New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-09-30
rHE METHODIST EpiScoPAL ORURCH.
PROGRESS NOT NAINTAlNED-THE VIEWS
OF THE REV. J. Ia. IIGHTBOURN.

PROGRESS NOT yAINTAlNED-THE VIEWS
OF THE REV. }. Ii. IIGHTBOURN.
Tie opinions Of the Rev. James H. Lightbourn,
pastor o; the Seventh street Church. touching the
Methodist Episcopa Church were obtained. Mr..
Lghtbourn said You viii understand that you
are asking for my p sonal views. and You will get
them. They may be in harmony with those of
other Methodist ministers, but they are such as |
have been compelIod to form. To your first ques-
ton whether Methodism is advancing IN members.
wealth and strength in proportion to the immense
progress which the city is making, am amer the
necessity of replying frankly IL the negative. Inc
development of Methodism in the United states Is
most extraordinary. but in New-iork IL falls beiow
the general standard of increase. The manner IN
which we deal with the problem OF providing TOT
the religious needs of he geat tenement ropu'a,on
cannot be better exemphed than oy my own
church. It is as you see in the midst OF swarm
ing neighberhood largely composed OF tenement
houses filled by population whose chief character
istic il their Anglo-Sf on pride In dealing with
these people we mast be extremely careful not 10
touch that sensitive c ord. They are INDUSTRIOUS
they ara Intelligent; thew are poor but they are
proud They canno END ire the least suspicion OF
ANYTHING that is even remotely connected Win the
idea of charity or charitable missions Ihey WI nos
be classed with tie wrctohed outcasts OF vice and
crime for whom missions have been established
They have to be won m the Church 10y appeals "
their intelligence by ho gptiul demohs ~.
ences on the civzation OF tine world lhcy ue,
spse the tuuiultuous feelings OF reviYas. anu Will
not allow me to touch their hearts until their heads
are convinced. an winning back In IBIS way
congregation to this old church.. IL Is so ola that
it has been forgotten most by New. iOfkers' oub
il was once ono of the great strongholds OF Actno
ISM holding a Thousand hearers of Gods wore.
NV church is the Bowery Village Church, as IA
stoue tablet ON the front declares The congrega-
ton that supported il has moved uptown with tho
ex eeptiou OF some goou people VINO caunot Dear the
idea of leaving their To glous home. new con-
gregation has to pe won from tne new eIemonVs VI
population. and | an deIng my BEST TO wan tneg
What am doing here IS being done extensively III
all the lower parts of the city, A..
81 have sad that our growth throughout tne
country has been nothing less than extraordinary.
| meant numerically. vi our spirttua gio".h
There Is less certainty. In fact, believe the gen
eral impression prevails that our mental ard mate
rial prowths have not Ieen conducive 10 Spiritual
development. Our purses have waxed heavy, our
ntellects have expanded but there mas been sIsrN
ing of the spirit.
q You ask me if those features ia church work
which seem especially 10 Indicate genuine Iertor
of religious feeling have been growing OF Ialllng
back TO this would eply that they 90 NOT al
near so pr0uiuently distinctive Of MetnGdism as
they once did not because they have fallen bacK.
but because other denUml nations have recognized
their value and have alo ptvu them lhey are now
no longer special fes uIes of MethOdsm ana 40 not
excite the same enthu,idsm among those VINO JUN
ms Init the, are growing steadily growing. Win
regard to the aVeTal attrn lance ia ohuIch, anu
its relative propVI Ito 10 protesting heihners anu
the con gregation ut .arge sm not IN position 10
give YOU information. Ny myers leel the Pulse
only of nv own church, which is III transition
staAe. -, -, ~, Al, -;
aUpon the whole am rot satisfied with the posi-
fion occupied BY MotnOdlSm Ia New 1orA. llS
prowth is not equal TO that In other great cities,
and fear that the decl nsiOn of spirituality winch
| spoke of IN reference 10 general methodism IL
more marked here than elsewhere