Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1860-04-20
From the vasehmaa aaa Issiseses
METHoDIsM.

The I.sle and Times OF Wesley. las az
ready been noticed IN this paper. aud per-
haps little more nsed be said. 80 Gar a.
Eeempsnaag i lo be sstea,iaa oi oar
sread.ss. lat aisliaodi-sa u hew play
lsg sneh an iuapessant part b sisa rels-
gious wor.d. the watcher fer the signs q
The times esnnea be- ssso assla awake. witt
! sregaEd g is saqvYats. Nsxspser ssay
il'sifts ify, fhsss sre esxss.'a 'ss~ssp--
enclosed 10 It's past. worthy 70 BE- consid-
cred By other denominations, would lhey
come into possession Of IL spirit, and
avoid ITS dangers. There are some
things now apparent. which seem TO ia
dicaie that it Is passing through transit
,ion period, and there are some reason,
to fear that ere long it will slip back into
the place from which il started. An
oligarchical-democracy may slough OF
the democratic elemeal, and resume it,
original oligarchical form. !, rose out
Of the ashes Of Episeopaey, and il mas
be resolved into its Constituent elements.
We do not say this for the sake OF eroak-
ing. We are no bind Of evil omen.--
Methodism has alway commanded our
respect, for lis ieryor, is heartiness aud
lis unity and We should lament the
day, as much as any, TO see 20 much ma
merical and spiritual strength palsied by
the cold hand Of Journalism, ard buried
beneath the icy crust OF a ritual. Bot
without the hand OF God, TO lead IL
through the dangerous passes Of wealth,
intellect and social position, three great
: powers in the kingdoms which are Of
this world, the prophecies Of lis early
leaders, that when its work was done i.
would be laid aside, may be verified IN a
sad and fearful lul6Imeni.
When Mrs. Wesley, the mother oi
John aud Charles, replied--to the com
plant Of her husband, the rector OF Ep-
worth, that she was usurping bis pro-
vince, because IN bis absence she gather
ed the people together and read sermons
: mand me to desisi," she touched ih,
spring which has been the secret 10 ID,
successes OF Methodis.n. There lay if
embryo, the law, which, issuel and en-,
forced by tue legislative skin Of her sor
John, has given TO his doctrines the tire
: mendous influence they now possess
There is to be found the source of Mr
Sleyeus's boast, that Methodism - h,l
7 sustained i,s orthodoxy by devoting il
I chief care TO its spiritual life, and 10
more than a CENTURY has had 10 seriou
" outbreaks Of hrresy, notwithstanding To-
! masses Of untrained minds ga,heret
+" within its pale. and the general lack o
4 preparatory education among ils clergy.
Il II has sought 10 retain is spiritual hrari
That Is true Bur il has done more
7 In this country, at least, l. has central
D. ized is power, putting ii into ihe hand
"a Of few; thus giving the digset
nlembra' the consistency and perman
'e ence Of unity. For ourselves we al
"a ehary Of this power, though there
E something IN The result Of il beautiful {
the eye because Of its symmetry. an
cheering to the heart, because Of It's &
re,istibleness- We are afraid of il, hos
ever, because there Is 50 much thar
" human and 50 little that Is Divine. "
30 not deny tie renuiuaacss 9f lhe piei
amorg the MASSES vino are moved
this power, aud by no means question q
purity Of the zeal Of the Wrsleys, wlis
cenlering 50 much Of !, in ihe1nselyes.-
The staring -poios ia the piriy Of WIN
field and Wesley was as different
their subsequent staad-points, as II
heads Of a great reformation. The 50
reached by 18th was natural and histol
cal. Bot le, mans prestige for d
irines be what ii may, 4 he nad lle
~ volumes upon the History u Meilioiis
wilh any desire to reach back iaso {
ii causes OF things, be viii aeknowIsds
- without controversy, that Whi,vlisld +
"a God in wbere Wesley dropped linn q
~ Mr.. 5. lhinks iha Wbtehuhi was .
~ born TO rule undoubtedly 81, bus be y
willing that God .hogld rule, and dil :
+, lear 10 lrass iAe coasensd ma-s, 10 {
!, lleadship Of bis Master. Wesley /
- lear this ana lhs human elgment y
's 70 strong ia b. hleas Of church gosei
nasnt, it nssa auaksn 30 surprise II !
pendulum. swinging % i's hsaits, stops
thai place ia the are shere lsah ia q
!. svak. aad lauh la man sapFesas.
Psrasiog ihess selamvs, oas i slrs
- with shs very osxioas eoaieast bets.
.eat the glsrioss display u The poser of {
q Ia he origin aad progrsss IF Eagi
w. Msihodiaaa. ana tbs feeble AeknowIe
4