The New York herald., 1879-07-08
NEW YORK PRESBYTEKY.
AN IMPORTANT sEssIoN-wEAK CHURCHES AND
ERRINa MINISTER'S TO BE LOOKED AFTRR-

AN IMPORTANT sEssIoN-wEAK CHURCHES AND
ERR1Na MINIsTERs TO BE LOOKED AFTRR-
PREsBYTERIAL VACATION.
The Presbytery of New York met yesterday in the
Scotch Church chapel and adjourned until October.
Dr. Ii. b. Chaplin moderated and DR.. Alexander kept
the records. Among other business considered was
the OF member OF Presbytery who is charged
with immoralities. He had been pastor in Pough-
keepsie and elsewhere and received some
time ago into this Presbytery but his brethren now
find him too great a burden morally to carry any
longer. He never attends the meetings Of Presby.
terry. though frequently requested to do so. and
charges and rumors are thickening about him Drs.
Burchard. Matthew's and Chaplin, with two elders.
were appointed committee to investigate thom and
report to Presbytery in October If there should
prove to be anything tangible in the Presby
terry may order trial OF the accused, and IL he
should appear to it is probable the trial will
be conducted in private and the scandal Of the ral-
mage trial in Brooklyn be avoided.
Drs. Adams and Crosby and Elder William E.
Dodge were appointed two years ago to inquire into
rumors concerning the fall of Rev. George J. Min.
gins into habits OF intoxication. Mr.. Mingins ap.
peared before Presbytery at the time confessed
his weakness and suspended from the Office OF
tho ministry. He was then and had been for many
years before superintendent Of City Missions, and
had been quite successful In Christian work. But
his suspension stopped all. and after while Mr..
Dodge procured position for him to teach school
ut some point in Canada, where there was not
liquor shop within fifty or one hundred miles in
any direction. notwithstanding his suspension.
Mr. Mingns visited places in this State as an evan
gelist, aud some OF them very successful.
He kept in correspondence with pr. Crosby until
the latter went to Europe in 1878. After
his return in November Of that year the
latter made inquiries and was told that Mr. Mingins
had reformed and that he had beeh in New York
repeatedly. These were unwarranted proceedings
for suspended man. according to Presbyterian dis
and to be doing good work the committee were not
disposed to interfere. Now, however, he is back
again in New York and on Sunday last was adver-
days ago he was advertised also to preach in the Cos
pei tent an undenominatienal meeting place. 1t il
claimed by the Presbytery that he has been seen
the streets of this city somewhat the worse for wine.
Mr. Mingns position here now is, therefore. looked
upon az defiant contemptuous by the Presbytery.
and its committee to look up his and present
the facts at the next ineeting.
sUsTENANCE foR FEEBLE CHURCHES.
The Rev. George y. Chambers is pastor OF Murray
Hill Presbyterian Church. He has been testing the
problem OF sustaining church for the middle class.
because most churchts have for years been dividing
themselves between the very poor and the wealthy.
His church fine property free from debt. but
unless the Church Extension Society some other
body help it, the society must become extinct.
Drs. Crosby, Matthews, y. /. Prime, Hunter and
others spoke this subject IN manner to indicate
that it was ono of great Importance the future of
Presbyterianism in New York. DIR. Crosby was sur.
prised that the Church Extension Committee should
90 into such spicayune business collecting and
distributing $4,000 or $1O0OJ year mainly In taking
care OF interest notes and mortgages on weak
churches when 1t could just well charge of
fund of $4,000 $4,000 to sustain them. He was
sure that his church would quadrupe its contribu-
tons IL the committee should enlarge its sphere Of
work in this direction.
DIR. Prime believed the solution of this whole
question lay with the Presbytery itself The Synod
OF New York pays onequarter OF all the money that
Is annually paid into the Home Mission treasury of
the Churchnearly Sb00,0O0 OF this quarter the Pres
bytery Of New Yorl vs. nne-tenths. and II the
Presbytery had couras enough to stop from its
contributions the that are necessary to sup
port tho feeble churches within its bounds the
danger that threatens would be averted. But
DIR. Alexander showed that this could not be done,
because two wealthy laymen OF this city-Messrs.
Lenox and Stuart-give $G0.000 or $4,000 year OF
this aggregate to home missions. and they will not
allow dollar of their gifts to be diverted to local
churches. DIR. Prime thought that was q mistake.
but even II II be the remainder might be suf
hcient for their purposes. Dr. Crosby believed that
II all the facts laid before the churches fund
of could be raised In year, the interest
Of which would be sufficient to take care of the
churches that are embarrassed.