The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-04-09
THE METHODIST PREACHERS.

Modern Progress Versus Ola Fogy ism-Nhnt
ShnIl Constitute the Test Of Church Niem-
bersiip.
Eight years ago the General Conference OF the
Methodist Episcopal Cnurcn made some changes In
their ritual and added some questions In the dlsci
pine TO which young converts are required to give
an affirmative answer before they can be received
into full connection with the Church Many good
men IN the Church look upon those questions as
savoring too much OF Anglo-e piscopacy, ana they
are In requiring assent to the subjects
contained In them by catechnmens. The youlger
ministers are utterly opposed them spirit If not
In practice, and two weeks ago young preacher In
this city read essay before the Preachers Meet
Ing In which he deprecated placing any other
RESTRICTIONS UPON CONVERTS
OF Christ orner than those required by Christ
and His ApoS Ties. partial discussion OF the sub.
asSs n mp aS 9ssn or debate The Rev.
opened In u spirit OF concillatlon ana called upon
the defenders Of me essay 70 restade Their position
ton OF the impertinence, as he termed 1t, OF any
man or set OF men placing any test whatever be.
tween the converted soul and Christ or the Church
which He established on the earth All that ne
tDickinson) would require was assent to the car
dina aud universally received doctrines OF Chris.
iianity. How dare any minister exclude any be-
lever In Jesus Christ because he did not step into
OLD ship just as the minister did? II mans lie Is
Holy and good he could not see what harm belief
in universalism or IN election or In close communion
could do, wherein one was better or worse inan
DR.. True was also opposed to
THE PRESENT TEST or MEMBERSHIP
In the Methodist Episcopal Church. ana declared
that many OF the ministers are not sound IN regard
to the canon OF scripture. great many, for IN.
stance do not think SOom0n's Song ought 10 lie
there and to ask children and adults TO assent 10
oil that the Scriptures contain and TO the twenty
five articles or religion Is preposterous. Wesley
selected those twenty-five articles out oil the
thirty-nine held by the Church OF Eng
land, in when he was Presbyler, anu
DIR. True had no DOUBT that II Wesley
lived now he would strike out twenty OF The twenty
five arlcles and perhaps all OF them, as he rue Was
I'D favor OF doing.
Rev. Mr.. James was annoyed at the progressive
ideas presented Ivy some OF the speakers. He was
an sold Iogyn and IN favor OF sending few old
fOgy delegates the General Conference, VINO would
settle strengthen tue faith and discipline OF the
Church rather Than alter ana mend them 10 suit
the liberal or broad Church ideas which some OF his
younger brethren entertain.
The Rev. J. $. Willis took the Young American
side OF the case and was ready TO vindlCate IL any
where. He combated the idea that they urged that
change in this particular would produce axity OF
doctrine and WORK injury 10 the Church. and demon
strated that the Unitarian detection from Congrega-
tionaIism was owing not to laxity o. doctrine in
the latter, but To tue Introduction political tactics
in church elections. The question was considered
OF such Prime importance and so many persons
wanted TO speak II that IL was contiD ued. over
until the next meeting.