The New York herald., 1873-12-30
THE METHODIST MINISTERS.

The Evangelical Alliance and Ecclesi-
| nsafcaI Arbitrntion-Tempera and
Other Matters.
According to previous announcement the Metno-
dist ministers yesterday took up and discussed the
question. Can the Evangelical Alliance be made
more truly representative of Evangelical Protes-
tantism? DR.. John M. Reid opened the discussion,
addressing himself more especially to the speech
OF DR.. Chrstheb before the Alliance, in which that
eminent scholar remarked that, If the American
churches desired to promote Christian unity they
should keep their missionaries out OF Germany and
allow German Christians carry the evangeization
| ofther cOuntrymen in their own way DR.. Reid was
willing to concede to the Alliance all the good that
its most ardent admirers could claim for 1t. He
believed It's influence felt in this city even by
those whose religion is made up largely OF SUPER
stition. He did not think, however, that American
Christians and especially the Methodist churches,
would be doing their duty in leaving the Journalism
OF the German Churcn without bringing it into con-
tact with the higher spiritual life OF the Church in
this country In Germany people are made Chris
tians by baptism and confirmation, and as Church
members thus made the State assigns to them GER
tain duties and allows them certain privileges.
But they know little or nothing OF the power or
vital godlness in the soul. There were no Sunday
schools in Germany until the Methodist Episcopal
Church went thither. The German Church does not
believe in
THE WITNESS OF THE SPIRIT.
but are to refrain from preaching that doctrine
because they don't like 1t or don't believe 1t We
can't stay out Of Germany, said the Docter, simply
to leave the Lutheran Church there intact, when
we know they have not the power OF this salvation
in their hearts. We can't go among them without
stirring up strife. We can't 90 anywhere without
doing this. We stir up opposition in Scandinavia,
where our missionaries have been fined and i'm.
prisoned and abused for preaching the truths Of
the Gospel as they believe them. DR.. Reid
read letter from tin6 %athodlst missionary in
Carlsruhe, where until the Methodist UaMcn Went
there out OF population OF 10000 not 5000 could
be found who attended any church. The writer
gave instances OF persecution OF evangelical minis
ters there and in other places and expressed his
surprise at Doctor Christheb's statement, and
added that Germany needs to-day everything of
| an evangelical stamp. DR.. Reid read also trans
aton OF an editorial In secular paper published
in Zurich, switzerland, in which the writer gives
ms " a gDS eu
DR.. Reid continued, and, referring to the union
hoped for and foreshadowed by the Alliance said
he did not believe the Church would ever be one
Organically. While we may reach Christian unity
we shall never attain to organic union. He did not
think MetnOdism would ever reach 1t. Nor did he
| A UNION WOULD BE PROFITABLE.
be united with British Wesleyanism Still the
Doctor would not disparage the Alliance in any
way: ne h0peu much rom lt.
Dr.. +. .. Haven believed the Alliance was an in
dication OF great advances made by the Church
within the last 20 years, but it ought TO do much
marked, Is genuine cnarty. 1t was proper that
men should meet; but 1t is not enough that they
should meet year alter year, or decade after
decade, and read compositions and adjourn. II DR..
Christleb had these thoughts he ought to have
also II we differ with him. There should be
AN UMPIRE OF CHURCHES,
and all Christians should meet on one platform
al w a In n uFrp
and let the umpire decide between us. The state
is ahead OF the Church IN this and in many other
things. IL is ahead OF the Church on the question
OF caste. IL rs ahead OF us on the question OF arbi-
tration. The Doctor cited the settlement OF the
and remarked that we should have an international
court OF arbitration not only for all such matters OF
he hoped TO live to see the day when all disputes
between nations will be ended In this way. And,
he asked, shall the Church be behind the state In
this matter No. Let us have church OF arbltra-
tion Let Dr. Christlieb and his friends meet with
us ana give their reasons and we Will give ours,
and II the decision is against us we VIII not go to
Germany with our missionary appliances. What
spectacle II is to n1dels and sceptics to see II
dinerent Churches in Italy The Doctor saw 70
need at all OF having Wesleyan Methodist Church
there and Methodist Episcopal Church also. We
as aaa ,ae m be
or fought out here In this country, and yet we do
the same thing ourselves IN our missions. We
on the same foundation. The Doctor comoated
the idea tnat extensive organization is oppressive
idea at ALL We might as well have
%, 100000 members in the Methodist Episcopal
Church here as 2,5o000o. for they are all
independent in local churches, though comprised
In annual and general conferences. And when the
representatives OF the Church come together we
ought to have little more tnan mere compost
tions. We have had q good many State conven-
tions OF late years. but only two have done any
good. They have invariably ended with compost
tons and resolutions.
Dir. Reid difrered with his Brother. Haven in
nearly every statement he had made. He believed
the Alliance was not mghter to-day than IL was rs
years ago He would not admit that the State Is
State is more polite. IL knows that negro hands
can vote, and IL therefore abollshes caste. The
American Church. In all Its branches, he said, Is
peculiar and the Methodist Episcopal Church Is
different rom the Wesleyan; and he believed we
are needed IN Italy The city OF Venice, he re-
marked, has IN II nothing bur superstition, and
other parts OF the Kingdom are no better of.
Touching the idea OF
ECCLESIASTICAL ARBITRATION
the Doctor did not see what could be settled by
such court or umpire, IL could not settle or
alter doctrines. The day of force has passed to
give authority TO edicts, and the only thing that
| could be done Is to meet and amlcably discuss
| the sentiment OF the Church untll IL shall come to
/ a point to see eye TO eve. ~.
| Dr. Haven saw disagreement between his
| own views and those OF DR.. Reid, as he briefly
| demonstrated.
/ Dr. osbon spoke about the spirit OF oppression
/ winch prevaileu I'm the Church years ago, when he
was complained OF ior walking arm In arm with
| Dr. jacob w. Diller, an excellent Christian minis
| ter in the Protestant Episcopal Church. He
thought that when the churches In Germany and
| Italy came up to the spiritual level OF the Amer
! can churches we could then withdraw our mis-
sonaries from those countries, but not before.
Dr. Foss made reference to the escape OF Pastor
ii went down, and who revealed noble Christian
| hcroism during and after that disaster. fa
| Mr.. Aaron NJ. Powell mane some remarks on
temperance aud distributed blank petitions for