USA > New York > Kings County > Brooklyn > History of the Wesley M.E. Church of Brooklyn, L.I. > Part 8
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A petition was presented by several of the young people of the church and congregation, requesting the
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HISTORY WESLEY M. E. CHURCH.
use of the lecture-room on Monday evenings, to hold weekly meetings for mutual improvement. On motion, the privilege was granted ; and the meeting adjourned.
YOUNG PEOPLE'S LITERARY UNION .- About this time, an earnest desire was expressed on the part of several young people, male and female, connected with the church and congregation, to form a society for promot- ing a literary and musical taste, mutual improvement, so- cial intercourse, and instructive entertainment among its members. The idea was favorably received by the pas- tor and the official brethren ; and permission was granted under certain restrictions,-that nothing would be tol- erated in their meetings which would in anywise, com. promise their connection with the church, or bring re- flection upon their own moral and religious character ; and that their meetings should be open at all times, to one or other of the Trustees, who might feel disposed to visit them. With these restrictions and conditions, the society was at length organized, officers elected, and a constitution and code of by-laws adopted. The name adopted by the society was " The Young People's Liter- ary Union of the Wesley M. E. Church, Brooklyn, N. Y. The officers were : Chas. E. Hotaling, President ; J. B. Stanton, Vice-President ; Joseph Aspinall, Secretary ; F. B. Nickerson, Treasurer ; Wm. Aspinall, Sergeant- at-Arms. Library and Musical Committee : R. P. McCully, J. Aspinall, J. E. Luckey, J. B. Stanton, Misses Riria Duane, Mary Stanton, Julia Lush, Jennie Quackenbush. Committee on Membership : Geo. Hogg, Chas. Nichols, Harold Booth, Minne Cornell. Society meetings Monday evenings at 7:30 o'clock. The soci- ety commenced under the most favorable auspices, and its meetings for a time were conducted with interest.
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Toward the end of May, the Sabbath School chil- dred turned out, as usual, in force, and took their place in the procession on the Brooklyn Sunday School Union's forty-fourth anniversary. On their return from the church and parade-ground, the children were re- ceived by their teachers and friends at the school house, where they were pleasantly entertained and amply sup- plied with refreshments.
At a meeting of the Joint-Board, held May 6th, in the class-room, the pastor in the chair, and Bro. T. P. Moses was appointed Secretary, on motion, it was re- solved to invite Philip Phillips, Esq., " the sweet singer of Israel," to give an evening entertainment of sacred song, at the earliest convenience his engagements would permit. The invitation was accepted, and the entertainment came off a few weeks afterwards, to the satisfaction and delight of a large and appreciative audience, who cordially thanked him for his kind con- sideration in coming to Wesley M. E. Church on the eve of his departure for Europe.
THE GENERAL CONFERENCE OF M. E. CHURCH HELD AT BROOKLYN, N. Y .- For the first time in the history of the Methodist Episcopal Church, by special invitation, the General Conference was held at the Academy of Music, Brooklyn, N. Y., on Wednesday morning, at half past 10 o'clock, May 1st, 1872.
This auspicious event, formed quite an interesting and memorable epoch in the history of Methodism in the "City of Churches." Never before, had so many bish- ops, presiding elders, itinerant preachers and lay repre- sentatives of the church from all parts of the United States, with the official delegations from Canada, Great Britain, Germany, India, China and Africa, assembled
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within the precincts of Brooklyn. To the ministers and members of our local Methodist churches, it was es- teemed, indeed, a soul-stirring festival-a great evan- gelical jubilee-a glorious pentecostal season, to hun- dreds and thousands who attended its meetings, and one long to be remembered. To the ministers and lay members of other denominations, who flocked in num- bers to the Academy day after day, to listen to the discussions, the Conference was looked upon as in- teresting and instructive, while the representatives of the secular and religious press did justice to the occa- sion, by devoting a large portion of their space to reporting its proceedings. One peculiar and unprece- dented feature, which marked the deliberation and ac- tion of the General Conference this year, with more than ordinary interest, and which cannot fail to be re- membered with grateful emotion, as being not only ap- propriate and timely, but productive of signal and last- ing benefit to the connection,-was the election and ordination of eight new Bishops to the Episcopal Coun- cil and spiritual oversight of the church. The names of these excellent and worthy ministers of the gospel who were thus consecrated and set apart to this holy and responsible office, are : Thos. Bowman, William L. Harris, Randolph S. Foster, Isaac W. Wiley, Stephen M. Merrill, Edward G. Andrews, Gilbert Haven, Jesse T. Peck. Among the many advantages derived from the meeting of the General Conference at Brooklyn, may be mentioned the facility which it afforded the churches of the city and vicinity, to have their pulpits supplied with eminent strangers from a distance ; and Wesley church was not the last to avail itself of the privilege. The Rev. J. T. Simmons, on May 5th, preached in the morn-
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ing, and Rev. Henry Mansell, of the Indian Mission, in the evening. May 12th, the Rev. S. S. Baldwin, of the Chinese Mission, occupied the pulpit in the evening. On May 19th, Rev. Mr. Waite, of the Genesee Confer- ence, preached in the morning, and the Rev. C. E. Man- deville in the evening. May 26, the Rev. J. H. Knowles, of Atlanta, Ga., preached in the morning, and the Rev. Mr. Swearning, of Ohio, in the evening. June 2d, in the morning, the Rev. Dr. D. D. Lore, Editor of the Northern Christian Advocate, occupied the pulpit, and in the evening, the Rev. C. M. Dinsmore, of New Hamp- shire Conference. From the foregoing record, it will be seen that the society at Tompkins avenue enjoyed its full share of ministerial talent, during the session of the Conference. It should not be forgotten to no- tice in this connection, that, the Rev. Dr. Jesse T. Peck, now Bishop Peck, promised to spend a Sun- day, and preach at Wesley Church, providing the offi- cial brethren of one of his former charges in Troy, N. Y., would release him from a previous engagement he had made with them, to re-open their church, which had been closed for some time on account of alterations and repairs. The good bishop wrote them, desiring to be released from his engagement, but they were inex- orable, and consequently we were deprived of the pleasure of hearing him again, who had been our for- mer and much beloved pastor many years ago, at old Green street M. E. Church, New York. The friends at Wesley church were somewhat disappointed on account of not meeting with the bishop, but hopes are still entertained of having the gratification of an episcopal visit from him before many years pass over,
REVISION OF THE BOOK OF DISCIPLINE .- The General
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Conference, during its sessions in Brooklyn, among other important services rendered the church, was a re- vision of the Book of Discipline; and in issuing this revised edition, the publishers have appended a brief address of the Bishops, which appears to us, ought to be carefully and prayerfully read by every member of the church. We therefore, take the liberty of transcribing their remarks, for the benefit of such as may not have obtained a copy of the same :
" To the Members of the Methodist Episcopal Church : Dearly Beloved Brethren-We think it expedient to give you a brief account of the rise of Methodism, both in Europe and America. In 1729, two young men in England, reading the Bible, saw they could not be saved without holiness, followed after it, and incited others to do so. In 1737, they saw, likewise, that men are justi- fied before they are sanctified ; but still holiness was their object. God then thrust them out to raise a holy people .*
In the year 1766, Philip Embury, a local preacher of our society from Ireland, began to preach in the city of New York, and formed a society of his own countrymen and the citizens, and the same year, Thomas Webb, a captain in the British army, and also a Wesleyan local preacher, preached in a hired room near the barracks. About the same time, Robert Strawbridge, a local preacher from Ireland, settled in Frederick County, in the State of Maryland, and preaching there, 'formed some societies. The first Methodist Church was built in New York, in 1768 or 1769 ; and in 1769, Richard Broadman and Joseph Pilmoor, two itinerant preachers from England, came to New York. These were the first
These are the words of the Messrs. Wesleys themselves.
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traveling Methodist preachers on the continent. In the latter end of the year 1771, Francis Asbury and Rich- ard Wright, of the same order, came over.
We believe that God's design in raising up the preach- ers called Methodists in America, was to reform the con- tinent and spread scriptural holiness over these lands. As a proof hereof, we have seen since that time, a great and glorious work of God from New York, through New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North and South Carolina and Georgia ; as also, of late, to the extremities of the Western and Eastern States.
We esteem it our duty and privilege, most earnestly to recommend to you, as members of our church, our FORM OF DISCIPLINE, which has been founded on the experience of a long series of years, as also on the observations and remarks we have made on ancient and modern churches.
We wish to see this little publication in the house of every Methodist, and the more so, as it contains the Articles of Religion, maintained more or less, in part or in whole, by every reformed church in the world.
Far from wishing you to be ignorant of any of our doctrines, or any part of our discipline, we desire you to read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest the whole. You ought, next to the Word of God, to procure the articles and canons of the church to which you belong. We remain your affectionate brethren and pastors,
THOMAS A. MORRIS, WILLIAM L. HARRIS,
EDMUND S. JANES, RANDOLPH S. FOSTER, LEVI SCOTT, . ISAAC W. WILEY,
MATTHEW SIMPSON,
STEPHEN M. MIRRILL,
EDWARD R. AMES, EDWARD G. ANDREWS,
THOMAS BOWMAN, GILBERT HAVEN,
JESSE T. PECK."
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HISTORY WESLEY M. E. CHURCH.
The first Quarterly Conference was held in the class- room, June 25th, 1872, Presiding Elder Rev. C. B. Sing in the chair. Members present : Rev. C. B. Ford, Pastor, Bros. Moses, Currie, Benson, Nostrand, Lush, Rogers, Miller, Tippens, and McLean. Bro. Moses was elected Secretary. Bro. D. W. McLean was approved, as Sun- day School Superintendent. The usual questions being called and answered, the Committee on Sabbath School reported as follows : Officers and teachers, 33 ; schol- ars, 235 ; Bible classes, 5 ; conversions, 3 ; volumes in library, 564 ; and the general state of the school in a healthy condition. The pastor in charge reported that during the quarter Julia A. Esterbrook and Julia M. Esterbrook, and Emma Horton were received into full membership. John Hegeman, Eliza Johnson, Jane Hege- man, Chas. F. Nichols, and Cornelia Johnson were re- ceived by letter. The attendance on the classes not very large for the membership ; the prayer-meetings are very well attended and sustained ; the congregations on Sundays good ; two or three persons profess conversion, and others manifest a desire to be saved. Although the state of the church is not altogether what we desire to see, yet we think the prospects are encouraging. The Estimating Committee reported the Pastor's salary at $1,500, besides the rent of the parsonage ($600.) Traveling expenses, $26.71. Support of Presiding Elder, $50. There being no other business, the Con- ference was closed by singing the doxology, and bene- diction by the Presiding Elder.
The regular monthly meeting of the Board of Trustees was held in the class-room, Monday evening, July 22d, Bro. G. E. Currie in the chair. The meeting was opened with prayer by Bro. Benson. Present : Bros. Benson,
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Currie, McLean, Moses, and Tippens. Bro. Moses acted as Secretary. The Committee appointed to examine and audit the Building Committee's accounts, including receipts and disbursements on account and in behalf of the new school house, reported that they had examined the same, and found them correct, and on motion, the report was accepted, and the committee discharged. On motion, it was resolved that a special meeting of the Board be held on Monday evening, July 29th, to which the stewards and leaders should be invited, for the purpose of considering the propriety of introducing the "envelope system " of raising the funds to meet the general expenses of the church. There being no other business, on motion, the meeting adjourned.
THE ENVELOPE SYSTEM OF RAISING FUNDS .- Instead of an adjourned meeting of the Board of Trustees, a special meeting of the Joint-Board was held in the class-room, on Monday evening, July 29th, the Pastor in the chair. The meeting was opened by singing,
" A charge to keep I have, A God to glorify ; A never-dying soul to save, And fit it for the sky,"
and prayer by the Pastor. Bro. D. W. McLean was ap- pointed Secretary. Present : Rev. C. B. Ford, Bros. Benson, Currie, Moses, Nostrand, Lush, Miller, Titus, and Tippens. The special business of the evening was the consideration of the propriety and practicability of introducing the "envelope system" of raising funds, instead of the plan heretofore practiced by making sub- scriptions semi-annually in the church and congrega- tion, toward meeting the general expenses of the church. Bros. McLean, Nostrand, Currie, and Benson were the
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principal speakers on the question, and after consider- able discussion was had, on motion, it was resolved that the subject lie over for further consideration at a future meeting. After the benediction was pronounced, the meeting adjourned.
The Sabbath School's Seventh Annual Pic-nic and Ex- cursion this year, was had, as usual, but as we have no ticket or programme or any other notice of the event, we cannot state positively the precise time or the particular place selected for this holiday's enjoy- ment.
RENTING PEWS OF THE CHURCH .- During the previous history of the church, up to the last years of Bro. Barn- hart's pastorate, various methods had been adopted in raising funds to meet the general expenses ; but chiefly, by periodical subscriptions, quarterly collec- tions, money paid in classes, fairs, festivals, tea meet- ings, &c. &c. It was found, after the current expenses had been met, those plans and devices had proved defective, irregular, uncertain, and withal troublesome to the members, and unsatisfactory to the officiary. After considerable deliberation, it was resolved to try the Renting of the Pews, as an experiment for raising a proportion of the funds, as a financial basis to- ward meeting the aggregate demand. Arrangements were completed for the new financial departure, and accordingly the members of the church and con- gregation were notified, and the time appointed for letting the pews, and commencing operations on the new system. As was to be expected, there were a few croakers, who did not sympathize with the movement, who declared that it was unmethodistic, aristocratic, exclusive in principle, and subversive of the old-
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fashioned doctrine of "a Free Gospel ; " and conse- quently must fail in accomplishing the end proposed. Notwithstanding these prognostications, the people re- sponded generally with cordiality of feeling and prompt- ly came forward and hired their pews. The rates fixed were moderately low so that all classes could be accommodated without any inconvenience, trouble, or extraordinary expense, from fifty dollars down to ten per annum; with the privilege of single per- sons securing a sitting at the nominal price of five dollars per annum; and still reserving the galleries free for strangers. By this method, there was raised about one-third of the amount neces- sary to meet the current expenses for the year ; thus leaving a little over two-thirds to be provided from other sources. . Upon the whole the experiment was deemed encouraging, although some of the official brethren still entertained the idea, that it would prove detrimental to the growth of the society.
The president of the Board of Trustees being friendly to the change, and anxious to give it a fair trial, felt it was necessary, as far as possible, to remove the prejudice and answer the objections urged against the system, which he essayed to do, by the following arguments :
1st. Renting the pews was not unmethodistic in prac- tice, nor contrary to the discipline in principle ; be- cause many of the Methodist churches in towns and cities throughout the Union had adopted the pew sys- tem, and there was no rule which he was aware of, in the Discipline forbidding the practice. 2nd. There was nothing as far as Wesley M. E. Church was concerned, either aristocratic or exclusive in its object or design,
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as the prices of the pews were so exceedingly low, that the poorest could be accommodated according to their circumstances. Neither was it designed, to exclude any stranger who might happen to visit the church, from any of the pews which were rented by the members ; while those in the galleries were free to all who might come and occupy them without money and without price. 3rd. While the pew system does not increase the burden upon the members, greater than that hereto- fore imposed, the rents can be collected with less trouble and more regularity, than by the system of repeated application for public subscriptions-thus doing away with the complaint often urged by strangers that "they cannot enter a Methodist church, but they are always begging"-"it is money, money, all the time." 4th. "Free churches" are a fallacy and snare, as they do not exist in fact, and very few are so endowed, as to pre- clude the necessity of raising funds to meet their ex- penditures. 5th. The so called "free" churches too frequently encourage and incite migratory habits among the people. Observation has confirmed the belief that many are compelled and induced, to wander about from place to place, as caprice, accident or solicitation may lead them, because they have no settled [Church] local habitation ; while others, to evade the pressure which sometimes is brought to bear upon them on "Subscrip- tion or Collection days," move themselves to other and less desirable quarters. 6th. The pew system, as thus proposed, promotes and engenders a home-feel- ing and proprietary right, in the house of God, and inspires a healthful spirit of independence, which delights to manifest itself in asserting its prerogative, by regular attendance upon a stated place of worship.
.
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REV. CALVIN B. FORD, PASTOR.
7th. It affords not only better facilities for members of one family to assemble together with one accord, in one place in the " House of Prayer," but serves as a help to parents, in maintaining during the hour of wor- ship, a convenient supervision of their children ; while it aids the pastor, in taking a survey of his congrega- tion so as to recognize the regular attendants, and mark with precision the vacant places of the absentees. 8th. The pew system tends to equalize the burden among all classes, at the same time it educates the people up to a proper understanding of their duty and privilege of con- tributing their substance, in a uniform and systematic manner, for maintaining a preached gospel ; while it does not in any way or manner hinder or prevent the enlarged liberality or munificent gifts of the rich and wealthy, to cast of their abundance into the treasury of the Lord, but rather serves to prompt them to greater diligence in this direction. 9th. The pew system is conducive to the building up and sustaining progressive and prosperous congregations and churches-in proof of which, reference may be had to four churches in this immediate neighborhood, not much older than our own, but less favorably situated with regard to accom- modation, and which are all numerically larger and bet- ter attended and chiefly sustained by renting their pews. Without referring to other evils than those already enu- merated as being connected with "Free Churches " it is concluded that the best, most convenient and least ob- jectionable method of raising, at least a fair proportion of the funds for supporting the gospel, is by renting the pews. The experiment was tried only for one year, at Tompkins Avenue, and some of the official brethren thought it was a failure, believing that it was the cause
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of keeping many from joining the church, and therefore it was abandoned. Subsequent experience however, proved, that a great mistake had been committed in giv- ing up renting the pews upon so brief a trial, as the congregation instead of increasing by the return to the old system, gradually became less ; so that those who were instrumental in abolishing the pew rents, were obliged to confess that, that method of raising funds had really nothing to do whatever with retarding the pro- gress of the church.
THE PASTOR'S SUMMER VACATION .- From the latter part of July till about the middle of August, the Pastor had leave of absence for his Summer vacation. This period was devoted to visiting his relatives, the Camp Meet- ings at Sea Cliff, near Oyster Bay, Merrick, L. I., and other places. Upon his return he was summoned to Milford, Conn., on account of his aged father, who had been taken dangerously sick, and for a time it was thought that he would hardly survive. During the Pas- tor's absence the pulpit was supplied by the Rev. Sam- uel C. Kellar, Rev. L. D. Nickerson, and other ministers in the neighborhood.
THE ADOPTION OF THE ENVELOPE SYSTEM .-- As soon as renting the pews was abandoned, considerable anxiety was felt with regard to the method that should be adopted in raising the funds to meet requirements of the Church. Some of the brethren had no disposition to fall back upon the old plan, of coming before the con- gregation so frequently, for subscriptions and collec- tions-if any other scheme could be devised which would reduce the number of public appeals for money, they thought it would be an improvement, and one wor- thy of trial. In the meantime Bro. McLean had been
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furnished with information relating to the successful working of the " Envelope System," in some of the New York churches, and he did not see why it should not prove equally successful at Tompkins Avenue ; he therefore brought the matter before the brethren for their consideration. After some discussion was had on the merits and demerits of the plan, the subject was laid over for farther consideration. A regular monthly meeting of the Stewards and Leaders was held in the Class Room on Monday evening, Sept. 16, Rev. C. B. Ford in the Chair. The meeting was opened with prayer. Bro. O. D. Miller was appointed Secretary. When the usual routine business was transacted, the " Envelope System" was brought up for farther con- sideration. After some lively discussion was had on the subject, by Bros. McLean, Benson, Nostrand, Currie, Miller, Lush and others, on motion, it was resolved that the "Envelope System" should be adopted ; and a committee appointed to carry the same into immediate operation. Bros. McLean and Benson were appointed such committee. The meeting was informed respecting the sad and unexpected death of their late much respected associate Bro. Thos. P. Moses, which took place at his residence, Tompkins Avenue, Aug. 27th, after a few days' illness. After several of the brethren had given expression to their feeling of sorrow and grief, at the loss which the Church had sustained in the death of their departed associate, and sympathy and condolence in behalf of the bereaved family, the meet- ing adjourned.
The Second Quarterly Conference was held at the Chapel, Willoughby Avenue, Oct. 1st, 1872. The Pre- siding Elder, Rev. C. B. Sing, in the chair. The session
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was opened with prayer by the Elder. On motion, Bro. D. W. McLean was appointed Secretary. Members present : Rev. C. B. Sing, Rev. C. B. Ford, Bros. Benson, Currie, Nostrand, Titus, Tippens, McLean, Lush and Rogers.
The following disciplinary question was asked and answered : What committees shall be appointed ?
Ist. On Missions -- Bros. Currie, Benson and Rogers. 2d. On Sunday Schools -- Bros. Miller, Lush and Potts. 3d. On Tracts-Bro. Titus.
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