The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-03-02
ELM PARKS Great EXTENT
Stands Among the Leading Methodist
Churches in This Country.
ITS LARGE RELATIVE VALUE
Comparing tho Membership and Property
Value with the Churches. Film Park
Stands Almost Aloue-Some Inter.
estiug Fieurcs-Early History.

Magnificent Elm Park church. of this
city, with its valuable property, big
congregation, wonderful organization
and all else that goes, in a worldly
sense, toward making a marvellous
church is in a general way as well
known to every man, woman and child
of Scranton as is any so-called feat
ure" of the city. Further, this church
is known throughout Methodism of the
United States and Is held up as u
model by its own denomination in the
eastern states.
Few, however. while noting the
growth and stability of Elm Park
church have any idea of it's magnitude
in detail. With its property value of
$2a5,OOO and full membership of 1000
1t is equalled by but few aud exceeded
by none of the churches of the same
denomination in the country. consid-
ering, of course. the comparative rela-
tion of the area. population. and real
estate valuation of other cities. In or
der that u comparison may be made,
following are given some facts in rela-
tion to the largest Methodist churches
in the country:
LEADING CHURCHES.
Baltimore--Mt. Vernon Place has n
membership of $50 and II church property
valued at $a5OC0O. First church has u
memberhisp of 100; property valued at
$2i0U0U
New York city-Calvary church has IA
membership of l,l50; church valued at
SlsOOOO. Madison Avenue, membership.
iOO church valued al $.50,0OO Park Ave
nue.. membership of COS; church valued at
$l5oOOO
Newark, n. J.-Alembership. 30; church
valued at slSO,OoO st. Pauls church,
membership, $50: church valued at Sl25O0O
Wilmington. Del.-tirace church has "A
M IA .,,f
OUO.
Harrisburg. Pa.--Grace church. member
ship of 72O: church valued at $l50,0OO
Brooklyn-St. Johns. membership. $50;
church valued at Sl250Oo. Hanson Place.
membership, 100: church valued at $l25,-
900. New York Avenue, membership. 100;
church valued at 100000.
Pittsburg. Pa.-Christ church. member
ship. GOO; church valued at S2jO.OOU Quilt
on same style as Elm Park).
Allegheny, Pa.-Calvary church. MEM
bership: 100: church valued at siO,O0O.
Buifalo. n. I.-Delaware Avenue. mem
bership about 200; church valued at about
$l5OUW
Detroit. Mich.-Central church, member
ship. 500; church valued at $4,000.
Wilkes Barre Street MEM
bership of 800: church valued at Sl30 900
Chicago-There are several large Meth
odist churches in this city. but none, with
the exception of First church. the lower
part OF which is used for business. is
Il
membership that reaches into thousand.
THE ELM PARK CHURCH..
In comparing Elm Park church with
the above. 1t should be noted that the
best qualified members of the official
board regard the Elm PARK property at
$223,OOO as very conservative estimate,
ana many think ii ought to be listed
as 1t has been I'm the conference min
utes at $25O0O0. From these minutes
were obtained the particulars of the
churcheS referred to. 1t is conceded
that Elm Park church and parsonage
Is the finest. structurally. i'm the Meth
odist denomination, and the best adapt
ed to church work, and there are but
few, If any, Methodist churches i'm the
country that have larger evening au-
diences
The running expenses of these
churches. with their contribution to
benevolent objects, run from SIS, 900 to
$4,000. while Elm Park last year for
running expenses and benevolence gave
about $20,000
Rev. DR.. w. II. Pearce. Elm Parks
pastor, received as legacy from his
predecessors strong church materially
and spiritually numbering 6S4 full MEM
bers. which number was at once re-
duced to 514 by the dismissal of 10, that
the John Rogers chapel connected with
the church might be organized. with
these 514 persons DR.. Pearce began his
work. but during his pastorate as many
as lS1 died or lost their membership
through lanses. Such u loss might re-
duce the ordinary church roll. but I'm the
case of the progressive Elm Park there
are fully 1000 full members on the roll
at this date.
GROWTH OF THE CHURCH.
Figures show better than words or
comment the growth of the church gem
orally. out of the old church on Ad-
ans avenue, which was sold with it's
parsonage five years ago for 10000,
have developed the new Elm Park and
parsonage. the conservative value of
which is $225000. and on which there is
not one dime of debt. There is also
owned by the church the substantial
frame Elm Park chapel on the South
Side. which Is unincumbercd and rep
resents a iiourishing society with Il Wig
orous Sunday school and EpwOrth
league. A total insurance of $l03, 900 is
carried on the church properties.
During five years the church has
raised for all PURPOSES. other than
church building and furnishing. ST.
374. 15-that is, if as much is raised this
year as in 1895. and the probability is
that an increase will be shown Since
leaving Adams avenue the Sunday
school. congregation. social meetings
Epworth leagues and the various so
cieties have more than doubled in
membership.
TO no one cause can the phenomenal
growth of this church be more at
tributed than to it's pastor. DR.. Pearcc.
But his wonderful energy would not
have shown such splendid results with
out the help of a sympathetic member
hn
official board. OF this board it is said
that ii has yet to experience 4 misun-
between two of its twenty
five members. and this during a period
of five years The boards work has
shown wisdom. liberality and concen-
trated purpose which have anticipated
every wan. and need of the church.
So with a thoroughly united and loyal
church. wholly unincumbered. and with
the coming of a new pastor with large
experience. broad culture. deeply spir-
itual and fervent. and whom praise is
given i'm all the churches-with all these
the future Of Elm Park is very bright.
NEW CONGREGATION PROBABLE.
In chroniclng these facts. which
are intended to show a growth and eN-
tent hidden from casual observation. it
will not be surprising To learn that
new Methodist congregation is already
suggested for the central portion of the
city. This field is now wholly covered
by Elm Park. but the capacity of the
big church and its workers has reached
the limit and the only feasible plan
suggested for relief is IL new congrega-
ton. 1t is suggested that church be
established in the vicinity of Clay
avenue and Pine street and this may be
realized i'm the near future.
What is now known as Elm Park
church had its beginning in u class
that was formed on the PittSton cir