New-York tribune., 1903-04-03
METHODTSTS' BIG GAIN.
Great Groscth ia NemberShip-No
Debate on Pastoral Terms.

Poughkeepsie. " Y. April AIT time this
afternoon il looked II the members OF the New
York Conference would have chance to enter into
a controversy over that old bone of contention. a
request TO the General Conference to amend the
5iscipline OF that body that the bishops shall
not allow any preacher TO remain in the same
pastoral charge more than three consecutive years
There was time when Methodist minister was
allowed to remain at place not more than two
years and this limit was increased to three years.
Later the limit was placed at five years. and sev-
eral years ago the limit was removed altogether al
lowing 8 preacher TO remain in the one pastoral
charge for an indefinite period
A resolution introduced by the Rev. Jesse Acker-
man requested the conference TO memorialize the
General Conference 10 instruct the Bishops In max
ing their appointments to allow preacher to re-
rnein in the same pastoral charge more than three
consecutive years. nor more than three years in
any consecutive six The resolution was greeted
with applause. and 8 motion was made to make
I; a special order for Saturday DR. j. NJ King
said that such a resolution ought 10 be debated
a whole week. and the conference did not nave
tine TO DO it. An amendment was made to lay
the resolution on the table. and this was carried
by a small majority probably because Of the lack
OF time TO discuss ii.
Bishop McCabe. at the morning session. spoke
Of the growth Of Methodism. saying:
Something has been said about the decline OF
Nethodisn. / want TO say that there have oeen
more people added to the membership OF tne Metno
dist Epseopa npron feI snSe enonation oS except the
PaDrssr Our gain will exceed that of all the ofher
g5e1onfnarious except the Baptist. 1f We decHne
that vsv few more the denomiTlat tlohs VIII
Re divided into two parts-the Methodists ano tne
rest of us love Methocism for the enemies IL mas
made In 1880 muiti-millionatre could nave bouS
ali the propertv Of the Methodist Episcopal ChurCn
with check for 81, 600. Now he could not 90 II
for $50 oc0.o0o.
Presiding Elder c w Millard, Of the New-HorK
district made his report. in which he said that
there had been considerable talk Of erecting a
great church on the West Side. after the great
ST James Hall. of London The ministers were
called together. but II found there was not
sufficient unanirnity TO warrant the immeolate
abortion Of the plans under consideration his
report showed that much work was being done IN
the New-York district but sums received for church
extension work paltry- over on the west
SIDE is Forty-fourth-st. where people almost nave
20 pay blood money TO support their church said
the speaker.
This afternoon the Rev. Dr. James NJ Buckley
Editor of The Christian advocate delivered an
address the work of the Seney Hospital IN
Brooklyn. and the relation Of hospital work 10
Christianity and Professionalism He said that an
effort being made to raise s5eo.Oe0 to get an
endowment Of S125.0Oo promised by GOOD New
York friend OF the amount 100000 had oeen
raised
The Rev. G. P Eckman spoke at the anniversary
Cf the Women's Foreign Missionary. Society, ana
Bishop McCabe spoke at the anniversary OF the
women's Home Missionary Society.