The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-03-12
THE METHODIST PREACHERS.

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No Extension of the Ministerial Term Of
Onace-The Iiineracy the Fundamentai
Principle or Methods na- Ssp erseding Secta-
rian Appropriations.
The q uestion OF the pastoral term, 80 impo' tant
at all times to Methodist ministers, but more espe-
cially so at the present time, In view OF the ap-
proacning session OF the General Conference. which
is to be held In Brooklyn In May was yesterday dis
cussed at considerable length and In Its various
bearings by Rev. Messrs. Taylor King, Curry, Buck
Icy and others. Mr.. Taylor led the discussion,
earnestly and eloquenty advocating reduction
rather than an extension OF the pastoral term OF
ONCE. He thought the efficiency OF the Church
had been injured by tine present extension from
two to threa years. The itineracy s the
great democratic leveller Of Methodism, and
II the limit Is removed this peculiar feature will
be broken and destroyed, he believed. within ten
years. and perhaps In I'VE years. He compared 1t to
the cylinder OF printing press-f 1t be arrested In
one point all the machinery must stop. II the term OF
one man is extended
CONFUSION IS INTRODUCED
and q round OF ministers Is stopped. He believed
the experience OF the Church would sustain his
statement that the third year or the present term OF
the majority OF ministers Is practical failure ana
that II the question put vote OF the churches
they would be largely in favor OF going back to the
conference, eight years ago, passed TINS rule sx-
tending the time the third year was Ieit excep-
ton OF the presiding eldership term and preferred
that The appointments should be left TO the bishops
alone
DR.. KING read from the journal Of the General
Conference 70 show that the extension OF the time
ti0naL He was chairman OF the committee to whom
the subject was referred, and the committee pre-.
scented minority ana majority report ae Grm %
the General Conference adopted the maJ0ritys re-
port.
tee, also denied that the three years rule was de-
signed to apply generally. 1t was to be discretion.
them to do legally what through outward pressure
they had been obliged to do IN many cases before
the rule was adopted. And he beheved q greater
pressure was brought to bear at present upon the
superlntendents than had ever Deen before. And
VARIOUS sUBTERFUGEs HAD BEEN REsORTED TO
particular charges beyond the regular term, and
ne could name some men VINO mad brought such
MIR. BUCKLEY dlssented from Mr.. Taylors state
ment that the tnlrd year OF most ministers is q
failure. 1t Is no more failure than the first year
OF some men. And nc had gathered some statistics
OF three year men In the New York East the New
England, the Providence and the OHIO conferences.
and had found that In twenty-iour cases oug OF
twenty seven which he had inquired into the re-
vivals and conversions during the third year were
larger and more numerous than during either OF
the previous years. lie also disscnted from DR..
Uurrys view that the pressure upon the bishops
Tor further extension Of the pastora! term mad m
and ne challenged him TO name Jour Instances In
his own New York East Conference. He thought
the present term was as much as the itlneracy
would safely bear, but that shorter term was too
little enable the ministers to do efficient work IN
the churches. DR.. True and others wanted to speak
on the question. and IT was, therefore, continued
over TILL next week.
DIR. CURRY then reported for the special committee
previously appointed 70 confer with the managers
or the Old Ladies' Home, in regard to supersedng by
voluntary contributions the annual appropriations
heretofore made by the state Legislature 10 this
charity. 1t Will De remembered that year ago the
preachers very warmly discussed this matter OF
SECTARIAN APPROPRIATIONS,
and passed resolutions strongly condemnat0Ty Of
the managers acceptance Of either fhohey or lands
IRON the city or State In future. Al that time o
committee was appointed to devise plan to supply
the deficiency thus caused by refusal 10 accept the
States aid. This committee, as its report yester-
DAY showed, favored the plan OF securing 1000
annual subscribers OF $40 each to run on for i've
years, and the preachers were invited to co operate
by subscribing themselves ana by getting as many
OF their church members as they could to do like
wise. The society had not mad single dollar from
the city State last year this, ana there Is
perattve need that prompt actiOn be taken IN TINS
matter
BY unanimous request Ut. Eggleston was invited
TO address the preachers meeung next Monday
morning Immediately after the opening Of the dis.
cusslon the extension OF the ministerial term by
Dr. rrue Adjourned.