The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-05-12
THE MBTHoDIsT Episcopal
CHURCH.
QUApRENSIAL ADDRESS OF THE BISHOPS.
An Earnest Pastoral Letter.
To the General coyermce Of Tic NJ E. Church.

To the General Conference ctthe If. E. Church.
South:
BELOVED BRETHREN-We would join you in
devoted thanksgiving to God that another
auadrennlal session of your body has occur
red. Representing, as you do, all parts OF our
wide Geld of labor, conversaut with their con-
dition and wants, and Invested with authority
over the whole church, We beg respectfully
10 remind YOU of the importance Of prayerful,
vfgllant and impartial attention to the duties
of your delicate and responsible position. we
trust that the subjects which may be brought
before you will be discussed and decided as
in the Immediate presence Of God, and with
direct reference to the welfare OF the whole
church.
With profound emotion we announce to you
that since your last session, our venerable and
beloved colleague, Joshua SOule, has departed
this life. His death occurred in Nashville,
Tennessee, March 6, 1867 in the s7th year OF
his life, and the 10th year Of his ltinerant
ministry. In many respects Bishop Soule was
a remarkable man. At the time Of his death
he was. probably, the oldest travelling preach
er in America, If not in the world; and was
thus The connecting link between the Metho-
dism of Wesley and Asbury and that Of the
present day. Throughout his whole ministe-
rial life, he was eminently devoted to God,
and employed exclusively In the service OF the
church; often flling positions OF the highest
responsibility, and always honorably and use
fully. His mind was clear and vigorous, his
dcportment dignifed, and his whole course
was marked by CONSISTENCY, purity and un-
swervIng fidelity to principle. Whether view
ed as q man, Christian or minister, or as
filling the highest Office in the church for for
ty-three years, his character deserves to be
held In the highest esteem, and his memory to
be perpetuatcdn the history Of the church.
We devoutly thank God for such man, and
for the gifts and grace which rendered his
cvcntful fife so useful, his declining years and
closing day so beautifully serene, so subllmely
triumphant
The mast four years have abounded with
trials to the church you represent, especially
in those portions OF the country which suffered
most by military devastation during the lutte
war, and by ecclesiastical interference win
vout gratitude that poverty and persecution
even unto stripes and death In some cases
have only tested and increased the attachment
and fidelity of our ministers and tho general
body of our membership to the church. The
itinerant preachers, although very meagerly
supported, have in general, been faithful to
their ordination VOWS, and have persevered,
as best they could, in performing their duties.
By the blessing Of God this has resulted In the
maintenance of our ltinerant system, and the
steady and increasing prosperity of all the en-,
terprIses Of the church. Even where VIC had
suffered most we are rapidly regaining our
former ground. and in many sections extending
our borders and multiplying our membership.
Seasons of refreshmcnt from the presence or
the Lord have come upon the people, and
thousands have been converted and added 10
the church.
We rejoice, also, to report that the greatest
nnitv and harmony exist throughout the whole
connection. 1t has been truly said that Me
tbodists, all over the world, are one in doc
trine; so that, however widely scattered and
differing in other respects, They present the
peculiarly Of agreeing cordially IN the great
doctrine of Christianity. And as the members
of our communities ore q unit In faith, so, also,
there is scarcely any disagreement among them
az to our church polity. Their prevalent desire
Is that both be prcserved-the former Intact, the
latter. If altered at all, to be modified so far
only as to make it more effective In accom-
plishing the original purposes Of Methodlsm
This is seen In the fact that we nave qlneuy
passed what Is Justly regarded IN all forms or
government great crisis, In the adoption Of q
new element into our system. We allude to
the introduction of lay representation into the
annual and general conferences. This impor-
tant change In our economy was not peace
Offering, rendered necessary for the prcserVa-
ton of the unity and peace Of the church, from
membership, but was proposed and effected
by the nearly unanimous voice Of the laity,
both believing that the time had fully come
when IL would enhance the effectiveness Of the
church and the glory of Christ.
In attestation oftRe approval OF the whole
church OF this measure, wo are grathed TO see
In this body so large n number OF lay dele
gates, representing the Intelligence, piety and
Strength of the connection. We are sure that
nj
ciates and of the entire church In welcoming
them to their seats, and we shall gladly share
with them the labors and responsibilities Of
this chief council of the church.
1t muy not be amiss in this connection 10
suggest that excessive legislation is too COM
mon in all delberative bodies. Laws and
usages. generally understood and approved,
at all, only nom conviction of a greater ntili-
ty of the change. Nor Is 1t prudent TO alter
even recent enactment until 1t is practically
demonstrated to be necessary to do 80. This
caution we would respectfully apply to the
regulations under which lay representation
has been introduced. Would 1t not be judi
cious to learn by experience what modidca-
tions, If any, may be necessary, rather than
risk the success of the system by hasty at
tempts to improve 1t
The efficiency of the Church of Christ must
result from His gifts and grace, and the Gene
raj Conference can reasonably expect To do
but little to increase 1t By merely prudential
means. except as these intend to increase its
spIrltual life. It is your first duty, therefore,
to ascertain the real condition OF the church
in this respect, in order TO correct what may
be wrong, and supply what may be needed for
this great end. Yonr attention Is earnestly
invited to q careful examination into its spiri-
tllal state, and of the means and measures
likely to contribute to this, its highest, most
vital interest.
without intending disparaging comparison
between the piety of the present day and OF
our fathers in the early days OF methodism, we
feel 1t right to say that we are deficient as TO
several matters which were formerly regarded
as aids and tests of Methodistic plety. We al.
lude, especially to the neglect OF class and
prayer-meetings, Of fasting and abstinence, Of
family and secret prayer, and the Indulgence
in worldly pleasures. In some, If not all OF
these things, we lear our people, not to say
our preachers, too, ore all below the pattern
set lis by the picty of our fathers In other days.
We do not mean that this declenslon is uniVer-
sal, but gladly admit there are large numbers
who exhibit the ancient marks Of Methodistic
pIety in an intelligent and ardent devotion TO
God, and in firm attachpent to our doctrines
and discipline. The action of the last general
conference modifying the rule on cass-meet-
ings, 80 that attending them should not oe
condition OF church membership, mas Deen
construed, unfortunately, By some as abolish,
inr them. We do not so understand It; and
we regard these meetings to be 80 promotiVe
of the spiritual prosperity of the church, and
40 essential to the efficient working OF our
economy. that we are very reluctant 70 see
them fall, in any measure, into dlsuse. While