The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-06-20
MINISTER'S CONFERENCES.


THE PROBATION SYSTEM IN THE METHODIST
EPISCOPAL cHURcH-rHE RESURRECTION.
Yesterday Rev. D. A Goodsen addressed the Meth
odist preachers on the probationary system and the
basis Of membership in the Methodist Episcopal
Church. Al present new persons not con-
vered who desire unite with the Methodist Episco-
pal Church must undergo probation Of six months,
during which time they supposed to DO under the
care and tuition Of class leaders, who also are supposed
TO give proper instructions in doctrine and Church
poity to such probationcrs But any ono familiar
with the practice ana routine OF Mcthodst class meet
ings be well aware that the facts wholly differ
emit No such Instructions are given. Tho theory or
probation may be very wise and good but class
leaders are appointed In ninc cases out o.
ten for other purposes and from Inherent
motives. And the probatoncrs when received into the
Church are as ignorant as outsiders generally OF what
Mehodists believe and teach, and of the varied forms
and phases Of its Church government and poly
Nevertheless before they received into full con-
nection with the Church they have to pledge them
selves publicly that they will promote the order and
poty OF the Church; tina. they hrmy believe and hold
its DOCTRINES that they will cndeavor 10 main
tain the peace and harmony OF the Church, and pay
according 10 their AFFINITY 10 sustain the ordinances oil
the Gospel Many persons Ia the Methodist Episcopal
Church, seeing that the whole thing is a farce or
worse-a lie enacted under the most solemn circum-
sanccs-havc been Tor years trying TO get the entire
SYSTEM PROBATION RECEPTION
changed or Abolished Al General Conference held
eight years ago tho Committee on Revisals OF that
body brought in report avoring certain changes In
this direction, but in the hurry OF the closing
hours Of the Conference II was not reached Tor
hnal action. The matter has been agtated on and on
since, and In phase or another u has come
before the meeting OF this city nearly every
W Rro her SCI
months probation For every purpose designed by the
discipline this term is long enough II the probation
system is to be nhrmnry where weak souls are To
be patched plastcred aud nurscd Tor six months, he
thought three months quite enough H. however, u IS
70 DC deemed prepsra.ory SCHOOL wne,s pronauoncas
bership In the Methodist Episcopal Church, three
months are too much. The Methodist - tue only
Church the world that has such probationary sys
TEN. The Methodist Episcopal Church South has
abolished it. and the Wcscyans OF Great Britain don't
IT, He the right OF the Church lay down
any rules Tor church membership which are not laid
down IN the Word OF God
DR. Curry took issue with his young brother. II
probation needed at all II ought TO be long enough
TO answer tho ends in view. Aud though the Doctor
not stlckler tor i've, six seven monihs--any
Of these terms would suit him--hc did think three
months TOO short No less authority than pr
Rigg, OF the British Wesleyan Conference, who repre-
sented that body in the General Conference In Bati
more, had been amazed at the loose way which this
matter was lett by the last Conferences and had asked
DR.. Curry, HAS
from the Methodist Episcopal Churchf" The bishops
had nothing 10 oner, on the ground that they are not
ecclesiastical architccts but they have place At the
head oi the building as superintcndents unIcss they
understand their business. But we are gravey told
that If the General Conference has done no good e has
not done HARM and ought therefore to be thankful
This Is fallacy ship a. sea Is ion by captain and
crew for four days or years to shin Tor
itsclf-is there harm done simply because
they have been inactive and have done no good
And the Methodist ship has been left TO DRIFT for the
hs
last i've years. and, taking into account death and
transfer to other churches found that the Methodist
Episcopal Church gains soout sixty seven per cent Of
Its probatonerS DR. Kettcll interrupng, said he had
found It twenty-five per cent instead OF sxty-scv
Dr. Curry, continuing, remarked that Mo.nodism per-
whom they would not receive into full connection ut
all But they are received on trial, that stronger
aud better influence may be thrown around them.
There real difference between tho probasioner Of
week and the member Of ten years standing save
trial, while the former, being entirely in tho hands
Of tho pastor. can DO dropped 81 any time
by him. and II we were 70 take votes in
the churches the probationers could not vote.
[But neither could thousands OF church members.
Tweeds rings not circumstance to rings that
exist in Methodist churches thus and other large
cities But church membership Is sacred right, aud
ought TO he the privilege oil every church member TO
become acquainted with candidates for membership,
and church that strikes from the top downward and
touches The ground at cvcry stroke must have larger
and more elastic system OF probation and sitting or
candidates than other churches and he did not think
this rule Of the discipline could be amended with
out doing harm.
TIE TEMPERANCE TEST.
Brother Lloyd did not think that the General Con-
ference had any right authority, as had done at
Baltimore make total abstinence prerequisite TO
church membership uni had also provided tor turn
Ing Of the church all who not total atstancrs
DR.. Kcttcil made sharp thrcshing instrument
with ends, which he laid DR.. Curry that 'the
house down" He took tho ground that II is not
necessary for good sea captain TO understand how
ship made; II Is not necessary Tor good editor 10
know how paper IL manufactured and type SET and
the proper discharge Of their duties
supcrintendents OF the church machinery that they
should understand ecclesiastical architecture. DR..
Currys reference TO the ship ~ sea drifting about
minded him OF that took place years
GU United States OF which Captain Mckenzie had
and which Lieutenant Spencer had started
a mutiny. Mckenzie informed and he promptly
hanged Spencer from the yardarm What good had
Mckenzie doue II may be askcdY He stopped mutiny
and hanged the ringieader This was the illustration
that brought down the house. Tho shot TOO APP
parent and well aimed to have missed or been mis-
understood For il rs we'll known by readers OF the
Chrsdn Advocate for the last TOUR that DR. Curry
has very freely criticised the machinery oi Methodism
and especially It's opscopacy with no very marked
favor toward either. Rev John Dickinson also spoke
in favor OF aboshing the present tests Of membership
In the Methodist Episcopal church.
The Baptist minister's conference yesterday were
lcrtained by Rev. I. A. r. Hanna, who read deeply
essay the resurrection, which
subsequently, discussed by the brethren