New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-15
ClergyDenyJohn
Streets Right to l5Oth
Anniversary.
.SECT'S DIGNITARIES
WRANGLE IN VAIN
MARYLAND Insists Log Cabin IS
the True Birthplace Of
MethOdism Here.

Was a log cabin down in Sans
Creek. Carroll County. Md. or sail
loft in William Street. near John
street. the first Methodist Episcopal
Church IN America,
This momcntous question. the SUBJ
ject of a controversy among nigh Dig
nitaries in the church, started four
wears ago. and will come up for settle
ment AT the General Conference meet
ing at Saratoga next month. sides
have been taken openly on the issue.
So bitter is the feeling engendered that
Methodists down IN Maryland. Ignoring
the credited history Of the Church. held
q celebration two years ago in honor
Of the 10th anniversary Of the founda-
ton Of the Oldest Methodist Churcn IN
the country. which they said was
erected at Sans Creek. 4 monument
marks the site.
Here in New York, Methodists are
nreparinr 20 celebrate in October this
wear the l5Oth anniversary of the John
street Methodist Episcopal Church. on
which site they insist the first Netho-
dist Church in this country was built.
Their claim is backed By Church rec
ords and has official sanction OF the
General Conference. the Church's Law
making boGy.
Founded Here in 1860.
Methodist Church history reyeal'
that Philip Embury. a missionary al
rived in New York from Limerick. Ire
land. in 1860. lie founded the Metho-
dist Society and held meetings In ms
home. where Broadway and Park'Place
now is. Ills following quickly grew
and he moved TO "a larger mouse. Wheh
this congregation outgrew ITS ne" nome
he began holding services IN SAT-
loft in William Street. between Johh
and Fulton. This was in l'on one
wear later Embury had raised enough
money 20 found church on the size
Of the present John street church'
The society he founded has always con-
t,nued and the church has never been
without pas Le4. inc PAN'N"@ f
is the Rev. /. X. Streeter.
MARYLAND Methodists claim that koo-
ert Strawbridge sailed from ireland two
wears before Embury and founded the
first church at Sans Creek. fifteen
miles from Baltimore. There IS no Of
fcially approved record OF TINS, out
there was church az Sans creek,
which lasted few years.
In 1912 the subject was brought up
a. General Conference meeting and a
commission Of seven clergymen ap-
pointed 10 solve the mystery OF the hrst
church The meeting was held IN Bal
timore. and here enters politics.
Celebration to GO On.
Seven representatives. were invited
from Southern churches 10 vote on the
question" said the Rev. Carroll yes
terday. when the Rev: Kelley. the
Rev. Chadwick and myself reached the
meeting we refused 10 vote. The vote
said that the church founded at Sans
Creek was the oldest in America
The board Of bishops. according TO
the Rev. Carroll. then requested that
action of the commission be deferred
until the meeting of the general con
ference this year; the conference
nored. and two years ago the Southern
churches celebrated the sesqui-centen-
NAL at Sans Greek.
Yesterday the original commission Of
seven. minus the Rev. Chadwick. who
has since died. met at the Methodist
Episcopal headquarters, $50 Fifth Ave
nue.. 70 determine whether the first
church was a sail loft or a Southern
log cabin. Evidently II is hopeless
task for the Fasteners, as the Rev.
Carroll said. There will be a minority
report made TO the general conference
Directing to the adoption of the re
port that the Maryland Church is the
Oldest"
Meantime. the Rev. S,rcctcr is busy
getting ready for the sesqui-centennial
celebration NJ tho John Street Church.
at will last "A week he said last
night. There ia no mistake. tho John
street Church is the oldest church