New-York tribune., 1902-02-10
ANGRY OVER CHURCH SALE
CONGREGATION ATTACKS NJ. E. CHURCH
EXTENSION COMMITTEE.

DECLARES ALLEN-sT. MEMORIAL. CHURCH
WAS SOLD OVER THEIR HEADs-NINE-rY
FIRST ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATED.
One of the services held yesterday at the
Allen Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church, in
connection with the ninety-irst anniversary of
that institution, came very near being an in
ulshation meeting The anniversary was an
occasion OF gloom, for it was the last the mem
pers Of the church will celebrate as a congre-
gauon. The Church Extension Committee of
the Methodist Episcopal Church. which has had
charge of the affairs of the Allen Street Memo
rial Church, has disposed of it to a copgreeation
OF Rumanian Jews who will take possession Of
the building on May l.
Ever since the sale of the church feeling has
peen running high among its members There
was union service in the afternoon The Rev
Charles E. Harris and the Rev. Samuel Smith
known as Happy Sammy" both ex-pastors of
the church, were the principal speakers In ad-
oluop to these many members and ex-members
OF the congregation spoke. Most of the latter
IN unmeasured terms denounced the Methodist
Episcopal Church Extension Committee
According to the Rev. Benjamin F. Saxon
pastor of the church. and Theodore NJ. Forbes
secretary OF the official board, the sale was
MADE over the head of the congregation and the
pastor. The first known of the sale at the
church was about Christmas time when men,
ber of the Jewish congregation which had
bought II walked into the pastors study and
told him that he and his people would have to
get out on April l. as the church had been sold
and the first instalment already paid.
Subsequently there was meeting between the
official board Of the church and members of the
Church Extension Committee. The Rev. DR..
Frank NJ. North. secretary OF the Extension
Committee, headed the committee, which was
composed Of himself Hiram Merritt, the real
estate man. and A. H. Brummel, the candy
manufacturer DR.. North acted as spokesman
and told the board that the church had been
sold. He said that nothing had been done to
provide them with another meeting place. and
advised them to disband and Join neighboring
Methodist congregations. When the members
of the board protested and asked that at least
another place OF worship be provided for the
congregation. the committee finally consented
to take the subject under advsement and IL
Is understood that there will be another meet
Ing on next Wednesday for this purpose at the
Methodist Headquarters, No. $50 Fifth-aVe.
The Allen Memorial Church was founded in
January, 1911. Its first place Of worship was in
Allen-st. between Rivington and Delaney In
those days the church had a membership OF
more than 1,2OO. In 1889 the old structure and
site were sold, and the present structure pur-
chased. The old property was sold for $4,000,
and the same amount was invested in the new.
According to Mr. Forbes the property was at
that time placed under the control of the extern
sion committee, which. on taking charge, PROM
ised TO give the congregation mortgage on the
property for the amount spent in the purchase.
This promise" said Mr.. Forbes, was never
kept. 1t was explained at the time thar there
was some legal technicality which rendered the
transaction impossible or undesirable"
The action of the Church Extension Commit
tee, or as we call II, the Church Extinction Com
mittee," said Mr. Forbes, was. TO say the least,
In-Chrstan. There is a great deal OF feeling
over it in the congregation. II our work did not
Justify the maintaining OF a church as expensive
as ours, the committee should have provided a
less expensive place for US Under such circum-
stances we should not have objected TO getting
out, although strictly speaking. It Is question
whether the committee has any right to take
the action II has taken.
had been paid for entirely by the congregation,
the Extension Committee had spent Soo.VoO on
remodeing the structure, which at the time OF
the purchase was Jewish synagogue. They
have also paid the pastors salary every year,
while the congregation has betrayed the run
ming expenses. The congregation at present
counts only about one hundred members.
The Rev. Mr. Saxon, the pastor OF the con-
gregation, said:
church is needed il Is right here, True, 1t Is
not self-supporting. but that is hardly good
reason for withdrawing IL. The purpose OF the
Church Extension Committee is TO extend the
influence OF our Church 10 IocaltleS "heIe II -
The pastor said there could be no question
that the committee had perfect right to dispose
Of the church. and might have good reasons for
doing So But he took exception TO the manner
In which the committee had gone about IT. The
sale Of the property brought S9o,OoO the
money II is understood, win not be Withdrawn
from the district, but no new church Will take
the place Of the old one It is understood tnat
the founding OF settlement is recontemplated.