The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1855-11-23
For the Post,
"ATTENTION," METllODIST5--ONEA AND

general circulation in our community than
the various religious publications of the Metho
dist Church, I will beg the favor of a small
space in its columns, for the publication of a
few thoughts suggested by passing events that
have come under my observation. BE not
startled. generous reader-Baptist, Presbyte.
rian, or any other-my business is not will,
you; nor you, critic or gainsnyer, who are 50
ready TO make light of serious matters, but
with the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. 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 antiKnow Nothing, matters not to the
subject In hand. And that such a communi.
cation as this should appear in a secular
newspaper, need not be a marvel. 1t is nei-
ther an injury nor disgrace for irreligious
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. &c. | only
propose having little private conversation
with you, Methodist readers of the post"
for our mutual benefit as -Nethodists; and Mr..
Wins (although he may be Know Nothing
as regards Methodism) is too gallant knight
to deny us 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
luiry and comparison. Our preachers go
everywhere and any where, preaching to any
and every body who choose to lsten and
that, too, almost "without money" and most
certainly "without price," or at least they
are expected to do like the merchant-have
price to task" and another to take" And
It is astonishing that any man Of common
ability and talent, with spark Of pride
about him, can ever consent to become a
Methodist preacher. The secret can only he
found in "Woe is me if / preach not the Cos.
rsl," as my conscience dictates. Neither the
Presbyterian, Baptist, nor any other denom.
tion, claim half the amount of sacrifice Of
time and privation of their ministry that the
ALethodists 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 the church or churches of which they
are pastor, on Sabbath morning; and then,
they haze Stated salary" which is a H5erds
one. The latter must go" rain or shine, every
day, to the neglect of houses and lands,
father and mother, wife and chiljren-"iuty
Gale, 1 must obey" The mea,.tuL is empty,
the last piece OF meat is on the fire, but
must "go." This is not an over wrought pie.
ture Of n biased imagination-thiuk of it
think again. and let Methodist people do
their imdividm 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.denial' Let us 60 to the
"Witch of Endor" and see if she will raise
us the shade of Wesley, and other Of his
ompeers-perhaps they will answer that
query, if our knowledge and experience is at
fau1t3 And the thousands, nay, millions of
poor now in heaven to whom these ancient
worthless proclaimed the glad tidings of free
salvation, not in splendid churches. earpeted
and pewed, and served by luxurious divine,
or perchance his "curate," OIL the Sabbath
only, 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
speak. We are not willing to dispense with
its benefits to u.s. 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 felow-men, moved upon by the
Holy Ghost to preach the Gospel, and we ex-
pect them 20 do it-indeed. We are very scru.
pulous about the matter. They must preach
US fine sermons. that do not offend "ears po
lite" in fact, we take the liberty of complain.
ing great deal if the preacher does not
come up to our standard of excellence But
let us be cautious-may.be some Of lis "croak
ers" live in "glass houses" Let's see. "The
preacher from S. Circuit did not receive
his stated allowance by fifty dollars. The
" Circuit lacked some ALSO and even
p Station is in arr ears to the preacher"
These complaints are general, and indicate n
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
20 and preach as God commands, and as we
expect them to do, how are they to live if we
tie up our purse-strings and not contribute,
each one his proportion, to the support Of the
gospel. Are Methodists willing to see their
preachers ':begging," as they are SO often
sneerngly accused Of doing! Have we no
sectional pride, not to appeal to higher mo,
lives, that prompts wish to see our ministry
rs comfortably provided for as the ministry
Of other churchess 1t Is a humiliating fact,
aud should keenly penetrate every Methodist
heart, th4 our preachers are compelled to
"beg" soafetimes or starve. If they were to
yield to the promptings of the independent
American heart that throbs in their bosoms,
they wouid "go to work." as is sometimes
said, "they may do for me-" do
not believe that there is a Methodist preach.
er in the Holston Conference but what would
l..