, 1879-01-08
MALCONTENT METHOD1STS.
rnR rArR AysxIE ruuncu

In October Inst "dlsaffectlon y was said to
hare brukcn out III the Park Avenue Methodist
Church which caused considerable con,motiou ia
the congregation. This "lisaffcctfon,n as stat
cd then, was due partly to clloir troubles and
partly to dissatisfaction with tho pastor. Tho
prediction was then made bv those 's.llsatfecsed"
that unicss compromise WA effected members
would withdraw by scores, and that tho church
would bc so depleted Of its congregation that
the seed sown there would not bear fruit.
These aud many more predictions a. to the fate
Of Methoi1sD on Park a"enua wtra vcr,tufel.
Some OF them have been rca1izcd A portion Of
tic congregation has severed ftR connection with
the church and gone to worship elsewhere.
Sunday eleven seccders publicly renounccd
the Teachings Of Wealey, and acknowledging the
faith OF Calvin, were received Into the Eighth
Presbyterian Church ID full fellowship. This
almost unhcard-of chnuge OF creed revived the
"tlfsaHection' supposed to be over, and q
rumor found expression. that tho church and
view to asccrtAsn what facts existed for this
rumort a TRIBUNE reporter called m tho Rev.
Dr. McChesncT last evening to got nt the truo
inwarllncss, II possible. Of the situation. Tho
twenty members aud two probattoncfs OF tho
church had Withdrawn. THIS why Or wherefore
Of this be fslt constrained not to speak Of.
1t was \ delicate matter for d pastor 10 plaza
the church BY n nowspapcr discussion. lie did
not court tho conspicuItY It would entail, and
preferred to say nothing. With rcFard to tho
statements that ho was chiefly concerned about
selling Minnesota lands, 1c said E,o had not been
nhsent from his pulpit once or neglected 4
single pastoral duty during the conference year.
While seemingly feeling tile situation he yet do
clincd to say anything rs to tho causes which
prompted comnunMnnta In Park Avenue Church
to change their ptaec Of Worship
Finding nothing cUu1d te obtained, and act
ing upou tho Rev. Dr. McEhcnney'e suggestion,
the reporter nu1t called upon hlr. Dickinson, i
clase-teador iu tho church. Tint reuttc,uaa
stated that there rms absolutely rIvthug ucw.
The troub1a had been published In the
papesk three tnontlls agu. aud tncEa was noth-
ing additional. 1t was truB that there
lad been Withdrawals fro1n the church, huk ths
acccssions had fullT supplied such vacauetcs.
These Withdrawals were bascd, ~ said, upon tho
action OF the Conference In assigning Mr..
AtcChcsney to tho Park Avenue Church fur tho
tllrl tlme. Tha opposition to this Action was
based upon Mr. McChcancy's refusal to sutor-
| dfnat1 himself to the wishes Of prcsuu,ing
kunday-Bct,ool teacher. THIS was the tlcRiuuin0,
and other CAUSES followed during tho second
Confcrcnce year. Thay were without f0un.la-
tfo,l mud ought not to elect tho Oblcct which It
was sought to scruru by them. Tbs pastor was
| q good man, % able '11au, WHO had reduced the
church debt materially, and who Ind done the
Work set beiors him faithfully. In regard to
| Diminishing tho congregation, these withdrawals
had not done 30 at a!l. The membership to-day
| numbered 500, the Church was more prosperous
tllnn 1t ever had bcen bcfore, mad tllern seemed
to be in the future nothing but encouragement.