New-York tribune., 1871-03-24
METHODISM IN AMERICA.

Our Methodist brethren are holding this
week their annual conferences in all parts Of
the country, which are this year of more than
ordinary importance, as to them the question
of lay representation il referred for final
decision. The growth and strength of Method
ism in America are Of interest outside of all
sectional considerations, as one OF the waves
which mark the progress of the great current
of universal civilization and human progress.
The most irrelgious man, if he has an inter-
est in the elevation of his brother man, must
acknowledge that the Christian sects not only
combine but make useful the weightlest pOr-
ton of the intelligence and moral strength
of the country, and, with all their differences,
are the most powerful levers by which the
mass of society is lifted-the more powerful,
perhaps, because of these very differences. The
sects are as idiosyncratic as individuals. The
churches, we are told, are the doors to Truth,
and, while Truth is unchangeable, it is certainly
expedient that the entrances to her secret
places should be made to fit and accommodate
men of every grade of culture and tempera-
ment Emerson calls the Church of England
the church of good taste; and an outsider,
following out the fancy, might assert that to
the Presbyterian belonged logic and, natur-
ally, those men and women whose
religion must be safely grounded on Q.
T.. d. while to the Methodist is assigned
prominently emotional piety.
There is something in the creed and history
of this latter church, but still more in their
manner of teaching which appeals directly TO
the feelings of the lower and middle classes.
The urinary fact that they took their rise in
vigorous and righteous protest against the
effeteuess and inertia Of an aristocratic
establishment appeals to the drop OF dem
ocratic blood in every man who thinks
that social fate has wronged him; the en-
forced poverty of their ministers, the sys-
TEN Of itnerancy, their favOrite mode OF
passionate address. in which the priest
forces the sinner, as it were, into actual per-
sonal contact with his Maker, all make this
sect the exponent and receptacle of the great
mass of the people, and for this cause render
it worthy the attention and scrutiny of the
unbiased thinker. There are curiousanOmalles
in its structure which he will notice; and
chief among these is the fact that, while it
calls the weakest and poorest of its members
to share in its spiritual work, its government
is more aristocratic than that of any Protest
ant Church. 1t is this defect, if defect it be,
which the proposed movement in favor OF lay
representation is designed to remove. Owing,
perhaps to this absorption of all its members
in its work, no other church, probably, deals
so promptly and closely face to face with
all the great political and social problems of
the day, as well as with the living vices. 1t
fights no dead Satans. When, in 1866, the
Palatines, Philip Embury and Barbara Heck,
tore to pieces the pack of cards and preached
against gambling in this city to a congrega-
ton of four people, they laid the foundation of
American Methodism. Four years ago the
Centenary was celebrated, and the Church re-
ported 1900 ministers relgiously training
100000 souls, yet she il unaltered in her great
characteristics since the days of Embury.
We perceive, however, that strong effort
is making in the recent conferences by her
leading men to throw the weight OF her intiu-
ence into forcing the education of her
members, and in consequence to lessen the
number of costly church edices. A university
which should adequately represent her more
cultured class, and number of thorough
academies for the training of boys, would
serve her purpose better than host OF incom-
plete colleges. Whatever movement is made
by this powerful religious body will be re-
regarded with interest by any man who feels
the urgent need of publication and civilization
among the masses of our lower semi-barbarous
population. Whatever may be our opinion of
the dootrinal creed of the Methodist, there are
zeal and fervor in his attack on the strong
holds of vice that win the hearty appreciation
of every thinking man, and prompt him to
offer to him, in his own language, the right
hand of fellowship.