The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-12-31
WRECK OF METHODLSM.
on. Y. SUM-

Il WhECh or IMEIHODISM.
On Y SUM-
i Strange and startling were the confes
IONS or revelations made by the Method
Be clergy of this city at their meeting on
fonday last. The public outside that de.
pmination must have been amazed at the
Rports of their language in yesterday 4
Pm, and even among the Methodist laity
themselves there must have been surprise
> well as grief over the facts brought to
seir notice.
Had the wailing of the Methodist clergy
ION that occasion, over the state and
Ospects of their church, been carried on
influence the public mind, it might have
pen regarded with suspicion; but it was
splayed in meeting of their own, in
hich large number of them took part,
pd which was for their own special re,
foof and instruction. Had it been the
baker brethren of the church who in
Alged in the lamentations then heard,
ere might have been smiles on the faces
some of the spectators but it was the
rong men of the Methodist Israel whose
burning voices rose the loudest, aud
ere most trem ulous-holy champions like
ev. DR.. Kettell, and prayerfal s2ints like
other Graves. All the speakers whose
prds are reported spoke as though they
pre- preparing to attend the funeral of the
Rligious faith, once so vigorous and ag-
essive. known as Methodism.
#Ths Rev. DR.. Curry seemed to have
pached the depths of despair respecting
pc denomination which he has so long up.
eAd. Referring to the present state Of the
Aethodlst body, he cried out:
- We are coming to shipwreck. Mauv of onr
purones nave been abandoned the old people
e out and the young go elsewhere. We are
terrible Crisis, in death agony for the want
eigh on Methodism like "a nightmare. Where
eleep, In the upper part of the city, there are
2 ehurcheS OF ours within ten minu tes' reach;
:. .e9 na pas less man hpndred members, and ali
re badly in debt. This is u very serious and
ost alarming matter. see no hope"
The Rev Dr.. Kettell spoke almost as
oomy abont the matter the Rev. DR..
PREY did. There is no vital power" he
fclaimed, " no influence ON society by
ethodism now. as there was twenty. e We |
lars ago." Then Brother Graves, in turn, |
pix up the doleful tale. Instead of CON-
/ ting the assembled preachers, he told of |
Pthod'st churches in which the Methodist
lspel is proclaimed to empty benches.
= said IL would be blessing if such
PES could be shut up.
s1onisnlng, we again say, astonishing ia
Language from such quarter. When
recall what Methodism was when il
re lnOo oelnE a snort century ago; when
|
of vast hosts of British sinpera wbnn
think OF its wonderful achievements in
les gone by in the United States how
3 we account for the Rev. DR.. Currv;s
es of alarm, shipwreck, agony and de-
Ilrf There must be something wrong.
{ is evident that the Methodist clergy
sst make serious effort to find out the
n the wreck which the Raw. DR.. Curry
esees. They must inquire whether, in
Pc times, they are really proclaimipg,
whole sopled earnestnes and genuine
b, the doctrines and practices of the I
Rnder of Christianity whether they are {
atul in applying the stern principles of I
plural law to the lives of their people; {
:oer they are carrying on, in proper I
R,ion, relentless warfare against Gin, &
cke:dness, and deviltry in all their mani, I
'auons in the community whether they b
STRIVING to carry the Gospel, as prac- 6
al thlng and a real life, into the heath c
oom by which they are lmme diately f
rounded; and whether in short, they i
5 NJ worth their while to give befitting
lice ~ s OF their own belief in the doctrines |
e;ro "ney profess to teach. They must c
go neglected the cardinal ideas of 4
T'4 r renglon whether many of them +
a. mo t, iaIen into the worship of sham 4
49, CHey nave not catered to the pre- c
ns OF wealth, and the cant of bypo- o
c %nether they have not struggled to d
oU5y churches, and get heavy sti- b
thu NE In incidence whether, in Il
70 icy nS nave not forgotten the real 81
he 'ne religion of the Scriptures. L
hers Lex nexG place, these Methodist cl
lives u usI inquire whether their own b
ion ~ way and practices are mani q
1ev co., spiritual religion, and wheth- n
epfs of Ine example and follow the cl
ribed = 'ne Founder of Christianity as W
:" Tue sketches left by the Apos il
81 n Ie aware that in these remarks We e.
moso on serious ground, which some of d
Of b,t 0.sEsy men would rather not ri
Ieadsra az neshs.s;. y 5ne y Z.
~ e1tERne5t a. 80 - iqsA WHO y