New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1918-04-20

money, one may readily realize the
truth Of the statement of one Of our
bishops who characterized our work
in New York as trying to empty
the ocean with a teaspoon
Plans for Future.
-"Readjustments and the Cen
tenary Campaign. The Board OF
Home Missions and Church Exten-
sion called together last November
group Of representative leaders from
all parts of New York city, to make
survey Of our Methodist work and
to decide upon some program of re-
adjustment that would carry forward
a. more effective strategy for our
work in the city. Without bringing
! forward the details of these plans at
| this time, it is sufficient to empha-
size the principles that were derived.
1t was agreed that Methodlsm
would be related to its task IN
| New York city more e1fecnVely
as it concentrated its work IN
strategic, well-equipped and we'll
manned centerS of service. Instead or
maintaining 81 charges on a starvation
schedule, we might, perhaps, MAINTAIN
two -thirds of this number with Such
increased support as would yield
larger results for the kingdom. There
fore, a map of Methodism IN the
Greater City was faced conscientious
ly by the men called together, includ-
ing the bishop, the district superln-
tendents, and a tentative outline was
drawn Of such adjustments as seemed
wise to those present. This, of course,
is subject to the final ratification of
all who are deeply concerned in our
local church. To illustrate what is
meant we have but to follow the
course already pursued with regard 70
our lower East Side work. 1t is with
in the memory of many members of
this conference that there were re-
naming below Fourteenth street as
many a half-dozen Methodist
churches in a state Of waning decline.
The equity of several Of these prop
critics was merged in the East Side
parish property and a Church of All
Nations established on modern, up-to-
date methods, so that we have both q
message and a ministry to the polyglot
population of this area. In the Cen
tenary campaign it is proposed to re-
build this entire property and supply
it with sufficient staff Of leaders and
helpers to adequately discharge our
responsibility to the population OF over
10000 in that part of the city. This
will provide first. for a worthy
Church of All Nations; second, an in
dustrial enterprise after the type Of
Morgan Memorial in Boston; and,
third a Hadley Rescue Hall on the
Bowery that shall be the standard OF
Rescue missions throughout the coun-
try 1t has been figured that this may
involve as much as 100000, but 1T
constitutes our chief responsibility if
nj fe to he
ulation in the city.
Thus we have sought to map out
series Of great centers of influence
for the denomination in the city. Over
in the New York conference a begin
ming has already been made where the
Thirty fifth Street church has been
merged enthusiastically with Forty
fourth street, in the property Of the
latter, and this property has been
transferred to the City society. That
whole West Side region, known as
'HelIs Kitchen from the Pennsyl-
vania railroad station up to the be-
ginning of the residential section In
the Sixtieth streets, presents one prob
lem and should have an adequate mis-
sion in it's midst. AS soon as the
money can be found it is our purpose
to plant such an institution in the vi
cinity Of the present Forty-fourth
Street church.
Facing Difficult Problems.
1--WE have on Manhattan Island one
section which is growing very rapidly
in population, and that is Fort Wash
ington Heights. Here is a population
of about 10000 between 16Sth street
and 1921 street where We have
abundant opportunity if a large work
no
was the first in this area nine years
ago, but has been handicapped with
a debt and partially completed build
ing and other churches have sprung
up around it through the help Of their
denominations, while we have allowed
our institution to lag behind for lack
of proper leadership and proportionate
financial assistance. 1t is purposed to
make this a special opportunity for
the current year, and, to meet it, the
board of home missions and church
extension has set aside $4,000 as
challenge for raising 10000 to COM
plete the church building and equip it
along modern lines of work. Based
on the experience Of others and the
time-tested genius of the Methodist
Episcopal church, We have no hesita-
ton in assuring our constituency that
in ten years, under the right leader
ship, we shall have here one Of the
strongest churches in New York
Methodism.
Coming again to the adjustments
necessary on our East Side, within the
bounds of this conference, we face
some of the most difficult problems.
From the table that follows it will
be seen that we have spent during the
past year, within the bounds of this
conference, SAP, Alto for carrying on
the work and maintaining the prop
erty. Less than eight per cent. of the
amount spent was received from all
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