Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-07-17
The LACE DR.. BUNTING AND METH.
ODISM.
From the London Star, June 2i.l

=
The Wesleyan community has. within the last
few days, sustained the loss of its greatest and
ablest man. The remains of Dr. John Bunting,
whose name has been before the public for more
than half a century, and who has been univer-
sally acknowledged to be the % master mind
OF the Wesleyan Conference, were conveyed to
their hnal resting place on Tuesday. He died
in the SOth year of his age, and the j0th of his
ministry. The life thus extended to what hiss
been regarded as the extreme limit allotted to
man, and so large portion of which was ac-
tively occupied, was one of more than average
interest and value. Whatever opinions may be
entertained by our readers as to the character
and claims Of the religious system of Method
ism, no one who has been ebservant of the reli-
giOus life of England or acquainted with the
gigantic efforts put forth by Methodism to exs
tend Christianity In other lands can fail to ac-
knowledge that such system, continuously
successful, 20 earnest, and, notwithstanding
some drawbacks, so useful in retaining some
ut the lowest and most depraved of our fellow
ineh, mas claims upon our respectful notice and
affords matter for careful study
In TO ordinary degree the title of the late DR.
bunting is the history of Methodism. Sixty
years ago, when DR.. Il. entered the WESLEYAN
ministry, the Methodist societies might be said
20 have been mourning for their apostate foun
der, and the elaborate system of Methodism had
lost the hand that created and maintained il
An agitation originated by one of Mr. Wesley :
Preachegr, Rev. Mr.. kilham had first ended in n
small secession; but elements of discord and
strife remained, and were likely sooner OF later.
20 oereak out again, and end, perhaps in the to-
EN destruction of the connection. The authority
exercised by Mr.. Wesley, on tho ground of the
personal relation in which the Wesleyan socie-
ties stood TO him, their founder, but which be-
lore his death, he warned his preachers couId
not be rightfully successfully exercised by
any one else, was now assumed by theWesleyan
Conference, who claimed to stand in Mr. Wes-
g Dl0Cc towards he baI
ln the hands of feeble men such an undue
assumption OF authority must have led to con-
tempt, and ultimately to resistance and over
throw, but some of Mr.. Wesley's successors
were not feeble, but thoroughly able men, and
ols OF the ablest OF them-the Rev. William
Thompson, one of the earliest presidents of the
C6nterence-tOOk the youth, Jabez Bunting
under his tutelage, and is said to have first in
doctrlnated him into the working of the pecu-
liar ecclesiastical system of Methodism, and
k1nded In the young aspirant after Wesleyan
honors the ambition to attain dis:inc ton and
authority among his brethren, thus preparing
Tor future emnence the man who for 40 long a
period has swayed with almost absolute author
lty the destinies of MethOdism.
DIR. Bunting, even while comparatively n
youth, attained distinction in the Wesleyan
Conference. He was not long n member Cf it
before his extraordinary talent a debater
brought him into prominence. For felicity Of
illustration and keen apprehension, and for
IedIfAeSS IN reply, ne IL Sald, even by those
who did not admire his policy, to have had no
superior in any assembly in the kingdom
without much elOquence, he was always clear,
logical and persuasive. He was remarkable
for the souDdness of his Judgment, but still
more remarkable for the inimitable tact which
he invariably manifested. To attain the posi-
tion which he held being, in fact, dictator
IN MethedIsm, and still more TO retain it for so
long period, required no ordinary qualifca-
tons OF intellect and character. But he pos
sessed them all For long period his author
ity was absolute, his will was law and every
attempt at opposition brought down upon the
head OF the luckless offender the severest cen
sure the Conference could infict.
We are not now, however, so much con-
cerned with DIR. Bunting's personal qualities,
or with the facts of bis life, with the infu-
ence of that life and character upon the reli-
gious organization with which he was con-
nected. And here we are compelled to ex-
press our conviction that while Dr. Bunting
did much to advance MethOdism, he was Of
tentlmes too solcitous to serve it at the ex-
pense of other and higher considerations.
In his hands Method sm became respectable,
politically influential And this seemed the
great object of his life. For this he allied him
self with Toryism In Church and State and
dragged the Wesleyan Conference after him.
For this he aattered and petted, by connexional
honOrs. the rich men In Methodism. All bis
efforts, too, were intended to consolidate the
power OF the Conference over the Methodist
people, then establishing the disproportionate
lnhaenee OF few preachers in official situa-
lions over the Conference and ultimately hold
Ing the reins of power in his own hands He
was the Conference. He directed the move
ment: he pulled the strings Of the whole ma
chine That he exercised this authority in the
main wisely and we'll, and made Metbodism,
as he aimed ut doing, influential and respecta-
pie, Is; after all, but qualified praise: for in so
doing ne crushed out all individual freedom in
the wesleyan Conference. Liberty of speech
was almost unknown, aud the annual assembly
OF four or five hundred ministers became ONLY
court OF registration for acts that had been
already decided upon by one accomplished and
far-seeing, but sometimes INSCRIPTIONS mind
who used the tools he surrounded himself with
at MS own pleasure and to accomplish his own
purposes dis admirers said that these pur-
poses were Hot selfish, because they did not en-
rich him, and DR.. Bunting, with all his faults,
showed no love of money for himself or for its
own sake; but the desire Of self f-aggrandize-
ment In the case of public men is more fire.
4uent!y shown in the pursuit of power or the
other objects OF ambition, than in the pursuit
OF wealth DR. Bunting's whole life was de-
voted to the one object. the Capitalization of
all power in the hands of the Conference where
ne reigned supreme and alone
various attempts have been made by the
Methodist people, within the last fifty years to
obtain some degree Of ecclesiastical freedom
and the right Of self-government, but these al
why's iouhu IN Ut. bunting determined anu
successful opponent He was mixed up in all
The suites which have occurred in MethodiSm
for the last half century, and which have made
NJ proverb for contention and dispute.
In all ne was ever the uncOmprOmising an
tagonIst of reform concession. Indeed. TO
some extent, nearly all the agitations which
have shaken MethOdism for many years past
originated IN opposition to some of his acts, or
were brought into Immediate relation TO him
The Band Room controversy in Manchester,
the split arising out of the Leeds organ case
the "arrenits division in 1885, and the recent
agitation which has cost the connectisn n 100 0O0
members may be quoted as remarkable in
stances But, on the other hand to his praise
1t must be said that the great institutions
which have added so much to the glory and
efficiency Of MethodiSm were also as closely
related to him To speak of enc only-the