The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1843-04-26


ded by this Rev. Editor What is the ra-
tional inference to be drawn from this broth
erlv treatment Is it, that we consider
there is no "piety" out of the Methodist
church? Would members of other church
es be admitted to the communion table OF
the Methodist church and at times, to the
endowment of the other means of grace es-
tablished by the church, if they were des-
titute of piety! Such presumption en-
tertained by any one, and expressed, would
be species of gross SANDER against the
church. Such however is the case in the
present instance. We are called upon to
acknowledge by this Rev. Editor that there
"may be piety out of the Methodist
church, What is this but saying that
heretofore we have failed to acknowledge
the fact, and that too, in the face and eyes
of the privileges granted other christians,
which would have been withheld, had we
considered that there was no ''piety" with
out the pale of the Methodist church.
After being called upon by this Rev. Ed
itor to acknowledge that which has never
been denied, thereby imputing to us gross
destitution of christian love and charity,
we are sarcastically asked the following
questions:
"Will YOU act as brethren towards those
who may differ from you in sentimentl-
Will you instruct those who with warm
hearts and strong attachment to Method
ism, consider it meritorious to speak evil of
others, that there is better way?"
We would ask the Rev. Editor wherein
we have ever acted otherwise than ''breth'
rem" to those who may have differed or
still differ from us"in sentiment."Is it 10 be
supposed that at this late day, when there
exists the greatest necessity for. union of
effort among those who profess love for
Christ and his cause, that the Methodist
society of Middlebury are going to mark
out any new course of conduct TO follow,
towards other christian denominations! No
one believes this. Why then ask US TO "act
as brethren, towards those who may differ
from you (us) in sentiment" We con~
ceive the question would come with much
better grace and propriety from one who
was himself willing TO carry out the prin>
ciple it embraces, and not by one fell
swoop sever all other christian denomina.
lions from that to which he belongs, and
by direct exclusiveness UnchriStianize
Christendom itself We are also asked to
'instruct those who with warm hearts and
strong attachment to Methodism consid-
er it meritorious to speak evil of others, that
there is better way" II is unnecessary
for the Rev. Editor to ask this, for we be-
lieve there is none among US who "consid-
er it me:itorious to speak evil of others
We have not so learned Christ. The Rev.
Editor utter having accused us Of all that
is mean and contemplate by the way OF
slow intrigue, Misrepresentation" &c.,con-
descends to specify terms, rpon which lie
will look with complacency upon U.S.
terms, which if conceded to will secure 10
us, ''most cordially his hand and heart. -
They are us follows:
"If you are ready to receive US Is CHRIS
tan brethren, who love the Savior and de-
sire the prosperity of His cause, if you are
willing to treat US as brethren, and not seek
to injure our influence by false and SIAN
derous reports, if you are willing to seek
our spiritual prosperity, while we pray for
yours, we offer you most cordially our hand
and heart"
To the above we say, we are as ready to
"receive them 1.-THE Baptists) as christian
BRETHREN" as we ever was: we are as will
ling to "treat them as brethren" as we ever
have done;-we shall not descend to ''seek
to iniure their influence by false and SLAM
derous reports" for we never have done so,
notwithstanding we have been so charged,
we are willing TO "seek their spiritual
prosperity:' but not TO the utter neglect of
our own.
In turn we ask the Rev. Editor to exer-
else towards us, the same christian charity
we have ever exercised towards him;-to
cease pursuing the underhanded course of
proselyteing which we have reason to be-
lieve, he and others of his church have pur-
sued for months back-even to going into
families and by dint of urging, spersuading
those who had at first connected them
selves with the methodist church, to leave
their home, and uniting with him;-we ask
him TO break down that relic of anti chris.
tianity (cIose communion,) and not say TO
the millions Of christians, The table OF The
LOIU 10 uOt 'OF YOA, VIC doh haih ~ OAeSho
to others, the same privilege of thinking
and speaking upon the ordinance of Bap-
tism, that he enjoys. without being denoun-
ced in public journal, as guilty of ia 'gross
attack upon him and his sentiments" and
"unscriptural' and anti orthodox in Princi-
pie. These favors we most respectfully
ask. Whether they will be granted re-
mains to be seen. His article upon the
whole subject in question, closes with the
following charge reiterated, accompanied
with following threat.
"But if that low, intriguing course of
proselytism and Misrepresentation which
has been pursued within the last three
months. is persisted IN without being dis.
countenanced by the church, we shall
henceforth endeavor to expose it; and so far
as we can obtain names. we will publish
them, and thus let the public know who for
.,.-.o-a. will IaaI in ella ndpr