The Newtown bee., 1901-06-07

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 street, Bridgeport.
 DR PULLMAN SPEAKS RIGHT OUT. SHOWS THAT MANY METHODIST CHURCHES ARE DYING OUT IN THE RURAL SECTIONS.
 So far as the writer has observed it
 has been the custom of Methodist pre- siding elders to indulge in laudatory
 words land taffy" concerning the con- ditions of the various churches in
 their district. But in contrast to this is the report of Rev Joseph Pullman, D. D., of the New York district, in which the Sandy Hook, Bethel, and other local churches as situated. Dr
 Pullman is evidently not afraid to speak out in meeting, and he notes the dark side of things in his district.
 Dr Pullman says:
 Having dwelt at length on the bright side of the district, it is my duty to set forth darker side, if there be any dark side. Some of our churches are steadily decreasing, owing to changed conditions in the community. This is true of certain of our downtown churches and others situated in New England towns. The church at West Goshen, once veritable "Bethel'' has been closed. The church at Washing ton Depot is now occupied by Union Society, as it was impossible to main tain a Methodist church. The plain and ancient westinghouse on the high hills of Warren has become a hive of summer wasps. "The sparrow hath found house, and swallow nest for her self, where she may lay her young." And yet the proverbial ten- acity of life of Methodist churches is illustrated on the Connecticut Hills. Services are held in score of little churches that are only able to pay pit fable stipend. The preachers need no "thorn in the flesh" to prevent their being exalted above measure. One new society at Bridgeport, on East Village Circuit, has been organized during the year and will have regular preaching in the future for S15O year.
 The Bishops in the Episcopal Ad- dress to the last General Conference declared that "the lengthening of the time limit from three to five years had caused a restless desire for changes at the end of one or two years in appoint ments which might easily have con- tinued for three years if that length of time had been the limit.' The restless desire for change to which the Bishops refer has been increased four fold by the lifting of the time limit. The number of changes has been in- creased. Many of the churches are discontented and fearful lest their neighbors secure all the star preachers; a distrust of presiding elders and Bishops is manifested in the activity of committees, who leave little to the judgment of the appointing powers. But the burden of disadvantage falls upon the preachers, who do not know what to expect from year to year. They have no tenure of office nor lease of continuance. Formerly there was terminus ad quem, and the pastors and churches had a pride in reaching the limit of the term. The present system is perpetual challenge to discontent and change. It is said that the evils that are manifest this first year of the new system will pass away with time, but all indications thus far are that the General Conference would have acted wisely to have returned to the three-year rule with carefully defined provisions for exceptional cases.
 An evil that this great Conference should grapple with is the inadequate support of many of our preachers. The struggle to make buckle and tongue meet with a salary of a few hundred dollars is not only galling one, but it is a struggle that injures the morale of our ministry. To have debts unpaid almost ceases to be