New-York tribune., 1910-12-25
CHURCH SOCIALISM FAILS
The Rev. Dr.. Long, After Five
Years, Gives Way to BaptiSts.

The modern sinner needs personal dtten
ton to satisfy the craving of his nature
after things spiritual much as the old
fashioned sinner. That Is probably the
meaning of the failure of the ParkSide
Presbyterian Church, where the Rev. DR.
John d. Long breaches his last sermon a.
pastor to-day. Five years ago. after a SER
vice of sixteen years as the pastor of the
Presbyterian Church of Babylon, Long ISL
and, Dr. Long moved with his family tC
Brooklyn. His friends had led him to be-
lieve that Brooklyn offered an excellent
sphere for the spread of his ideas regard
ing Christian socialism.
AT that time the Lenox Road Methodist
Episcopal Church, in Lenox Road, near
tlatbush avenue, had been closed up. The
church offered sttings for four hundred
persons, and there was chapel with
three hundred sittings for Sunday school.
Adjoining the church building was dwell
ing house for the pastor and his family
The site and building We're worth about
s45, 600 Dr. Long decided to purchase the
place and open church there along his
own peculiar lines. The contract was
made. The minister Joined the Brooklyn
Presbytery and the work Of organization
began.
Many people were attracted by curiosity
to the church at first, and there seemed to
be reason to feel that it would be q sue
cess Prominent socialists We're asked to
address the congregation. The church
maintained tents at Coney Island in the
summer time for the spread of the theories.
The most spectacular action taken by the
pastor was to hold a white slave sale
at the church in February, 1909. f. T.
OIaughlin, who ran for Congress on the
Independence League ticket in the 9Th Con-
gress District last fall. was prominent
at the sale. A number of people who
despaired of making a living offered them
selves for sale. All they wanted was board
and clothes, and they were willing TO go to
the bidders who offered the best treat
ment. Several sales were made, but just
how they resulted was never made public.
In organizing his church the pastor made
fatal mistake. He made no provision
for his salary and the maintenance of the
church. When the curiosity that attracted
crowds to the church began to wear off the
congregation dwinGled away, and likewise
the voluntary contributions.
The white slave sale was the last effort
to keep before the public. After it's effect
wore away DR.. Long found out that he
would have to become public lecturer
in order TO support his family. The more
he lectured the less personal attention he
was able to pay to his congregation 1t
continued 10 dWindle still more. The
church services and the theories of Chris
tian socialism were insufficient apparent
ly, for the spiritual needs of the little
flock
Last year the income of the church for
the maintenance of the building and or
SanlZatlon and the support of the clergy
man and his family was $3 700. There were
then go church members and $50 Sunday
school pupils.
Since then things have been going from
bad to worse. Within the last few months
the pastor made up his mind that he would
either have to hire an assistant to look
personally after the pariShionerS or give up
the church. AS he could not afford the
assistant he decided upon the latter
course
On New Years Day the Flatbush Baptist
Church, Il new organization. which has
first services in the building. The Rev
George n Spencer, who was pastor of the
First Baptist Church. of Williamsburg 1In-
til its recent consolidation with the Cen
trail BAPTIST Church, will preach there for
The present.
Though the IIenox Road Baptist Church
Is less than half mile away, the leaders
of the new organization say that there are
so many EaptiStS in the sec.jon that there
win bc enough to fill their church too