Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1875-09-09
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
I'VE would be glad to devote the space of several
columns each week under the above head to etters
from the people upon topics OF general !.

I'VE would be glad to devote the space of several
columns each week under the above head to letters
from the people upon topics OF general
HOW THE FORCES WORK.
EDITOR HERALD:-Minds devoted
to science talk much and we'll of the
law of motion, and with them oonser-
walton is popular term in principles
that preserve the forces of action and
change. Forces are divided in refer
ence to the external and internal
world, the natural and spiritual. We
get better idea of the forces by view
ing their workings from single stand
point; so amid the moral forces that
work to produce the changes in our
moral world permit me to point out
in the grand galaxy that belts the
spiritual universe one noble force that
may illustrate the power that bears
world onward-I allude to the work
ings of the Methodist church. | will
begin by mentioning the session of
our West Wisconsin Conference to
begin Oct. 6, 1875, at Madison. This
Conference embraces the west half of
the state and is composed of $50 min
listers who on Conference occasions
are ever ready to engage in fraternal
congratulations and business of the
church, which is to examine candi-
dates for the pulpit, or, to be ordained;
to discuss questions of interest or is
sues which have arisen during the
year; to listen TO the assent 10 or con-
demnation of moral character; to
give full account of the labors of
the year; attend the anniversaries of
the church, secure appointments, and
repair to the different fields of labor.
This years session will be interest
ing as it is the last previous to the
general Conference which meets in
May, 1876, and is held every four
years. Its province and work is to
review the proceedings of the eighty
annual Conferences, composed of lO,>
845 itinerant preachers and 10000 10.
cal preachers; to revise, if necessary,
the discipline and polity that rules the
church, which comprises l,563,521
communicates; to consider the con-
dition and wants of their printing in
terests-books, papers and periodi-
Gals; to elect editors for church publ
cations, presidents of colleges and the
illogical seminaries; to look to the
welfare of the entire property of the
church, amounting to $l0O,516, 900,
and various other matters.
This great ecclesiastical body IS
composed of delegates chosen from
each of the annual conferences-one
delegate for every IS ordained minis
ters, and two lay delegates from each
of the eighty Conferences. The for.
mer delegates are chosen by the min
listers in Conference; the latter by a
Lay Conference held in connection
with that of the ministers.
These representatives accept from
the hands of the several Conferences
by which they are appointed, such
memorials, petitions or advice as they
deem expedient for the greatest good
and bear the same to the general Con.
ference. Thus the wheel within the
wheel conserves the forces, and the
great body moves in unity. We hope
that the work on the discipline and
modification of polity will arrange
that the presiding elderships will be-
come elective hereafter rather than
by episcopal appointment, and that
the term of pastoral service will be
so changed that any minister may be
removed at the expiration of the first
year, or may be appointed successive
ly for five or ten years when desired
by the people and their minister, thus
preserving the itineracy yet introduc-
ing an element of permanent pastoral
work-a great want in the polity OF
the church. Let us be conservative
yet flexible enough to allow the forces
to work. Methodism can live only
from her spiritual evangelism and
adaptability to the ever changing con-
dition ard wants of her work.
A. w CUMMINGS.