New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-16
CUTRCH LIFE ~ THE NEW CITY.

CUTRCH LIFE ~ THE NEW CITY,
Not mich hns been snd yet about the work
of the churches in the enlarged city Of New
York: but i'm some cases doubtless, there will
follow n slight modification of ecclesiastical
lines. II will not make so much difference with
the denominations like the Bapists whose pol
ity Is congregational and which have prop
crly Speaking no central government. Their
associations OF churches are purely voluntary.
and they will. in large measure, remain as be-
fore Practically however these churches
will find Il desirable to take account of the on
larged city In their work, especially in their
city missionary work The duty will he lald
upon them of mapping out some comprehensive
scheme of general oversight. not only to provide
against the duplication Of effort in particular
districts. but to extend needed help and sym
pathy to many struggling congregations within
the limits of the enlarged city. In faci, it may
be said Of all the Christian denominations that
no better field for their missionary zeal can be
found than that which is offered by the pres
ent city of Newly ork.
We have not Mt hand the membership OF the
New-York and Brooklyn Presbytcries; but there
is nothing In the pollty Of the Presbyterian
Church to prevent two or more Prcsbyterics
lily it is more convenient to have all the
churches In the same city belong to the same
Presbytery. There are. however. traditional, if
not constitutional. limits to the size OF PresDy-
terry which would stand In the way of any
union Of these Presbyteries which are TO be
charged practically with the oversight Of Pres
bytcrIanisp In the city Of New-Iork. ~ Few
weeks ago sensational sheet printed an illus
tol~ .1,, Inf mn
churches In the city were besieged by great
mobs Of people unable 10 get into them. Ircs
bvterans must have smiled sadly as they read
this tale, knowing that such happy state OF
affairs Is unfortunately true Of no Christian
body But the PRESBYTERIAN Church in New
York IL wealthy, influential and Jealous, ana 1t
Is certain to make adequate provision for the
Growth Of the Church in the enlarged city.
Methodists take no account of municipal or
State lines In their organization. and the two
conferences into which the Mcthodsm of the
city is divided include also great deal of terri
tory outside of the city They will continue to
administer and direct the affairs of the city
churches as they did before; but doubtless the
weak congregations In the newly annexed por-
ticns Of the city will profit somewhat by their
closer relation TO the life of metropolitan Meth
Ing machinery of the Reformed and the Luther
an churches the former Of which is in pecul-
lar sense related to tho life of NewYork, as it
was the official established Church in the old
DAYS of Dutch New-York Lutheransm is very
strong in the new city. and Is far more vigorous
and aggressive in It's work than many other
wise intelligent people suppose. II may be
trusted TO take all proper steps for the spiritual
tic m 40 pul
In the case Of the Roman Catholic and Prot
csant Episcopal churches an interesting ques-
ton NAV be raised whether under an old canon
law of the early Church. two dioceses In one
city are not forbidden to exist Indeed, the
Episcopal Church has n canon TO that effect
md on motion of the Rev Or. W. II. Hunting
Ton at the last Diocesan Convention Il commit
tee was appointed to look into the question and
report some way out 10 the next convention
But there is some doubt whether the Long Isl
land and New-Yorli dOceses will ever be con
solidated They certainly will not be during
the life of Bishop Llttlejohn Of Long Island
and the existence Of two doccses. namely. Lon
don and Rochester, within the present city OF
London will furnish Il precedent for those who
are opposed to any consolidation. Still, 1t IS
possible that n closer union or federation in
cution of the general work of the Church in
the present city, and if that Is done the splri'
at least. If not the letter. Of the canon will be
satisfied Bishop Potter Is on record as OPP
nosed TO the creation of archbishops in this
country though he himself would, of course, be
an archbishop; and the provincial system OF
grouping contiguous dioccScs together has not
yet taken shape. In the Roman Catholic Church
,;.l IL.
lyn has a bishop. This arrangement will
doubtless continue. and the enlargement Of the
city will make no change in the work of the
Church To sum up the whole matter, the ef-
forts Of all the churches in the new city will be
directed to n better and more economical prose-
cution OF evnngelizlng work in its weaker spots.
which will thus benefit materially by their In
clusion in the metropolis.