The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-12-19
PROTESTlNTISlT A FAILURE
New York City, the Rev. Mr.. Peters Says, Is
the Proper Reid for Mission Work.


The Rev. Madison c. Peters preached in the
Bloomin gdale Reformed Church yesterday
morning on why is Professionalism a Failure
in Now York City?" In tho course OF tho
sermon he said
In 1900 the Catholic population in the
United States was 100000 In 1890 it was
s.277.O30 A fair estimate OF the Catholic
population Of New York city is 100000 A
third OF this number represents tho Protestant
churchgoing population OF tho city. In 1910
we had in this city one evangelical Protestant
church to every 2.071 Of tho population: in
1850. one to every 2.442; in 1860.
one TO 2.777: in 1870. one to 2.4S0:
in 1880, one to 3.O4s: and in 1890.
ono to 3.544. or IL we take tho police census.
onet 1905 In comparison with the growth Of
the population the Presbyterian Church has
lost II per cent. in this city in twenty years.
The Methodist Church in this city in min ct cen
years increased only 30. per cent. and dur
ing the same time tho population Increased
50 per cent. The Dutch Reformed Church
sustained loss OF 10 per cent. relative to the
population. There is not Protestant church
in this city that has grown at all in proportion
to the growth OF the population.
Tho Christian forces at work below Four
teenth street are not SO large as they were
twenty yenrs ago. and although during that
time 100000 people have moved in below
Fourteenth street. twenty churches have
movod out One jewish synagogue and two
Catholic churches have been added, 30 that.
seventeen less than there were twenty years
ago. Our pulpits ring with FREQUENT appeals
tute Vest The population in the city of New
York exceeds that Of North and South OAK ota
3PseS9n co
Congregationalists have only eighty five pas
tors at work in this city. while in the States
mentioned the two denominations have $40
pastors and workers.
The greatest mission field in America is in
New York city. and not in the far regions. In
churches snd Lnpsls. In ths Tenth wa,d
one chapel. The Twentieth ward Increased
per cent In p OBJ in ten snd s
% maj iss fh% i, buff up town hsys
the money came from the sale OF DOWN town
churches. where hundreds of thousands of
cHnrcSes lett Behind eh@pes for orr the poor " ON
back streets. The Protestant Church deserves
to M So Nns ns In OF the Chrs
pauperizes the poor by building plain chapels
foG, them. Gods house should be built Tor all
The churches must follow the peopls is
rich and fashionables. where the churches all
growth by ruinous rivalry? Only u few days
ago the New York Presbytery advised the
organizations and sell their churches. so that
the money might 20 used in removing, the, in
We have system aticaily robbed the down town
poor by selling their churches to get money to
build churches for the rich few.
THE Catholic Church never surrenders an
old field none Of her churches is ever turned
into stables. &c. The people must build their
Church indebted for its triumphant march
To the monstrosity OF our frequent moving
days. the indifference Of Pedestrians. and the
enthusiasm OF Catholics. 1t Is because the
Catholics are thoroughly devoted and in
earnest. and arc prepared to make sacrifices
ard to suffer In order to support what they
believe to be true" NV