American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-08-02
[Communicated.l
Iethodis Preachers in once.

".. ..E#. ,.s r.a communicated ........
Methodist Preachers in once.
MEssRs. EDIToRs: Judging from the effort
he has made to keep the g field" it would seem
that my last communication g had stung Com
mentator' to madness" Sorry for that-espe-
cially as he tells us he has descended from such
pious ancestors, and would have us believe that
he. is most pious spirit! Not doubling his
statements in regard to their piety, it is to be
feared, nevertheless that the, resemblance be-
tween him and them, in this particular, is far
from being as strong as it should be. He viii
most likely have to labor some time yet before
he shall have convinced his readers that his
motives have been of. very pious character
while writing of late against Methodist preach
ers. That do not misrepresent him in saying
that he has attributed the basest motives to
those of them in office, observe the following
extracts from his last communication:
"When the holy oracles tell us that the har-
vest is great and the laborers are few as it re-
CARDS that vast portion of the world yet un-
christianized, is it not melancholy to behold
learned and experienced preachers, who started
out to help to evangelize the world, and asked
for nothing but living in their holy cause, and
to be taken care Of should they live to old age
and decrepitude, turning back to look earnestly
after office, money, and fesh-pots, in the be-
stowal of politicians high in temporal power .
"But is the sight SO noble to behold those of
the flock who set out in the humble calling,
with bright prospect of reaping crown Of
immortal glory, turning away from their cir
1cuits and pulpits, in robust health, to accept at
the hands of ambitious, political leaders, high
in Office, cerkships with salaries of Sl, 200,
ST 400 and 81, 500 year? Does it not look as
if they might be after the fesh-pots rather than
to save the souls of their fellow-men, and confer
unfading honor upon the Methodist church,
Now, sirs, what are the facts in reference to
these men, so vile in the estimation of g Com
mentator ?" | believe l know nearly, if not
quite, all the Methodist. preachers employed in
the service Of the Government in this city, and
with the exception of a small minority they are
not members of Conference, but of the g Lo-
cal Order" and, consequently, could have left
no circuits for the sake of office and in every SOL
itary instance, besides, SO far as my knowledge
extends, it is not matter of preference but of
necessity and regret, that they occupy their pre-
sent positions. In most instances this necessity
arises from impaired health, and consequent
inability to perform the full duties of that min
istry for which "Commentator" manifests SO
much concern. But for this inability assure
| bis pious soul, that the number of Methodist
preachers acting as clerks would very soon be
greatly diminished. With these facts before
| US, which no one competent to judge will deny,
how ought we to look upon the base charges
made against these men by '' Commentator ~ .
1t is untenable ground that there is any diff
ference, politically, between ministers and other
men, Why should man be less entitled to the
confidence and favor Of his Government, be-
cause the best part of his life has been sacri-
hio hrnl IN,
bly, endeayoring to do good to his fellow-men2
But this worthy gentleman can see no neces-
sity for Methodist preacher seeking support
for himself and family, in this way, even when
disabled by ill-health or otherwise He tells
US that /" For such pious, good Christians
speaking of her ministers -" the Methodist
church has q large fund in store, which
takes care Of them in sickness, lameness,
and old age" What an accurate guide this
man would make His articles should Ger.
tainly be preserved as a matter of history
to coming ages. Will he please tell us in his
next effort in what this "fund" consists |
know of no such fund, except what arises
from the yearly dividend, among the several
annual conferences, of the interest on what is
called the chartered fund.- very small fund
indeed-and the profits on the sale Of books by
the General Book Concern. This--in those con-
ferences where the needy claimants are only
ordinarily numerous-does not generally ex-
ceed ten per cent. on their disciplinary claim
which I" Commentator" himself seems to think
is not large; while in many instances, where
the claimants are more numerous, it does not
come up to that sum. Yet Commentator"
allows that these preachers are amply provided
for in case they become in any way disabled for
their regular work Certainly his ancestors
(preachers) must have been more highly fa-
vored, in point of support, than Methodist
preachers generally are, or ever have been, or
else he has forgotten many Of the statements
they doubtless made in his hearing
His statement that "John Wesley taught the
doctrine of sinless perfection" shows "Com-
mentator'' no less ignorant Of Methodist theology
than he is of certain other points upon which
he presumes to speak Mr.. Wesley taught the
doctrine Of christian perfection but man
writing for the public ought to know that Mr..
Wesley md the Methodist church make wide
difference between "sinless perfection" and
christian perfection. They have ever treated
this charge as vile SANDER. s
Now, sir, what are we to think Of man who
TO say the least) viii make such unqualified
and reckless statements upon serious matters
of factri Does he depend wholly upon his
imagination for his facts, or does he design TO
make such gross misrepresentation One or
Il tbo otbar pon.t ba tbn t,n,th In tha naaa and