purely administrative. the lawmaking
power being IN the hands of the General Conference.
which meets in four years. The Annual Confer
however act concurrently with the General Con
ference in changing the constitution OF the Church The
appointments of the preachers part OF the Confer
business these are made by the bishop presiding
with the advice of the presiding elders. The bishop and
bis elders meet i'll the intervals between the sessions OF
the Conference. These meetings private, although
the right of petition correspondence and prearrange
ment conceded to preachers and people. and freely
used All arrangements made by parties are subject In
law, to episcopal approval.
Since the close OF the the Methodist Episcopal
Chu ch has grown with great rapidy both III the num-
Der of its members and its administrative agencies In
the year 1914 the Church reported 1,l70,000 members
and 1900 travelling preachers; the next year the sepa-
ration into Northern and Southern Church took place.
In 1850 the Northern Church reported 100000 members
and 4,129 travelling preachers. In 1850, ten years
after. the number Of members had risen to 994447 and
the travelling preachers 1857 In the beginning OF
1865 when the closed reported 800
| members and 6,S2l travelling ministers The war
brought the Church losses both of territory and OF num-
bers At the close of 1877 the number of members had
risen to LII 777 and OF travelling preachers to IL 269;
adding probaoners, the total of members and proba-
tioners 1671 Cos In thirteen years, therefore,
the increase in members has been 5i3451 adding
| probatoncrs, 713.2S2.
Between s52 and 1877 the ilnrcasc OF the Methodist
Episcopal Church in members averaged 5i2 per cent
nuay 1873 per cent for the entire quarter century
In the period the average annual increase OF the
population of the United States not quite per cent
In the cities the growth of MethOdsm falls behind its
growth the smaller towns and the country districts
Careful study of statistics TO show that outside OF
the great cities there is Methodist communicant TO
every 20 Of the total populations within them, TO
every 46 In the City OF Baltimore, which ~ ono or The
chief OF the Methodist Episcopal Church there
is Methodist commitment every 16 Of the pOpula
tion 10 the rest OF Maryland to every 10. In Illinois
| there is estimated TO be l Methodist commandment to
every 10 Of the population: Chicago. to every AZ
IL the CRY OF New-YOrk. little numerical advance, II
any, has been made for years. the ratio OF Metho
di communicates to the whole city population Is COM
| puie! To be l 20 20.
Itwou,d error, however 10 infer from these sta
stcs that the MethOdss do not make advance In nun
beTs in most of the cities Of the United states on the
contrary ii was shown IN the New England Convention
held in s66 that from $50 10 1so5 me increase Of pop
odists IN Boston in the period was 43 per cent
From 1880 10 1865 the increase OF population IN Boston
and ita vicinity was SO cent OF Methodsts 90 per
reut In all Massachusetts, the increase OF population
f.om 1850 TO 1s65 was y per cent the ncfcase e. OF
cent In method, therefore, the statistics
scutniZed they showa ess rapid growth OF the Methc
dist determination outside OF than within the largo
| cities
Thcse facts have led to widespread conviction that
Jtincrancy needs modification adapt the
ditions OF city hfe. There be question that this
conviction VIII lead 10 change IN the duration OF the
ned as the exigencics Of the Church required At
rst preachers were apPointed FOR SIX month or year.
then FOR two years, and since 1861 for three. An old
rule required all ministers, after fonr consecutive
years Of service Ia city, 10 bc sent out for four years
Exceptions the legal have aways been ad
miticd the enumeration Of them now makes Of the
longest paragraphs of the Methodist Book Of Discipline
The resveness OF preachers under the present sys
tenn Is visible IN the transfers " other dcDou
Mo,hodists hold that church government ia largely
matter OF eXpcdency EpiscOpacy is valued only
| rg vigorous executives some OF the Mcthodlst
churches discard II altogether Since 1885, the Method
| ist Episcopal Church has added year 10 pastoral
term, hes abandoned government by hierarchy OF
ministers for a government by ministers and The
aity jointly; ceased 10 regard class Attendance
specific condition OF continuance IN niDenbersp.
religious denomination ready study the adaptations
regarded by the changes in the condition OF society w
doubt adapt its tmerancy TO the requirements o' the
| great centres Of population
HUMoRs OF THE ScHooL-RooM TEA-TABLE.
-" DO help me first, Mummy! DO help nrst!'