The Portland daily press., 1869-06-19

We republish this morning the letter of Rev.
e. q. Reyes, giving his reasons for withdraw
ing from the Methodist Society, and adyocat-
ing the doctrines Of the New Jerusalem Church.
Our edition containing it was soon exhausted.
and the call for it is so urgent that we shall
also publish it in our next weekly.
ss YoNKERs, N Y, june IA, 1862
MY DEAR SIR:-The kindly interest which
you have on many occasions manifested in my
welfare, and especially the favor with which
you have treated my humble efforts to advance
che cause of Christian truth, emboldens me to
address you, and through you the Portland
public, upon matter of vital concern to me
personally, and perhaps of some concern to all
who know me.
You are aware of the circumstances connect
ed with my removal from the pastorate of
Chestnut street Church, and know that sus-
picion of my doctrinal soundness, had very
much to do with it, You are also aware of the
motives which governed me in Withholding
full disclosure of my views, when my ortho-
doxy was called in question. found it diff
cult to decide whether my own mind was fully
ripe for the open and distinct avoWal of opin-
ions opposed to the creed Of Methodism. I
had the sanction of wiser and better men than
myself for thinking thatI could hold nv pecul-
lar views, and yet consistently remain a Meth
odist preacher. therefore sought to persuade
myself that could harmonize my modified
slow to believe that it was impossible to keep
the new wine' in the s'old bottles" was
reluctant, moreover, to shock the kindly feel
| ings of my many friends in the NJ E. Church
by separating myself from their fellowship on
| grounds which they would not be able at first
fully to understand or appreciate. / felt. too
that my mission in Chestnut Street was not
ended-in other words, that it was the will OF
| God that should remain another year among
you In order to do this, saw that I must
hold my peculiar views in temporary allegiance
and confine myself as honestly endeavored
to do in the past, to those aspects of the truth
| which could present without antaeonizine
the essential principles of Methodist theology
believed, and still believe that such O course
was in accordance with the will of God, and
that had been permitted to follow it, the bes
interests of the church would have been pro
NOTED, and l should have left it finally united
and strong. But the official authorities of the
church honestly differed with me in judgment
on this point, and was removed.
On leaving Portland it was still my purpose
to look for a field of labor in the M. Z. Church
somewhere between Maine and California.
had come, it is true, to contemplate the posi-
bility of changing my church relations at som,
future day; but felt that the time was not vet
Since my return to this Conference however
my purposes have undergone an importan
change. have been providentially thrown int
circumstances which invite me to careful ant
thorough survey of my past and my present
undisturbed by my usual cares and response
bilities. It will not be deemed strange, there
fore, that during this period my mind has rip
ened more rapidly than formerly for the decis
i've step which 1 have for a long time consider
ed as lying among future possibilities. / hav
/ now come to see and feel more clearly and deep
ly than ever. the irreconcilable antagonist
that exists between my own deliberate an
most cherished convictions and many Of tn
doctrines OF Methodism. i feel and know tina
am not now Methodist, and never agai
can be. waslfor long time 10th to recogniz
this fact Though had long been in doub
concerning the truth of some of the leadin
doctrines of Meth0dism, yet l found, and sti
find, in the fundamental principles or axiom
| OF Arminian theology, substantial truth, Tn
doctrines are not logical development of th
principles. But can no longer consent t
hold the latter as interpreted by the former.
must hold them as interpreted by doctrine
that arise naturally and logically from them
And such doctrines do not find in Method
ism.
1 have been unwilling, however, to .contem
plate the severance of ties and association
| which twenty years of experience and seryic
in Methodism has rendered very strong an
very dear. The tree rooted by twenty years
growth is not easily plucked up and made
thrive in new SOIL Nor will any trivial Q
merely prudential reasons justify one in breal
ing away from the first half OF his active lifi
and launching out upon sea of uncertainte:
l shall not be suspected of mercenary motive
in taking the step which will sunder me fol
ever from a large, wealthy, and infiuenta
denomination, where my prospects are as fiat
tering as any one could desire, and identity m
| with people who are as yet few in number
feeble in resources, and destitute of popula
| favor. Did my convictions of truth and dut,
allow, am free to say that should still b
held by interest and feeling to the service o.
the M. q. Church. But the stubborn fact re
mains, that am not Methodist; and witt
the light that now have, cannot honestly
| or honorably or with safety to my highest in
terests, remain longer a Methodist in name.
/ In accordance with this conclusion, have
forwarded my Ordination Parchments to Bish
| op James, and dissolved my connection will
the Methodist Church. My commission from
God, written on my heart by his Spirit, befor
l became Christian even, / still retain; ant
under its authorization propose to continu,
preaching "the glorious Gospel of the blessed
| God"
cannot now explain at length the view
| which separate me from my former ecclesiasti
cal relations. Suffice it to say here; that afte
| several years of patient investigation, an
| compelled to renounce the doctrine of trinit,
| of persons in the Godhead, vicarious atone
ment, imputed guilt and righteousness, the
| resurrection of the material body, and local
| material heaven. Such are some of the lead
| ing points on which find myself at varianc
| with the teachings of Methodism. 1 hope tt
have an opportunity at no distant day, of ex
planning my views at length to my friends il
Portland. Till then, let me hope that they will
| suspend judgment upon my case. will onl,
add now, that on all important points, I fint
zsssssAIfs doC Ill NC
| of the New Church.
With sincere respect and esteem,
| remain yours,
| n r Rrvps