The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-05-16
METHODIST PREACHERS.
Are Any M0d,fic atoms Needed in the Episco.
pacy s-Address by Rev. DIR. Curry.

The Methodist preachers listened very attentlvely
yester ay to DR.. Curry's discussion OF the PROPOSE.
ton, "Are ANY Considerable Notifications OF the
Law or Usage of the Methodist Episcopal Chul Oh IN
Regard 10 the Episcopacy Desirable 2" The Doctor.
TO make the subject more familiar to his hearers,
went over The history OF the Methodist Church from
its foundation to the present and showed that the
American branch, ike the American colonies.
always claimed TO be independent of the mother
country. And while Wesley claimed supreme jurls.
dicrlon over the Methodist societies here and insisted
on his right 10 appoint their bishops they as srenu-
ousiy maintained the right 10 choose for
themselves, and went SO far as 10 depoSe
wesley and his cOldJutor Coke and re-
fused to receive Richard Whatcoat until
the General Conference mad elected and ordained
him here. The Doctor also showed that the law and
usage OF the Church here has always been to look
upon the Epscopacy as the creature OF the Presby-
terry, and that the General Conference has always
retained The right and the wer TO retire depose or
abolish the bishops and their Office as q distinct
order subject only TO restrictive rules winch re-
CURE an itinerant sdperiltendency. Formerly the
General conferences met annually but in 1905 the
delegat decided that they would meet every four
years IN conference and In district meetings oftener
as they might deem the interests OF the Church re-
CURED. And for a long time the form OF electIng
the bishops rom year 10 year kept. For the
nrst nifty years OF the history OF Mehodistism here
ths was the pohcy but since 1884 The once OF the
Epscopacy has been considered Is attaching TO the
person lof lie or Tor good behavior. In 1914 strong
ground was taken In favor OF prelatlcal Eplscopgcy
ny Bishops Soule and Andrews and against 1t oy Dr.
DuiDln and others and the sentiment OF the Ca urch
was decidedly opposed To the assumption, the pres
Dyters claiming the rignt TO make or unmake
the bishops The Doctor denied that the bishops mad
any judicial powers whatever, and challenged the
proof OF tnelr exercise OF sucn power: aud W zen he.
in 1864, was q member OF the Episcopal committee
and the bishops characters had peen passed upon
he wanted a resolution appended TO the report OF
the committee requesting tire bishops TO continue
IN their Office Tor TOUR years longer. The highest
functions OF the presbyter Is 10 administer the
sacralnents; blshop can do no more and 1t Is the
right or "a aynan to do much. The Roman Cltlo-
He did not believe In any sanctity attaching the
laying on OF hands by the bishops, ana Ynen he
preached his own ordination sermon lie told his
bishop so much IN plain words. III the Lord Jesus
Christ has ordained man to the ministry he con-
sidered tnat quite sufficient And iae Wesleyan
Methodsts OF Eng gland did not ordaIn their minis
tiers by the laying on OF hands from the death OF
Wesley until 1885, unless they were sending MIS-
were following apostolic usage Limlta-
ton OF Office Is the bulwark OF repuDu-
can Institutions; life Offices there is danger.
The Doctor favored a limitation or the Eplsc opal
ONCE and hoped that the next General Conference
would make some provision for retiring bishops
when they attain certain age He did not think
men over sixty years or age were in general any
more I'll Tor the Episcopal ONCE than boys AS IN
cutting or both ends-by taking men OF mludie life
and yet III our usage man must be old before he
can expect TO reach the Episco pacy. He favored
modification OF the ONCE so that the bishops might
drop OF autumn leaves Ial from the trees, rather
than be torn of rudely as 1t may have TO be done
by ana by. The Church Is now carrying nine Ep,s-
copal families, while 1t has but four effective
bishops, and II must tire OF this burden ere long.
week, and after the Introduction OF some visiting
brethren, the meeting adjourned.