The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-12-31

The Methodist ministers Of New York
at their ministers meeting on Monday
listened to an address from DR.. Kettell,
the Presiding Elder Of tho New York
Distict Of the New York East Conference,
on a matter that was purely denomina-
tional, though Of very great interest to
nine.tenths OF the Methodist preachers Of
the land, The Doctor sought to show
them how the democratic
INDEPENDENCE OF THE LOCAL CHURCHES
might be made to harmonic with the
unity Of the entire system. Practices
have grown up in late years in the Meth
odist Episcopal Church which were en-
tirely foreign to the system OF MethOdism
as founded by Wesley and his conductors.
And not the least offensive and dfvisive
Of these is that Of local churches calling
their own pastors and making such ar.
rangements as they please without refer
enCe to the wants OF other churches in
the district or in the conference to which
they belong. By this process cliques Of
ministers have grownup who fish around
for high-priCed churches and little cote
ries Of churches who fish around in like
manner for high.priced ministers. So that
by these practices it has come to pass that
minister may pass his entire pastoral
life between three or four churches. And
there are some ministers who no manage
and manipulate things that they never
happen to get salery less than $4,000 or
SS'jOOa year, though they may not be
more than half dozen congregations in
given conference able to pay that sum.
There is member Of the preachers meet
ing who has spent two PASTORAL terms
with church in this vicinity, and, II we
mistake, not, is now filling the second or
third term with a church in Connecticut
with which he has altGrnated. OF course.
the churches must agree to this arrange
ment as well as the minister, But the
evil Is none the less oppressive upon the
churches who under the system OF Meth
odism MS it is given in the books and Us
ii was rcstated yesterday by DR., Kettell,
are entitled to good preceding and to
other pastors, who are also deserving Of
large salaries which they do not receive
because Of the manipnlations OF their
brethren, Hence II has come to pass
that tch high.salariCd preachers and
churches in our large cities Clamor for
AMoRE EXTENDED PAsToRATE
than three years, the present limit, while
the low.priCed churches and pastors ia
Yor return to one year or two years
pastorates, us Of old. For, with the short
or past0rRtcs, their chances for advance
ment arc measurably increased. II has
also come to pass that an opposition has
been raised and an cutlery made against
tho Presiding Eldership on the nominal
ground Of expensiveness Of the sO.CallCd
fifth wheel to tho Methodist coach. The
real ground, however, Is probably that
the presiding elders seek to equNlizC the
talent and the compensation OF the minis
tiers rs we'll rs the burdens Of the church.
cs. BY. DR.. KCttels putting Of this mat.
ter yesterday the expensiVCnCss Of the
EldCrship In the Now York East Confer
CncC, to which the Doctor belongs, has no
force whatever rs an argument. There
are about 10000 church members in the
Conference, and the average cost Of the
Ellcrship five for the past year was 80
cents per member. The missionary col.
lcctions average one dollar member
and all the other local and correctional
benevolent collections, including the sup.
port Of the presiding elders, one dollar
more. So that two dollars per member
was the average cost Of tho system oil
Motlodism In the New York East Con,
ference last year. This Is certainly not q
very expensive system, and yet tits Gre
ating enemies for itself in all our large
cities. As the Doctor maintained yes.
terday, the burden falls upon compare,
lively few persons, because the system
which wOuldequalize tits violated, The
Doctor was quite witty at times ut the
expense Of editorial and other critics Of
hiS office and order.