The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1833-11-06
From the Providence Herald.)
The Methodist Church Its Government
its Discipline, and its Influence.
No .

In the discussion iuto WHICH l nave
now entered, 1 beg to be distinctly un-
derstood, that I do not wage war with
religion itself. On the contrary as l have
already stated my remarks shall only be
intended!to apply to Its corruptious, and
ns far as possible, to such as are peculiar
to the Methodist Church, and, which dis
tinguish that body from all others. Nor
shall my remarks be AIMED at the mem
bers Of that Church, unfortunately
for, from an extensive acquaintance a
mong them. can bear testimony, that
the Methodist Church contains as great
a proportion of honest, upright, kind
hearted, aud benevolent persons, as any
other. On tho contrary, the object is, to
point out abuses in practice, in disci-
pline, and church government, in the o.
pinion of many. at war with the princi-
pies of right, unwarranted by the pre-
cepss Of christianity, anti-republican, in
their character and bearing, from which,
the members of the church themselves
suffer, dangerous ia their operation on
society, and, for which, the leaders are
alone accountable. In doing this, the
first thing shall do, is, to glance at the
organization, and constitution Of the
church; for if these be wrong, we have
a ready solution'of the query, whence
do the trains of evil, If any, originate
The very first glance at the organIza-
ton ofthe Methodist Church, discovers
the first great principle Of despotism "a
set Of men, claiming to be rulers, with
out any power derived from their con-
siituents, without acknowledging any
power to reside in, or properly to belong
90 them; erecting themselves into soye-
reign and Independent body, and seizing
and exercising jurisdiction over the en-
tire mass Of tho members Of the church,
wiihoni the least possible accountability
f,r their doings. The General Confer
ence Of the United States, is the great
earthly head of the American Methodist
Episcopal Church, and its jurisdiction is
absolute.
In republican body, (and, as well in
religion ms in politics, no other should
exist,) the people erect the government.
prescribe its principles and operations.
choose those who are to govern them,
delegate 10 them what powers they
please, aud make them responsible for
their doings, to those who retain in their
hands, for ihefr own security, the ap-
pointing and removing powers. Such,
precisely, is the Baptist, Congregations
al, and other churches. These bodies
exist independently of Conferences and
Associations they appoint their own
officers, select their own pastors, make
their own laws, aud govern themselves
as they may deem proper. And, IT Con
ierences or Associations are formed, II
must he by their sanction, and they, by
their lay delegates, must be entitled to a
voice in their deliberations, or they viii
not submit to the government and con-
trol of those bodies. --All such associated
bodies, of most of the Christian denomi-
nations IN our country, are therefore de-
nendent on the Churches--they act by
virtue Of delegated powers the lay
members are more numerous than the
Clerical me einbers, and the latter are de-
pendent on the former. The churches
therefore are secure from Clerical demo-
n,ina,ion, bee euse they retain the power
in their own hands.
In the Methodist order, however, the
reverse is the case. The Conferences
selfcreated, and self constituted bodies,
exercising assumed powers, aud holding
jurisdiction over churches, which can
have no hand in their organization, no
power to nominate their members, no
priviIege to be heard by delegate, no
voice in their deliberations, and no veto
on their doings. The General Confer
ence is composed Of delegates, who must
be travelling preachers. from the Animal
Conferences. OF course, the whole go
vernmen, Of the entire body, is in the
rt All thaee nreach-