New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-01-18
STANDING BY DIR. NEWMAN.
TROUBLE NTHEMADIsoNAv ENUEcHURCH
OIL POURED on THE WATERS BY THE BOARD OF
TRUSTEES.

|
TRUSTEES
The Madison Avenue Congregational Church
IA not in that happy condition In which churches should
he TO discharge their natural Functions to the greatest a
vantage 1t Il divided against itself The estimates OF
how many are side aud how many are ON the other
vary greatly according to the individual bias Ihere
have been indications time that between some OF
the members of the church there absence OF that
fraterna shirt which church members expected to
exhibit In their conduct well IN their precepts but
the signs Of dssension far as possible cSaeS
| concealed from public notice. On Wednesday mght inc
church held its annual meeting Iheh INC
storm which had been brewing for some
| time burst 1t was made manifest that there
are two parties In the chuTch-one which desires inc
resignation OF the pastor, Dr. John p Newman ana an
other which wishes retain him. The former were ohai
poned BY Dr. j. W Ranney, one OF the Oldest mepers
the church. and its senior deacon Dr. Newman was MS
own chief spokesman The two parties frst eale ino
conflict over tho election of the deacons for the one
! yearterm The two whom Dr. Ranney favored were
| elected.
Thus far the behavior all sides had been fairly decor
GUS Then was exploded the bonb-shell when arouSeu
storm of strife and contention Dr. Ranney maze aspeec
In which no charged that since Dr. Newman had occupied
the pulpit the membership had largely decreased lie
asserted that Dr. Newman had accepted the era
nen pastorate church had promised that nc
still remained Methodist that he had sought 10 nave
his salary that while nomnay their pastor ne
|
jected Methodist church in Brooklyn, which was
IN be made By the combination, OF three existing Melho
dist Churches that he wanted the church SOLD ana an
other church built for him, and that In various ways MS
conduct derogatoy to the best interests OF Vhe
church Ranney offered resolution 10 the eeHt that
the services of Rev DR.. Newman should nc iorth-
with discontinued The discussion which ensued was
bitter Dr. Newman denied all the allegations He ana
Dr. Rlnney several times fatty contracted each other
without any apology Language was used winch
would hardly be regarded permissible under orihHry
parliamentary usages, much less that which Is supposed
10 govern gathering Of church mombers The parishhS
manifested their feelings by applause, misses ana groahS
Finally the resolution was laid the table, and at Late
/ hour the meeting adjourned.
| AFTER THE BATTLE.
Yesterday the church looked cold, solemn ana sedaie
a. though its walls had echoed any other
sounds than those Of praise, thanksgiving ana
brothcriy feeling But nights repose had not
entirely a5auged the wounded feelings OF the combatah
Dr. Ranney was found I'm his Office No. II East Foriy'
sixh- He referred with much complaoency TO his nc
zion OF the previous night lie reiterated oil the charges
/ that he had then made with additions. lie
od that fine ,ro,cccd combination Methodist church 70
which he had referred was 10 have comprised tne Mash
! CbIrcbes in Brooklyn and that through certain Dr.
Webster Dr Newman had sought 10 OBTAIN he ASSISTANCE
Of some OF tho promoters Of scheme TO secure the pas
! torate OF the projected church The understanding
that while the new chutch WIS p Ii tio
| Academy of Music should be engaged; Dnring ulc
last year. Dr. Ranney said my pes ma neS4 G o6
ff,v n a.
estimated that Tor the ensuing year the rental nom peWS
would agcrc ate over u oDOand the income from all
woudnot Inc eXenss o, the pre-
yous year been in the ncgborhood OF S4OOO When
asked what Iolnds ne mel for slpp3nS taL o3ere Ta
new one Or. Ranney replied; Because II mas oeeh
talked of by different members Of the Boald Oh lIstges
ana understand that Deacon Fosters wife snn aSt non
Hs NIL va I Of T,,isaes 70 have the church sold and
Dr. Newman has been making inquiries To ascertain
whether he could get enough IN favor OF the scheme TO
carry it through"
WHAT DR.. NEWMAN SAYS.
DR.. Newman, in an aggressive mood Yesterday
A, on the previous evening he referred to Dr. Ranney ms
"that man" and "that person" Dr. Ranney,' he said
the victim of wheming personal vanity and Is
extremely DESTROYS OF gaining newspaper noto1ety
have not him enough-that IL why he opposed
me HIS statement that only one hundred members
of the church regularly attend have never had al the
sacrennn less than 200 members aud sometimes as
ayn tg pertos VINO had left the chuch and that
time received INTO the ctuich seventeen Wy I''tcl
Ronney's assertion TINT the church membership
is declining. The income last year was S24oVZ, ana
tbe expenses 1868 not true DT. Ranney SAYS,
thai personally solicited tho increase of my salary from
$4,000 to S0oqo ITS Reieu, ngHT tbree no comnn
Brooklyn churches remember Dr webster H ,ro c
/ acceUt [ applied laughinsly that dld not accept
pastorgte until was invited TO 40 80, am I,
accepted The pastolae of the Madison Avenue Congre
standing that should continue to be Methodist
LETTER TO THE PASTOR
The Board OF Trustees IN the parors Of bhe church
last night to reorganze. All the old officers were re-
elected including General Grant president. They
indted the following letter to DR.. Newman:
DEAR PASTOR: We, the trustees OF the Madison
Avenue Congregaonalist Church, repudate all sym
patty with the improper resolutions offered at the an
nul meeting of the church last Monday night and on
the other hand commend the good sense OF the meet
ing I'm laying the resolution the table. Your pastoIae