New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-05-29
nm AFTER BISHOP NEWMAN
,,on1srs DENOUNCE HIS RECENT
ACTION WITH GREAT VIGOR.


TWO OF THE wEALTHIEsT
CHURCHES IN THIS CITY
WHAT PROMINENT
MEMBERS SAY.
4 ~. session Of the New-York Conference of
49,. Nsthodist Episcopal Church. held at Kings
Ny. in April last, the presiding Bishop. DR..
49,, p Newman announced at the close Of the
'...,on that the New-York District Of the Con-
-.r.,ce would no longer exist. This announce
..rt was indeed a great surprise said promi-
ant clergyman who was a member Of the Con-
....rce 10 a Tribune reporter yesterday ITO
at I'D a district so full of pleasant memories
I'D fraught with so many various interests with
.vt moments warning caused much feeling of
r.~ret and disappointment to many of the pastors
q, the district"
The Bishop further announced that in lieu Of
The New-York District there would be two new
A,stricts covering practically the same territory.
The two new districts. he said would be known
"a the New-York and Hudson River and the New
York and Harlem. Twelve churches were also
transferred from the Poughkeepsie District and
added to the territory within the boundaries Of
these two new districts. The churches within the
boundaries of the old New-York District. together
with the Twelve taken from tne touSnkeepsie
district. were divided said a prominent layman
81 the Church. between these two new districts
without regard to boundary lines or teriitory.
"In fact" said leading clergyman. at looks like
gerrymandering for the Bishop to organize the
districts in the manner in which he has arranged
them"
ROBERT W. TODD's DECIDED VIEWS.
Robert w Todd of the Madison Avenue Meth
odist Episcopal Church in this city. was decided
In the expression Of his views yesterday to a
Tribune reporter The laymen," said he. "are all
opposed to the Bishops action in thus destroying
the New-York District. Bishop Newman con-
suited with no one outside of his Cabinet. He
simply proceeded in an arbitrary way and car
lied out his own plans regardless Of whether they
were agreeable to any one or not.
At the last Quarterly Conference of the Madison
Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church the following
JSe,lution was unanimously passed
Whereas. Bishop J. p. Newman who presided at
the last session Of the New-York Conference. held
at Kingston, April; 1895. created new presiding
cally dividing what was known as the New-fork
District: and
Whereas, This quarterly conference had no knowl-
edge Whatever that the Bishop contemplate Great
ing such district and in our opinion, by so do
interfere with the growth of MethOdism in this
city, o..--,.
Resolved,
Conference OF the Madison Avenue Methodist Epis
copai Church. protest against the action OF the
trct and respectfully request the Bishop who shall
preside at the next session of the New-York Con
ference TO restore the churches which were for
mery In the New-York district their relations in
such district as they were i'll 1924
AN UNwIsE FINANCIAL STEP.
'-The churches Of the old New-York District"
said Mr. Todd "are now compelled to support two
presiding elders in practically the same territory
where they formerly supported with difficulty
one, and we opposed to any increase of our
church burdens. We feel. furthermore, that 1t
was discourteous to every layman in the old
New-York District for the Bishop TO destroy our
district without any consultation. We are to
Furnish the funds out of cur own pockets 10 carry
out these plans, and no Bishop has ever before
made such a radical change without conferring
with us. The laymen in the other district
namely, the New-York and Harlem. Of which the
Rev. DR.. Philip Germond is the newly appointed
presiding elder. are as deeply aroused over the
change as are those Of Dr. Longacre's district.
the New-York and Hudson River District"
Robert S. Anderson. of ST. Jamess Methodist
Episcopal Church. in Harlem. said to Tribune
renorter: THE official board of our church are
greatly incensed at the Bishops change OF our
old New-York District. The members of other
full accord with our views on this subject At
our last quarterly conference | offered tAe ioi-
lowing resolution:
Methodist Episcopal Church do hereby record
their protest at the division Of the Newly Dis
frict. they regard II as inimica the best inter
ests Of Methodism in New-York CITY as tending
10 break down our correctional ties ana more
particularly so at this time when the iaymen are
seeking such action at the hands Of the General
Conference will by changing conference lines
place the churches OF New-York City in one separ-
ate district. r, o.
notify the district meeting that they will not as
sumo any extra assessments by reason OF the d.
vision OF the district.
sThird-They notify the trustees Of the district
parsonage at Yonkers that If this division Is TO
stand that We have equity rights in the present
parsonage that must be allowed us.
MR.. GERMOND DEFENDS THE BISHOP.
"Presding Elder Gerrnond. the chairman OF
The quarterly conference. refused to allow my
resolution to be read He denounced this kind
Of proceeding as revolutionary The right OF
member % any church to offer a protest. con-
tinued Mr. Anderson. has never. to my knowl-
edge, been questioned before. The Social
Union OF New-York will hold its last meeting OF
the season at the ST. Denis Hotel on Friday
evening next. This whole matter will then come
up for discussion and 1t is expected that some
plain expression Of views will be exchanged on
the subject.
1.-The laymen Of the city have for years neeh
trying to concentrate all Of the territory on MAN.
haitian Island within the boundaries OF one Con-
ference. At present part OF the CITY IL SCI
apart to the New-York Conference ana the ,rsi
ance to the New-York East Conference ms
division Of territory, 1t is believed. has re'aruen
the progress and growth Of Methodism In New
York City. At the last Genera cohle LEI
petition was made to place the city all wlthln
the boundaries of one conference BY technlcai
defect in the draft of the petition IT was re-
ever IN renew this effort at the approaching
conference in 1885, w.,
II is declared that the members OF the New
York Methodist churches VIII take some Iui "a, AZ.
action In the matter of Bishop Newmans de-
cision.