The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1833-11-13
(From ihs Psvvideuee HsrsldJ
The Mefksdisf Church its Government
ifs Disepiins, and Is Influence.


;fs Discipline, and xs Influence.
No. 3.
Mr.. Editor :-As very good evidence
of that am scorrect ia my views as to
the arbitrsty character of the Methodist
mode Of Church Government. and dis
cipline. would quote an article from
" Evans Sketch Of the Denominations
Of the Christian World" Before in
troJuciug il, however. I would call the
attention Of the reader TO a simple re-
mark. People, very generally. imagine
that the members ofihe Methodist Com
munion, are universally satisfied with
the discipline. and mode Of Church GO
vernmept. that no discontent prevails.
and that all is harmony and good fellow
ship: This Is however, far from being
she case. a.
No doubt . vast number Of its men,
bers submit to such rules and regulations
without murmuring or complaining |; be-
ing persuaded that whatever their leaders
may determine on, must be right, and
never once dreaming That they possess
the privilege to think and act for them
selves. Others again, know that by rebel.
lion against the ecclesiastical authority
ofths Church, they, lay themselves open
to censure, and excommun ication, and
had rather wear their chains, however
troublesome, than expose themselves to
'hs perPIexity that always attends an op-
posite course while tAird class, from
interested motives. ostensibly submit 10
the described mode, as the surest me.
thod Of self aggrandisement. Neverthe-
less, there have been--there are those
who dey,ng the power Of Smother
Church." and despising msrcenary mo-
iives. have dared to break her chains
and cast of her yoke, and seek the free.
dom which she denied. An evidence,
This, that even Methodist themselves
complain of her arbitrary government,
and relieve themselves from il, at ali bs.
yards.
j" our country. a large and respect
able body Of professors, have separated
from the original order, and established
an independent ordsr.-Theif faith re-
mains tho samc-They arc still Me,ho
d's's-But they have adopted a mode of
government. which recognises the rights
Ut the people, as we'll as the authority of
the clergy, tho oLjec, for which they!
withdrew themselves, because unwilling
longer to subn', toecclesiastic despotism.
They have followed the example set bv
OTHERS. as the following sketch will
shew. -. ..'s..~
"rhe Nsss Methodist Csmmsniou a.
nong the followers of Mr.. Wesley, 90
perated from the original Methodist in
1877. The grounds Of this separation
they declare to be church gverument,
aud not doctrines, a. affirmed BY some
OF their opponents. They object to the
old Msthodists for having formed a hie-
rarchy, or priestly corporation, and say
that, in so doing. they have robbed
the people Of those privileges which,
ns members Of a Christian church, they
IRE entitled to by reason aud scripture.
The New Methodists have established
every part Of their church government
on popular principles. and profess to
have united, as much rs possible, the mi
nisters and the people in every dspart.
mcnt Off. Tiis is quite contrary to the
original government of the Melhodists,
which, in the most important cases, is
confined ouly to the ministers. Tbis,
indeed, appears most plainly, when the
Conierence. or Yearly Meeting, is con
sidered; for in this NEE ting no person who
not q travelling preacher, has ever
been suffered to enier as member of il:
md, indeed, this Is the point TO which
the preachers have always steadfastly
adhered with the utmost 6rmness and
resolution, and on which the division y,
present entirely rests. They are also
uPbraided by the New Methodis,s, for
having abused the power they have az.
sumed a great many Of these abuses
the New Mcshodisss hove formally pro-
tested against which are enumerated in
various publications, and pariicu ularly in
the Preface to she Life ofone Of their de-
censed friends, Mr.. Alexander Kilham.
Hence these New Methodists have been
some times danominated KiiAamites."
"Soon after Mr.. Wesley's death, many
things bad a tendency to displsase the
societies, and bring forward the divis nm.