The southern press., 1852-01-01
The Methodist Church southl

The disunion of the Methodist church, by a
dividing line nearly identical with >gfuat which
distinguished the slaveholJing md nor, slave
holding States, offers political study, both in
tsresting and instructive. considering it Ga. vi
have read with attention. the proceedings Of \
general meeting of the members of that denomiI
nation in the city and county Of Philadelphis
held on Thursday last.
The object of this meeting was to eecure an
expression Of opinion in favor of represental
ton OF lay members in the conferences Reso.
'utions to that effect were adopted with but few !
dissenting voices, and call was made on the,
members OF the Methodist church throughout
the North, to unite in a convention at PhiIadel-
ptla in March next, for the purpose of pressing
this radical change on the general conference u
the church.
In the course Of the discussion it appeared
that this spirit of innovation was no sudden}
thing, but had been for some time 80 ing itsj
poison in the church. In fact. the extent to5
which agitation had been carried on the subjects
was given by one of the speakers a. his reason1
for advocating the change. He said
"Ihe effect which non representation from
the lsity has had upon the church---disturbny
its peace, is the very reason would assign why
we should effect that object. II is impossible
to suppress the agitation only By this measure.
hope the friends of the church will pive their
influence to this measure. so that the thing will
be put at rest, and to destroy the constant dis.
cord which it causes"
Innocent MI. David Kollickl If he had been
politician, he would have remembered that he
was using the precise argument which men
urged for admitting abolition petitions in Con-
gress. The whole country, said they, Is con-
vused about this right Of petition. Let US re-
thn poti nd bovn H. ~,sxl AZ =
roar. Well, they received the petitions, but difl1
they have done with the uproars
In point of fact, however, the argument n
vastly older than either abolition or Methodism
It happened in the days of the patrarchs that al
lion came upon sheep fold, and straiQhtwoy
began to roar in most fearful way--to tear upi
the ground, and to strive to break into the fold.
Tho sheep were greatly disturbed--bleated mis-.
crafty, ard huddled into corners And this con-
tlnucd for some time, when an old ram, who(
was rather in his dotage, stood forward and said
my friends, we shall never hive any peace asI
long us this continues--let US admit the lion. and|
put an end to the disturbance" The Methodist
church North, are, ws Aink in fair wsy to|
take the old Fsss's sasics, ~ we give them joy
of their counsetlsysF
Another vsty dsss.stisg }issyu-e IL the htsso,y|
Of the Method@f eharch vas disclosed III thi
u'oOus~AVts. WS~ ta93 tuo Onurcn N0fE0ss0AG}
decreased y ths rumAer Of its membstxsinc&|
the sspasstion; wtaIe the Church Sesah -hsa|
largely inc1eeaed The statistics are az folio kt
The Cnurch North had members, in
- .. 7saiss
81 1921 7o3 11ks
--.-.s44
nscrssse in years ~. .. 2s,6s9
tne Cnurch South had in 1914 43G2o1t
\" ao4l .. 6lA081s
---A.-..&ssf
increase In years W1o1S
These results were introduced 10 peesn 4 J1R
the Northern church was in . state a
and needed reforming, shaking up and m
ing. 1t seems to us they have had toSi "a
that already. Its their radcalism that ~
the division of the church, and ihs spea p
introduced these statistics, did not hesjgl y
tribute the decline Of the Church Nob1 ~ f
separation from the South, and yet hs'
further innovation as cure for the esj&E Ct
tainly we live in a wise age - CAsrls sa61
curry. " ydv;