Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-01-28
LOCAL BIG SIX"
Of CHURCHDOM
ARE PROSPECTING
They Are Centenary, ROseyille,
Central, St. Luke's, St. Paul's
and HaIsey St. M. E. Churches.

The churches of the Methodist de-
nomination in this city and vicinity,
which are closing the fifty third con-
ference year with the customary union
REVEALS. have had one of the most
successful terms in their history.
During the past year the local
Methodists have erected or planned to
build new edifces to the value of over
$50. 900. This grand total does not in
ciude the thousands of dollars that
have been expended for improvements
and repairs that LAY been added to
many of the eighteen parishes that
comprise the Methodist constituency In
this city.
The new edihces planned during the
year 1910 were the First Methodist
Protestant Church, costing $4,000,
now nearing completion. at Clinton and
Treacy avenues: the Summerfield
Church, which will be erected in Mt.
Prospect avenue. valued at $4,000; the
new De Groot Methodist Church, which
will be added to the present structure,
at South Orange and Littleton avenues
costing $40. 900, and the new Emmanuel
Methodist edilce, which the flock pro-
pose to erect on the acquired $4,000
site at Clinton avenue n Hedden ter
race, also 70 cost $4,000.
When the various changes were
made last April and a number of
prominent pastors were given new as
siguments, with a few being taken
from parishes that they had served for
several years, there was a hum of
dissatisfaction among many of the
1ocks, who did not approve. the re-
movni of their pastors. This feeling
nevertheless soon subsidized, and the
workers In the churches, realizing that
they had been favored with excellent
pastoral timber. soon Joined forces
with the new appointees, with the re-
suit that the general scope of the work
has greatly p~rospered.
The Rsv. DR.. George G. Vogel, who
WA assigned TO the Centenary Church,
to replace the Rev. DR.. A. c. McCrea.
who went to the formers charge at
the Emory Church, Jersey City, as a
peace offering to efface the discord
caused by the removal Of the Rev. DR..
Charles L. Mead from the CN1tenary,
has made good," and has been en-
abled to create harmony in the flock
and TO put every department of the
church In the most prosperous condi
tion.
The Rev. L. r. Bowman, of Weehaw-
kan, who came to the Eighth Avenue
Church, which has been struggling
against the encroachment in its
vicinity Of q growing foreign popula-
ton, has added nearly forty names to
the church roll during the year under
the leadership of the present divine.
ss.s from Small Elizabeth Flock.
Another pastor, who was sent here
from a large Elizabeth church to a
smaller flock, the old Trinity
Church, In Warren street, was the Rev.
Meacham. He is a divine of
the old school. but his work here, on
account of the location of the church,
has been somewhat uphill.
OF the younger divines the Rev. 3. f.
who was transferred from
assistancy at the Roseville Church
to the ~pastorate Of the Vailsburg
Church. has made an excellent record.
and without doubt will be returned
there for another year.
OF the other pastors who have served
two or more years there is some doubt
of all returning after the coming ses-
sion Of the f1fty-fourth conference,
which will early in April.
There IL an evidence of dissatisfaction,
as the date draws near, In some quar-
ters, and 1t Is understood that the
shake-up this yea will be welcomed
by a number of local clergymen. This
Is no reflection upon the abilities of the
disgruntled pastors. as The local Meth
odist dtvines are very able men. 1t is
because several believe that the grad
ing OF the appointments has not been
fair TO a number of divines who AVE
been called from large churches to
pmallor-salaried pastorates.
The large and influential parishes of
the denomination in this city, which
are known as the big Six" and are
coveted by the many f~rst-grade divines
In the Methodist Episcopal Conference,
comprise the Centenary, Roseville,
Cent u, st. Luke's. st. Paul's and the
Halssy Street churches. Their re-
speotive pastors are the Revs. DR..
vogel. Dorr r. Diefendorf, DIR. w. H..
Morgan. James H. Macdonald. William
o'Donnell and DIR. James c.. Howard.
During the past year he six churches
have prospered beyond expectations in
growth of membership n Sabbath
school attendance.
The lean of the Methodist clergy
mon, In point Of continuous service in
one church, is the Rev. DR.. Morgan,
of the Central Church, who is begin
ming his fourteenth year, His pastor
ate is one OF the longest In the history
~ InOai Mathndtcnn The DAx, noro IT
Diefendorf has served the Rosevine
church over five years. and the cree
ton OF the handsome new chapel, adj
Joining the edifice, attests to his sue
cess. He attracts more young people