New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-09-06
4 vySs1Oy1Ry And 4 HERETO.


A colony keeps the Ianaua &c and habits which IL
brought across the seas long after the faith 'rland
has lost them. Men go to Iceland to learn the
words which Denmark and Norway have forgotten.
recent case illustrates this principle applied to
smaller religious bodies which have seeded IRON
larger one. They secede with homogeneous faith,
and there is not in them the ferment which contin-
ues the development or change going on in the
larger one
The English Wesleyans are one Of the many pro-
ducts of John Wesley's secession from the Church
of England. Ovorshadowed by the great Anglican
Church. they have jeaOusy preserved their insular
character, seeking nothing more than to continue
to be precisely what John Wesley made them'
When one or TWO young ministers at the Conference
last year, were charged with some alteration
from the Wesleyan standards, which, includ-
ing as they do all Wesley's sermons called
"the longest creed in Cbristendom," one OF the
most influential Wesleyan leaders, DR.. Osborn. de-
clared, Let US have no open questions which were
not open questions with John Wesley" The Con-
ference, by an overwhelming majority, agreed
with DR.. Osborn, and the young men were not adj
mitted. The case of Mr.. Impey this year, however,
is a more important one. Mr.. Impey has been for
forty years missionary and for many years super
intendent Of the Wesleyan Missions among the CAT
fires of South Africa. His has been one of the most
honOred names in his church 1t has been his business
to examine and admit candidates for the ministry.
few months ago he Informed the Wesleyan Mis-
sionary Committee that he cOnld not believe
that He'll contains literal physical fire in
which the bodies of the lost would suffer
eternal cautery. Probably no American Meth
odist would think of quarelling with Mr..
Impeys opinion. The WESLEYAN Catechsm, how
ever declares Part l. Section 81, "Hellis dark and
bottomless pit, full of fire and birthstone, In which
the wicked will be punished forever and ever, by
having their bodies tormcnted by the fire. and their
souls by a sense Of the wrath OF God" The mission
secretaries in London. DR.. PunshOn and DR.. Osborn.
on hearing that Mr. Impey did not believe in lit
eral fire, summoned him Immediately to England.
and advised him TO resign his Office a mis-
sionary and as a minister in anticipation Of certain
expulsion. This no did, and the Bradford Confer
cnce struck of his name from the rolls as " re-
signed" without a word in recognition of his
eminent character and services, casting him
of at the age Of sixty after life Of faithful labor
in a mission which tho first to carry the gospel
10 the Calires This is done by the silent consent
of the whole Wesleyan body.
The American Methodists have called for the meet
ing Of an Ucumenical council, embracing all the
Methodist bodies IN tho world and DR.. l.. o. Haven
presented and urged the plan before the Bradford Con-
ference at its August meeting We should not be sur
prised if the American branch of the denomination
jndge II worth while TO show the English churches
that there is here powerful Methodist body united
and compact, remarkable for its Christian and mis-
sionary zeal, second to no other in the coustancy
with which IL holds to the Evangelical faith, which
does not think II necessary 10 ito the hands OF It's
ministers, and which would only laugh at the I'M
position Of such fetter As that IN which Dr. Os-
born chains the English Wesleyans. i" Let us have
no open questions that were not open questions
with John Wesley