The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1855-11-23
For the Post.
ATTENTION" METH0DISTS-oNE AND
ALL.

Mr.. Editor AS your paper ""s NV
general circulation in our community ina"
the various religious publications OF the Melho-
dist Church, | will beg the favor oil small
aimee in its columns, for the publication oil II
few thoughts suggested by passing events that
have come under my observation be not
clarified generous reader-Baptist, Presbyte-
rion. or any other-my business Is not with
vou. nor Won, critic or gainsayer, who are so
roodv 70 make light of serious matters, but
Nth the Nethodist-member and friends OF
the Methodist Church. There are many such
in the constant practice of reading the Post -
and whether Wing or Democrat, Know Moth
ing or anti Know Nothing, matters not to the
subject in hand And that such commune
cation as this should appear in secular
Newspaper, need not be a marvel. 1t is nei-
Their an injury nor disgrace for irreigious
people to think, and talk, too, abont religious
matters if done in proper spirit and tenn
per- But it is not my purpose to take the
pulpit, now that the preachers are all gone to
Conference, and preach You sermon on NOR
al duty. repentance and faith dc, only
propose having little pirate conversation
with you, Methodist readers of the "Post,
for our mutual benefit as Methodists; and MIR.
WINS (although he may be Know Nothing
as regards Metholism) is too gallant knight
to deny lis that pleasure
The Methodist Church is called by some
an "anti-republican church. but it seems to
me that the very declaration carries its own
.refutation with it, as it always institutes in
ouiry and comparison. Our preachers go
everywhere and any where, preaching to any
and every body who choose to listen; and
that, too, almost "without money" and most
certainly "without price," or at least they
are expected to do like the merchant--have a
price to task" and another to stake" And
it is astonishing that any man of common
ability and talent, with n spark of pride
about him, can ever consent to become
Methodist preacher. The secret can only be
found in "Woe is me if preach not the Cos
pel," as my conscience dictates. Neither the
Presbyterian, Baptist, nor any other denoml-
ton, claim half the amount of sacrifice of
time and prvation of their ministry that the
Methodsts do. The former may generally
STAY at home all the week attending TO their
secular concerns providing for and instruct
ing. their families and then by easy stages
reach tho church or churches Of which they
are pastor, on Sabbath morning; and then,
they have STATED salary which is liberal
day, to the neglect of houses and lands,
father and mother wife and children-"duty
calls, must obey" The meai.tub is empty,
the last piece OF meat is on the fire. but
must ego" This is not an over wrought pic,
tnre of biased magination-thnk of it
think again! and let Methodist people do
their indiuidul duty. But some will say, per-
haps, "why have Methodist Church or Meth
odist ministry if it involves such an amount
of sacrifice and self.deniali Let us go to the
witch of Endor" and see if she will raise
US the shade of Wesley, and other of his
compeers-perhaps they will answer that
query if our knowledge and experience is at
faulti And the thousands, nay, millions of
worthless proclaimed the glad tidings of free
salvation, not in splendid churches, carpeted
and pewed, and served by a luxurious divine,
or perchance his "curate," on the Sabbath
onlv, but in the lanes, and streets, and open
mir wherever the poor with their dirty faces
and soiled garments dare assemble Let
these answer l am proud of the Methodist
Church, Notwithstanding its humble origin,
for it is the offspring of Providence. Of its
efficiency to the end designed | need not
speak. We are not willing to dispense with
its benefits to us. But are we willing to do
our dutyi or do we know what that duty isl
Methodist preachers are men of like passions
with their fellow men, moved upon by the
Holy Ghost to preach the Gospel, and we ex-
meet them to do it-ndeed we are very scru-
pulous about the matter. They must preach
us fine sermons that do not offend "ears pc
lite" in fact, we take the liberty of complain
ing a great deal if the preacher does not
come UP to our standard of excellence But
let us be cautious-may.b some Of us "croak'
ers" live in 'glass houses" Let's see. "The
preacher from s. Circuit did not receive
his stated allowance by fifty dollarh The
Y Circuit lacked some also, and even
p Station is in arrears to the preacher.
These complaints are general, and indicate a
lack of performance of duty somewhere. 1t
is not necessary to advocate the legality OF
the claims Of the Methodist clergy, or any
other, to support. No reasonable man who
has read his Bible will deny that the "laborer
is worthy of his hire and woe to that man
by whom "his wages are kept back" If they
70 and preach as God commands, and as we
expect them to do, how are they to live If we
tic up our pursestrings and not contribute,
each one his proportion, to the support oil the
gospel Are Methodists willing to see their
preachers begging" as they are so often
snecringly accused Of doingi Have we no
sectional pride, not to appeal to higher mo
tives, that prompts wish to see our ministry
as comfortably provided for as the ministry
of other churchesi 1t is q humiliating fact,
and should keenly penetrate every Methodist
heart, that our preachers are compelled to
"beg" sometimes or starve. If they were to
yield to the promptings of the independent
American heart that throbs in their bosoms,
they would go to work." as is sometimes