The New York herald., 1876-09-03
The Religious Press on Methodist Fra
tern1ty.


This centennial must receive another
fraternal crown from the hands Of the Meth
odists to sit side by side with the Presby-
terian crown. 1t is, therefore, with profound
gratitude to Almighty God that the Methodist
records the reconciliation of the two chief
bodies of American Methodists. The recon-
ciliation, our contemporary says, is by ample
authority; it is complete. 1t strengthens all
and harms none. Neither Church loses On
ounce of right or hair of privilege. Hence
the Methodist joins hands with the Method
lists of the South and sings with them,
'Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in
Christian love-" &c. 1t is glad that the
work has been done and well done, and both
sides will feel better for it. The Methodist
has labored faithfully for years in the
cause of fraternity, and its jubilation is
therefore excusable The Baltimore Method
ist, which has also been active on the
Southern side for the re-establishment of
fraternal relations, congratulates the Church
of Christ at large upon tho result-a result
which it says is final, the commissioners
having been clothed with plenary powers
and authorized to adjust all matters of
difference between the two churches.
But this result is not, as many
of our contemporaries have conceived,
reunion Of the two churches. The
Episcopal Methodist thinks it is very ques-
tionable whether the incorporation of two
such bodies into one would best subserve
the interests of vital Christianity. But it
thanks God for the present peace between
tho churches and the enlarged prospect of o
grand spiritual harvest before them AS, i'm
bued with a common spirit and actuated by
common aim, they seek to conquer the
world for Christ. The Christian Adrocate of
this city thinks the work of the commission
cannot be overestimated as to it's
importance and its far-reaching influence
upon Protestant Christendom. The North
,csste,n Adrocate also rejoices in the basis of
concord, since however just the struggle
may seem to tho immediate contestants in
certain places the quarrels ovor church
property have been unseemly and occasions
for offence and stumbling to those outside
the circles most directly concerned. The
Christian Htelligencer is satisfied that the rec
oncIliation and unification of the two Meth
odisms will have national significance
which will be quite equal to the ecclesiasti-
cal importance of the event. The spirit of
its accom- plishment cannot but have a pow
erful influence upon the reunion of other
long separated Christian bodies and upon
the peace and prosperity of the whole coun-
try. The Christian Union, too, thinks the
fraternal union just established between the
great branches Of American Methodism is of
special religious and political significance.
The basis of agreement, says the Union, was
the only one possible, but one which could
not fail and oil Christians will wish the rec
onciled brethren the increase of Joy and
strength which must come of the union,
and perhaps the example tho Method
lists have set, and tho infallibility of the
method by which they sacceedcd, will
stimulate other slightly divided brethren to
labor for perfect union.
The Examiner and Chronicle considers tho
fraternal union Of the Mrthodists as q great
omen for good-one of those bloodless, yet
not less real, victories-a victory of brotherly
love and iorbearance over sectional hatreds
and distrust We are glad as Christians, we
are glad MS patriots, says the Examiner. that
this victory has been gained. But it is
line of victories which is not yet and will
not be complete until more than the old re-