The New York herald., 1879-07-31
REV. MISS OLIyER'S TROUBLES.

AN UNEXPECTED REMOVAL OF FURNITURE FROM
THE wILLoUGHBY AVENUE METHODIST
CHURCH, IN BROOKLYN WANT OF CHRISTIAN
FELLOWSHIP.
There was considerable of Autter in the religious
circles of Brooklyn last April when it became
definitely known that Rev. Anna Oliver who had
received a. license to preach from the Boston
Conference, had purchased and was about to
cupy the pulpit Of the church edifce at the
corner of Tompkins and willouughby avenues.
The church secured under foreclosure pro-
ceedings and it's name Immediately changed
from the Wesley Church to '.The willoughby Ave-
nue. Methodist Church." Miss Oliver made applica-
ton for license to the Methodist Conference Of this
district but denied on the ground that If they
ordained her minister they would have to ordain
other women, and in time the women would sup
plant the in the work of preaching the Gospel.
Not discouraged by this reception Miss Oliver
entered heartily into the task of building up
church independent of the Conference. Women
were elected on the boards OF trustees and
stewards. and woman chosen
class leader. This is the frst Methodist
church having women acting in those positions.
After the purchase Of the church edice the PROPOSE
ton made to the lady pastor that she should
buy the church and parsonage furniture for the
of $4,000 The price OF the parsonage furniture
alone was 81 900 This she declined to take and it
was sold by auction Learning that it brought only
$3.50. Miss Oliver proposed that the price OF the
church furniture should be determined by two ap-
prasers. one of whom should be appointed by the
owners and the other by the church people The
proposition, but agreed to reduce the price to
$1,000 An effort was made by Miss Oil
without success and they finally hired the furni-
ture for three months at $50. The three months
expired on the 1st Of July last. and last Monday
large portion OF the furniture was suddenly re-
moved The Rev. Miss Oliver said yesterday that
the hrst time she knew the things were to be
moved at the close of the services last Sunday
evening. As she sat on the platform early in the
evening waiting for the gas to be turned up she
noticed that something unusual had been going on.
The sexton informed her the close of the services
that Mr.. Nostrand wished to know II he would
take tho job of removing the furniture on the
said of the leading men of the old
Wesley Church. He had said that he intended
joining the new church, but finally stated that he
had heard it would not be allowed to go Sho
believed that Mr.. Nostrand owned the furniture,
II he did not ne had d mortgags & on It, number Of
the services Miss Oliver snid but instead of being
help they hindrance. Nevertheless. the con-
had every reason feel satisfied with the progress
that had been made. She had heard she said, that
ment Of q Methodist church at the corner of
Pulaski street and Tompkns avenue. The Confer
ence. it was said had promised to send them pop
ular minister and IL they could not pay his salary
to have it raised from outside sources. The mort
gage, MISS Oliver stated placed upon the church
y
beer garden or something of that kind.
AFrRR THE REMOVAL.
She gave the sexton permission to remove the
furniture thinking he might as well earn the money
any one else. After its removal "scrubbing
brush committee" composed OF members of the
church and others. formed and thorough
cleaning of the church was commenced. 1t sadly
needed 1t, Miss Oliver said. as it had not been
cleaned in several years. Twenty tons OF ashes had
been removed from the cellar. The things claimed
by the owners of the furniture, the lady pastor
stated the carpets, furnaces gas fixtures plat
form carpets Sunday school library seats on the
platform, settess, three movable organs and tho
cushions in the pews They also proposed to take
away the class banners and notices that had been
worked by the children the pictures of the pastors
and, it said, the chance railing because 1t
movable. Miss Oliver said she suggested that they
should also take the doors and windows they
also movable. Very cordial letters of member
ship had been given by Rev. DR.. Woodruff, OF Nos
trand avenue. and Rev. Mr.. Crosby. the Presbyte-
minister, she said. but the Presiding Elder
fused to give letters to members OF the old Wesley
Church who wished to join the Willoughby Avenue
Methodist Church. Rev. Miss Oliver feels assured
that the church will come out OF the present
troubles all right 1t is free church. and the salary
Of the pastor is raised by contributions dropped in
box placed in the vestibule OF the building.