The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-05-10
SHOUTING IN THE WRONG PLACE.
How New York Methodist Church Lost a
Responsive Member.

SHOUTING IN THE WRONG PLACE.
How New York Methodist Church Lost a
Responsive Member.
New York Times.
When the Asbury Methodist Episcopal Church
was in Greene street, almost ten years ago, it was
the custom of the members to live up to the old
practices of Methodsm and to shout responses
to those parts of the service which appealed the
more strongly to their feelings or Judgment
Since the church has been in its present location,
at University Place and Washington Square,
these practices have gradually been dropped, and
now only few of the older members ever re
spOnd even to the most brilliant thoughts and
the most eloquent oratory of their pastor. There
has been one prominent exception however, and
that exception is Mr.. John Forbes, wealthy re
tired merchant siXtytwo years old
Mr.. Forbes. despite his advanced age, is
of powerful constitution, and is particu-
larly vigorous of lung. For ten years he
has been feature of the services at Asbury
Church, for he responds throughout the service
with running fire of "Amenw That's so"
Bless the Lord" ''Hallelujah!" and similar
CALCULATIONS Of qualification and enthusiasm
This disturbs great many of the members OF
the church. but more Objectionable feature is
that the CALCULATIONS are not always responsive
to the occasion
Mr. Forbes neither trumps nor follows suit.
As his pastor says: 1T is Amen hit or miss.
For instance, when an old and highly respected
member of the church lay at the point OF death,
two years ago. DR.. Ferris, then the pastor OF the
church. detailed the good mans virtues and
spoke Of his unsullied reputation and his blame
less life. And now" SAID the minister sol
EMMY there is 4 sad prospect that he will pass
away from us soon" Mr.. Forbes, reused up
from refreshing doze at this juncture, and
not catching the exact spirit of the remark, cried
i,a1 Thank the Lord! Which which
ing to the sick mans relatives. On
another OCCASION when DR. Ferris had performed
the wedding service over two highly respected
members of the church, and the young people
were standing before him, he offered q prayer in
which there occurred the sentences For in
heaven there will be no marrying or giving in
marriage" and Mr.. Forbes promptly shouted:
GLORY to God' and disconnected both the min
lister and the newly welded pair.
Of late years members of the church have in
tiInated to Mr. Forbes that a diminution of his
enthusiasm would be appreciated but Mr.. Forbes
has declined to accept these hints. He has been
in the habit of attending the classmeetings, but
a short time ago the leader, Mr.. MeCabe, re
quested him to discontinue his attendance, as he
sang so loud that he put all the others out of
tune. One week ago the Rev. p II. Hawxhurst.
the present pastor of the church, discoursed
upon the temperance question, and whenever
he made telling point or denounced
any unlighteous practices with particular
vigor, Mr.. Forbes cried: That's SOP That's
so" and few of the members of the church
thought that his remarks were intended to be
personal After church, as he was on his way
home through Washington Park he was met by
Brothers Henry Roden. Abram A. Belmont and
James Seaman. who took him to task for his vo-
ciferousness. They told him that he disturbed
all the other members of the church, and was
keeping people from attending who would other
wise do so Some time before, Mr.. John Lynn
a member of the congregation of AsbuPy Church,
had spoken very plainly to Mr.. Forbes about the
matter and he took the new interference very
much to heart. Mr.. Hawxhurst was informed
of the old gentlefnans feeling in the matter, and
upon the following Thursday he called upon him
at his residence. Mr.. Forbes told hispastor that
he had decided TO go to some other church Mrs
Forbes said that she wished to stay in Asbury
Church, and both she and Mr. Hawxhurst urged
him to remain in the church, and the old gentle
man finally promised to do SO. But on Saturday
he came to see his pastor, and asevidently very
much excited
~ shall cause no more trouble in this church."
he said. Il am going where l shall feel at
home. have decided to join St Georges
Episcopal Church in Stuyvesant square,
But you can't say Amen there" said Mr..
Hawxhurst
Mr. Forbes said that he could say amen at the
close of the prayers, and all Mr.. Hawxhursts
entreaties failed TO shake his decision why
can't you stay in this church. said the pastor,
''and be satisfied with an occasional amen3" Mr.
Hawxhurst told him that Mrs Forbes did not
wish to leave Asbury Church, but he responded
that she'd have to. He could not be prevailed
upon to think better of the matter, and last Sun
day he attended St. Georges Church.
Mr.. HawxhuIst said last night that he did not
himself object to Mr., FOrbess practice of re-
spending to the service but that some of the
church members were strongly opposed to it.
Mr. Seaman said that he had very friendly
feeling for Mr. Forbes, and admired his char
acter very much, but that his responses were a
great ANNOYANCE 70 the congregation. Mr..
Lynn who just spoke to Mr.. Forbes about the
matter also spoke very highly of him. His
only fault, he said, was that he insisted on
shouting as the old Methodists used to do,
which annoyed the rest OF us very much, !
finally heard members of the congregation talk
so much behind his back that went to him in
a friendly spirit and said to him kindly: See
here, Mr. Forbes, you're an upmitigated NUS
obliged to you if you'd keep still hereafter But
he did not seem too take it kindly at ALL" Mrs.
Forbes said that her husband felt very much
hurt at the manner in which he had been treated,
but that he forgaye those who had taken part
against him.