Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1853-09-10
For the Sout1ern Standard.
ING
On the economy and discipline Of the Methodist
CkurcA, revieaed


musement to Methodists, and might be passed
without any notice from US, but for the thought
that there may be others who are as innocent of
anv acquaintance with the ecclesiastical affairs of
the churches around them as he, and who deserve
to be better informed He has made the discove-
ry and published it to the world that the govern
ment of the Methodist Church is Episcopal; and
that such form of government is laid down in its
discipline He then with an air of triumph asks
if "Episcopos" and his ''endorsers' are aware of
these facts This is too much 1t comes out
then by "Lac's'' own showing, that he has read
for professed to) "Episcopos" and written all his
lucid and profound articles in its refutaton-and
yet don't know what those ''reasons' are directed
against Nay more, that he has lived all his life
in the United States surrounded by million or
two Of Methodists-who are filling every nook and
corner of the land, and yet, does not know what
is the general character of their church govern
ment docs not know the difference between the
Methodist Episcopal and Protestant Episcopal sys-
TENS of Episcopacy! For we are not at liberty to |
suppose him SO utterly destitute of honesty as to
know this difference and yet write as he does for
effect. Charity requires us to place this wonder
full bunder to the account of his utter want of in
formation touching the subject upon which he feels
called to enlighten the public Small favorS may
be thankfully received. The public mind is oc-
cupied in some parts of the country with the in
quiry "what will be the characteristics of any
fresh instauration, by which the presence of the
Bacon of the 18th Century may be detected. -
We beg to submit the profound and brilliant es-
says of Laic upon ''Episcopos" and ecclesiastical
polity, in proof of his claims as the philosophic
Mesias of whose appearance the brth-pangs of
the succession have become prophetic. He
seems to think he has made another wonderful
discovery when he learns that the ordination SER
vice used by us, is an abridgement from the Book
of Common Prayer and he evidently intends to
convey the idea that there are no other questions
propounded to the candidates, than those propoun-
ded by his own church. If he does not wish to
make this impression what is the object of his
quotation from "Episcopos ?" See Standard of
July 9th, bottom of first column. If he does, his
acquaintance with the subject again appears
Had he turned to page AZ of the last edition of
the Discipline, where the form of receiving Min
listers into the Conference and ordaining them
Deacons is found, he would have read among
many others, the following questions to the can
didates." "Have you faith in Christ care
you going on to perfection Il? care you resolved
to devote yourself wholly to God and his work
&c &C., But to have seen these would have
dashed the meriment, he must have felt when he
penned the paragraph, and would have robbed
the world of that gem. ''Laic'' says again with
his usual accuracy, that ''the only instance where
Elders are permitted to ordain' is where ''by
death, expulsion, or otherwise there is no Bishop
remaining in the Church p Now what will the
reader think to be informed, that in every ordina-
ton to the Eldership in the Methodist Church,
Elders aid By the imposition Of hands. See Dis
cipline page al. The same is true also of the
ordination of Bishops. Discipline page 1911 In
this they follow the principles and practice of the
Primitive Church. See Bangs Original Church,
page 81 &c, Powell, page 1884, as also the prin-
ciples and practice of the English Church, until a
purblind Puseysm, corrupted its simple scriptural
character. See Prayer Book of Edward VI, DID.
: 417-422. This champion of Popery stripped of
all authority and honesty, says emphaticaly 'that
the plea of necessity lies at the base of the as
sumption of the power of presbyter ordination,
aOhenever that ordination is relied on throughout
! christendom." The reader will please look at the
passage cited from the Discipline, and Judge how
much truth there is in this assertion so far as it
! regards Methodsm. What necessity is there that
Presbyters should impose hands in the ordination
f of all Elders and Bishops in our church? Per-
, haps he will tell US where Presbyerians base their
n ordinations on the ground of necessity, as he is
well versed in church history-do it for our ed
ifcation Mr.. Laic. Again, waxing warm in his
zeal for Churchianity, he utters the following
GA close examination of this plea of necessity
: it would be found to be based upon distrust O
= Gods providence; =. X a suspicion that cir
4 cumstances may occur for which he did not pro-
e vide; an infdelity which + + = insidiousIy un
II dermines reverence for holy things" &c. He lit
n tie thought where such shafts as this would hi
and who of the "Church's" champions it would
,r strike down. Bishop White-for many years the
n distinguished head of the Episcopal Church in th
d country, speaking upon this very point in refer
d ence to "the church. says, ''to relinquish thu
e worship of God, and the instruction and reforma
u ton of the people, from scrupulous adherence t.
;. Episcopacy, is sacrificing the Substance for thu
: ceremony" He adds further, that this same ne
d cessiy or erpediency proposed by Arch Bishop
is Tiotson, Bishop Patrick, Stillingfeet and Others
at the revolution and had been actually practiseC
in Ireland bv Arch Bishon Rramhall He afSrn,s