The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-04-10
POOR CHURCHES.
Proposal Before M. E. Con-
ference to Establish
Board Of Aid for
Embarrassed
Charges.
FIGURES THAT MlslEAD
Sharp Discussion Over the
Question of Equal Repre-
sentation in General
Conference.
fsneclal to ..rhe Jersey CITY News."l

NEWARK. April 10, 1S99.-Immediateiy
after the ~rollcall this morning, the pastors
attending the Newark annual Conference
of the Methodist Episcopal Church now
in progress in Halsey Street Church, APP
piled themselves to a consideration OF Il
serious subject set forth in a report read
by Rev. L. C. Muller of Paterson, touch
ing financially embarrassed churches.
He explained in a preamble to the re-
mort that the churches within a RADIUS Oh
fifty miles of New York, within a csrlaih
length of time. the population had IN
creased while the number OF METHODIST
church membership had not kept pace
with that increase. So far as the en-
barrassed churches were concerned ne
suggested that Conference should or
sanize a board with power to receive ne-
quests. gifts and collections from Metno-
dist people and dispense such funds as the
board thought fit.
what is your scheme?" shouted some
of the brethren.
Brother Muller. reading his printed re-
port, replied
.sThe Board shall consist of two minis
ters and two laymen from each presiaihs
elders district, to hold office for IVY
wears. and shall be known as the 6oafo
of Home Missions and Church EXTENSION
~ the Newark Conference Said Board,
&c soon az II is organized, shall file arti-
Giles of Incorporation according 10 the
laws of the State of New Jersey, ana II
shall nave power to hold real esta'e'
receive requests and gifts from indiViau-
ais and collections from our cnurcnes
and administer and disburse the same lot
tbs promotion of Sunday Schools and
mission work within the bounds OF the
conference"
Rev. D. A. Craig hoped that something
would be done to assist
churches. The church had raised sums
for heneyolences. Sunday schools. and haa
provided for preaching the gospei, pui
from these sources of supply not one
dollar could be drawn to heip poor
churches. kept down by debt. At present
the only help was that the presiding eider
should dig his hands into his pockets. ana
that was unfair.
Rev DR. j. B. Faulks while agreeing
with the preamble of the report, which SET
ont figures OF poor churches thought 1t
was not wise to make the truth known
to the public.
Rev Thomas ". Landon. of Borden-
town Military Institute, agreed with the
n st speaker. it wasn't sometimes wise to
III all the truth, but in this instance II
was. because, he said, If the Methodasts
knew what the facts were these facts
would act as a spun for more generous
contributions.
After a long discussion involving voting
on amendments and amendments to
amendments tina part of h report per-
tanning to the adoption of a Conference
Board to receive gifts, ETC., was adopted.
Rev. DR.. A. Craig, then moved that the
preambIe containing the facts of the
churches be stricken out. The publication
of the facts were misleading and We're
not conducive to the good welfare OF the
church.
Rev DR.. M. d. Church complained h
the comparison of figures was unfair
because a large proportions of the foreign
element which had come into the district
belonged to the Roman Catholic Church
and could not be reached. To include
them in the estimates of Methodist pro-
erosion or retrogressicn was misleading.
Figures don't lie!" exclaimed one
brother.
mo, if true; but wrong figures make
liars.s retorted another, and there was
a general laugh.
.Noy. don't interrupt, brother" said
Brother Church. These people in the or
binary course we cannot reach We con-
slider them a part of the Catholic Church,
and to get at the accurate proportion It
seems to me that we should take that
part of the increase in the population
which we could and ought to reach.
(Cheers.) If this be done the ratio be-
tween the growth OF the population and
the church membership would be lessen
ed.
The motion to strike out prevailed.
The Rev. w. v. Kelley, D.. D., was
introduced and he advanced the claims
of the wesleyan University. He begged
for 100000 at once to build a hall and
shortly. he said, the university would
need 81, coo, 600 for endowment. He point
ed out its advantages and hoped every
pastor would send his son to the uni
versity.
Bishop Fowler then pr~ecipitated a sharp
discussion when he read a communication
from Baltimore urging it to pass on the
question Of equal lay representation in tbs
General Conference. Should the resolu-
ton pass the Conference by a two-tairds
vote it would be acted upon in the General
Conference next year.
"supposing. bishop" interrupted q
brother, 1--WE takesup a discussion of this
matter Immediately aftergthe reading Of
the minutes tomorrow morning"
s.The best thing TODD will be to pitch il
for some time when the Conference If
present. (Roars of laughter at the sly hit
at the pastors who are never present al
stage OF the proceedings.)