Smyrna times., 1872-05-22
mise e IIum 70 e OMs.
The Methodist Church.

Inc quadrennial address of the Bisbons NJ
the Methodist Church, made in the Genaro
conference now in session in Brooklyn. New
10 Iotk, represents the condition of the Metho.
ulst Episcopal body as in the highest degree
satisfactory 10 It's members. And delegations
S1 Suu memorials from other bodies to the United
States, England, and Canada holding the samo
doctrines, show like spirit of ACTIVITY and nro
gress. The gain in the membership dnr;ng
tne last four years is 275, 1875 The increase in
'he value OF church property is S2l 600 OO0
ana the present value $56, 81 !. 600 Tbe cor'
1rlOutlons tor current expenses have also in.
creased in a similar ratio. ~'0' -
IL Is not the intention of the present article
however 70 give statistics, which, to be reli
ape, should be given exactly. But as the
uelIouists nave the sympathy, of other religi
gus Ooules 10 as great an extent as any other
denomination, and as those who have M oarn-
est religious preferences still admire III
Methodist Church as great moral nowar ~
the land, some remarks upon its Organization
anu customs may not be unacceptable. 1t NAV
De assumed that leading idea of the founder
Vi Methodlsm was to organize a society. the
members OF which should mutually sustain and
centrol each other. If such was not the de.
clared intention, such has been its operat;on
ana development. Members are received at
nrSt upon probation" the term being six
nonCns. AT the close, or at any time during
that probation, they may withdraw; but #
they may be dropped In the case nf
voluntary resignation, no public notice is neces
Sarlly read. The members of every church are
divided into classes which meet usually onre
week, under the direction of "class leaders -
NO person can be In membership" who dons
not attend the Glass" At class meetinCs
each member is called upon in turn to sneak
OF ms personal state; and the necessitv for a
reply induces habit of selfexamination to
winch much OF zeal and thoroughness of Metbo
ulsn @ Is que; Each member, of a class paws
over to the leader, his stated money contrf;byy,
tlon. The leader hands the sum colIectnd -
the Steward" The Stewards report to the
conference. Thus it will be seen that an
aggregate is secured, large in amount, vet not
pressing unduly upon any individual. Collcc
tlons are also made from congregations Tbo
salary OF each clergyman, is fixed, and anv ex.
cess returned from wealthy district, goes 10
make up the deficiency in poorer sections. II
win De observed that this systmatic plan gives
the methodlst statistics business character
ana an approach to exactness. The religious
contributions of the membership are nrobabI1
more fairly stated than ln any other relo;ous
BODY. ;. Giving the Methodist all credit for
hoerallty, 1t may probably be assumed that the
apparent excess of their contributions over
:nose OF other Churches would not be so great
IL metnoo were as properly adhered to |
among other denominations On the Other
hand 1t Is to be remembered that MANY congre- |
cations supplement the fixed allowance of their
minister by subscriptions in money and gifts |
~ Kln1, winch do not appear in the |
puoHsneu statistlcs. The system of "centraliz |
ing" by which the salaries of clerpvmen are
is an excellent feature. Glergvmen
are thus released from dependence upon the |
onerlngs OF people whose liberality is in an in. |
verse ratio to their need of preaching. The |
efficiency of the Methodist ministry is greatly
due to their certainty of whatever support IS
promised them, and the system of appoint
ment by the Conference suits the man to the
place where he is stationed.
Besides the classes" in Methodist churches.
"hlch are Imperative, there are also in some
congregations bands" which are voluntary.
A band includes four intimate friends ali
male or female, married or unmarried, and of
course 'of one mind" They make mutual
confessions and give mutual counsel Besides
the Bishops there are "Presiding Elders. " in
Ierlor in jurisdiction. The ministers include
not only stationed but ''itinerant" preachers;
and IN nearly every congregation there are one
DR. more local preachers" men who pursue
secular business, but are always ready to
othciate IN an emergency. The "elass leaders,
Are usually prepared to do duty in like man
ner. To sum all, among the distinctive features
'f this powerful body are method" and the
provision of something for everybody to do.
10 these causes, united with zeal and religious
lctlvlty, with plety in earnest, with liberal
charity, and faith nothing doubling, the great
success of the Methodists may be attributed.
This praise may be given them without dis
)aragement to any other Church. The same
rats are found in all sincere Christians, but
,arely in such perfect combination.
Le0l0er Of Nam IL ~