New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-02-16
pfOTS mr. UTU1N.

n IL scientific fact. VIC believe. that Wei maui
aged church quarrel will develop larger aud
richer variety OF human nature than can be pro-
duccd Is any other process. The reasons for tins
have never been satisfactorily gwen, and IL Is not
our purpose to seek them now. We wish m,rsly 10
illustrate the tGuth Of the proposition by touching
upon fow pi the picturesque aspects OF quarrel
which has been IN progress for several months IN
the First Methodist Protestant Church of New
ak. ~ J. When the Young pastor came
there from tho South in 1873 no WAS re
ceiyed with great laSor anu his ministry pros
pered uarycIlously. lie shove with
presents 10y his devoted people, and brothcriy love
prevailed in great abundance. In an unlucky hour
n study was fitted mp for him in the church build
ing and from the moment he moved into mat the
trouble began. For reasons which we're satisiac-
tory Ia themselves. several members ot The church
rganzed themselves into an antistudy party. and
finally insisted that the study be abolished They
became n faction under he name of the Spence >
people Opposed to them were the Grahamtes.'
who defended the pastor and refused to abolish the
study. One lacIion took its name from the pastor
and the other from the aggressive Christian broth
er who acted as its leader
The conditions were favorable for irst-class
quarrel anl they we're handsomely improved The
| Srence faction charged that the study was used
for unworthy purposes that the pastor was un-
happy in his domestic relations because oil ms own
misconduct; aud that he had been Obliged to leave
former churches because of similar developments
The Grabnmites" admitted the unhappy comes
tio relations bnt claimed that they had
been unnstly made the basis for all the
malicious gossip both in Newark aud else
where TO add TO the liVelIness oil tho STU
alton the Grahamltes' purchased large number
of comics Of "A religious newspaper containing some
lfun..u fnrs Tefg %
perers " which Brooklyn divine nad made in
sermon and sent one marked 10 each of the
| - Snpnce peoplo This thoughtful act of Christian
fellowship had the not unnatural result OF impat-
ing fresh animation to the quarrel 1t caused ener-
getIc and unbrotherly observations to be made IN
the church meetings and interlered with the bust
meas OF saving soulr." The" Graaamtes SAID they
numbered 800 while the folio wers of spence could
muster only fifty aud that the fifty ought either to
" shirt up" or 90 away and leave the church TO do
its poas ork in peace. To demonstrate their love
for the pastor tho Grahamites" got up tcstimo-
NAL demonstration and presented him with the
magnificent sum of S75 Evcn this did not quiet
the Spence faction. apd the quarrel went briskly
on.
A crisis was reached on Wednesday evening last.
when the usual meeting of the church was held to
elect and to decide whether the conference
should he asked TO continue the pastor Tor another
term II haa been voted nc the previous meeting OF
the church that only those should DO admitted 10
the annual meeting who had tickets. his was IL
| bIotherly intimation that the "Spence people
would "pack" the meeting with wicked and
! worldly people who did not belong to tho church.
and was hotly resented. The Spence" followers
rsfused to attend and to the Number OF 100 met at
the house of one of their number and passed. rcsou
tiuns dcn3uncing the ticket requirement AZ an
| " Infringement upon the constitution of the
| church, and requesting the conference for new
pastor Left all to themselves. tho " Grahamites .
had n creme and aficctionate meeting. They passed
resolutions asking the conference for the A" return
| of our beloved pastor whose efforts in our mldFt
have been unIsecedontedly successful in building
I'D our chulch and in tho saving of sonls" PC tho
| carnal mind there in almost grotoslue conflict
between the condition of the church it was OK
| hibited by the meeting and its condition as de-
scribed in the resolutions. now can ministry
| which has driven a quarter OF n ch 1rchs member
ship into revolt be called unprecedentedy success
| full How the circulation OF anonymous news
paper accusations ard the charging OF SANDER and
false voting DO classcd unuoI the head OF Saving