Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-12-04
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
The Itinerancy or the Methodist



church.
EDIToRs APPEAL-The editorial in the
APPEAL of yesterday, upon the itinerancy OF
the Methodist church, was in good taste and
fair presentation of tho question: but there
are cogent reasons against any substantial
change of this system, that will be apparent
upon reflection. 1t might be sufficient to say
that the policy of ltInerancy Is right because
it is based upon the sanction, If not the posi-
tive direction of the New Testament. The
apostles mode of preaching by itinerancy,
from one section to another and from one
country to another, would at least indicate
that the apostles believed it to be the most
successful way Of spreading the gospel. But,
as a mere matter OF policy, what has been the
result? Has it effected more good in a shorter
time than any other system? The latest sta
tistics of the Methodist church In all of its
branches in this country, north and south,
show membership OF very little less tn an
three and one-half million. The organl-
cation of the church has not been
very much longer than a century and
quarter. Compare this with other organi-
cations that have permanent pastorate and
see the difference. We are taking for grant
ed that the doctrines, forms and ceremonies
of the different churches are equally good.
We are testing passionate system. There
are personal objections, we grant, that can
be urged against this system, and could be
against any other; but the question is the
greatest good to the greatest number. Large,
wealthy congregations can build splendid
houses of worship, employ learned and elo~
quent preachers, and make their Sabbath
worship pleasant and agreeable to themselves
and families But, is not the good they do
circumscribed and limited? Is not the bene-
fit confined to the few? These churches are
generally limited to a few members, and
| rarely grow beyond fixed point. Should it
not be the prime object of all churches to ex-
| tend their numbers and to increase their ill.,
| fluence? And to whom should it extend ?
Only to those who can pay large salaries and
| support expensive churches? If we are to
| be bible christians the leading object of
| church extension should be to give the bible
| to the poor. Can this be done SO effectually
| as by an itinerant system? a sys-
| tenn that sends the best and ablest
preachers to the cities and to the country, to
| the mountains and the valleys. 1t must be
| borne In mind that we are not consulting the
| comfort and ease of the minister, but are
seeking the greatest good to the greatest
number. We take it for granted that he is
| called of God to his work and voluntarily as
| sumes place In the itinerant ranks. 1t Is
said, however, that the hardship he endures
| frequently drives the Methodist minister
from his own church to some other. No mat
| ter what may be the reason, the fact is that
some of them after a while seek other
| churches, and and many CT them ara good
| and true men. But it is another fact prov
able by the statistics of the Methodist church,
| that she gains more from other churches
| than she loses. 1t is not the itinerant sys-
| tenn which drives them from the church, ex-
| cept in rare instances, but other reasons that
do not propose now to investigate. But it
| is said that the preacher, having no home,
| rarely accUmulates competency for his
| family. Admit it; and is this not a stronger
| argument against his money-making than
| against his usefulness as successful preacher
of the gospel? Bat the fact is that,
| connected with this system there Is
another feature indispensable to it
which the church cherishes as part of it
| the collection annually of a fund for worn
| out preachers, their widows and orphans.
| Bat is it true that Methodist preachers are
| poorer than preachers of other churches? Do
| any of them get more than support? The
/ statistics by the government for 1870 show
that the ministers of the Methodist church
| average, as to their salaries, with tho'e of
any other church. If the Methodist timer
| ant needed anything to sustain him in his
| high calling, from worldly standpoint,
think these facts are sufficient. But the
| point is, the greatest good to the greatest
number. In the Northern Methodist church
the term OF the preacher can be extended to
three years, in the Southern church to four
years. But it must be remembered that no
preacher is sent fer longer term than one
year; he may be continued to the full limit
There is an important feature IN this, and [
think valuable to the system. If the people
and the preacher 90 not suit each other, the
removal is according to law-there is no fric-
ton, no bad feeling-the connection ends
peacefully and quietly. How is it With a
permanent pastorates If it Is necessary to eBd
the relationship between pastor and people,
for any reason, is it not frequently
the case that there is much friction,
! e.
Methodist preacher in a lifetime travels from
one end of his conference to the other. His
varied gifts and graces reach many hearts
and mlnds the seed will fall upon good
ground. The local pastor, month after
month, and year after ysar, ministers to the
same people; no change, no variety. Take
the cases of the Drs. Landrum, White and
Boggs, three of the best and most eminent
ministers in the city. In twenty years each
will preach perhaps 10 twenty thousand differ
ent people, The lamepted DIR. Slater in the
same time will perhaps have been listened to
by one hundred thousand different people.
Should all four have Teen equal II ability and
piety, would not the advantage be in favor of
DIR. Slater for spreading the gospel? These
instances are taken for illustration
and not for Invidious comparison. Perhaps,
in large cities, permanent pastorate may
have some edTantageg, rad f1aY he more
pleasant to the Individual members of those
churche2 But the idea or the greatest good
to the greatest number will embrace every
section Of the country and every condition Of
society-the rich, the poor, the wise, and the
ilnterate. The blessings Of religion extend
alike to each. The itinerant system should
rot be changed; it may be made more or less
flexible TO suit the necessities of the country.
It ig nat every change that u IA improve
ment; policy often makes changes. Is it not
dangerous when that policy interieres with
tried principlesf LAYMAN.