The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1878-04-12
Is Ieth:dism Declining?
New York Herald,

We print an interesting article on
another page on the present condition
and future of MethOdism in America
in general and this State i'll particular.
From the statements made therein
there seems to be little room to doubt
that this powerful evangelical Organi-
ZatiOn is in positive danger of disinte-
grafton audliecay. The causes given
for this state of things are the lack of
a bond of union among the churches,
the cumbrOus governing machinery
and the frequent changing of pastors.
The Church machinery is said to be
too easily, the interests too numerous,
and that the Itinerary places MethO-
diSm at such a Disadvantage with 9th
er denominations that a degree of un
rest prevails to an extent never before
known iH ths history Of the Church.
As an evidence of the Weakness of
AethQdism the fact is cited that in
this city the net membership has only
increased seven hundred and fifty dtl-
ring the past thirty years, and only
four new churches have been built i'll
fifteen years, while the Presbyterians,
X:tl; eipht churches less, have attained
nIinGrIcai slLepstn gix thousand in
excess of their Methodist BRETHREN
These are startling facts and must be
rcsolutely grappled with by the Church
if it intends to hold its own in the re-
ligigus ~grid. The trouble with the
Protestant den Ulnigati9ns is 5hat th2y
are too much governed that is, ths
HtY8TBiDgpQweri is too widely distrib-
Uted-GqnSCn nueHtlE confusion arises,
the laws of the Chqrch hepome OPP
pressive and the ecclesiastical una
| ci1inarV is clOgged and refuses To work.
| Judging from tie information at hand
| this is especially true of the MethO-
| dists, and it behOoVcs them to take
| the question of organization reform
| ;i,:2 serious consideration, for their
tlqrcil has accomplished so much in
| the past in aiding. q e%aliaeiiEF the
world that it w9qld be a serious I9sS t9
CiiiisuaHity if Methodism should lose
its foothoid among the Leading sects OF
! Professionalism. The denomination
| should simplify it, governing machine
rv. strengthen individual churches by
I 5e4.,,;tting pastors to grow up with
their conSfcG4ij6Es. and so strengthen
! the bond of sympathy pet WGEG the
teachers and their people. To expect
/ q minister to hold his community to-
| gcihtT and iHereas6 X by years resi-
! denpe among them a4d then pass t.
another field, is a mistake which none
appreciate 50 well as the Alethodists
themselves, yet the doctf;he laid down
by Wesley is stubbornly adhered tc
simply because il is his, though the
! spread of Methodism has rendered
tine practice n positive detriment t.
! the hest interests of the Church. The
| Baui.s,s. Hss.hvterians and Congrega'
| tiohaliSfs have al aYqyqe9 E,ig r0cl; y
the path Of Progress, hnq their church
es are consequently unitcdin purpose
and ;Gdividually strong. The time
| for i change has rqnie; and the soon
| cr ii i made the better it wiil IN fgl
! NIpthodism, for it cannQt be long de.
lassd. This is an age of progress, il
religion as well ~ teWDqrgl affairs
and tho signs are 50 plain that eveI
he'who runs may Foadthem, Reform
ntelligently and honestly carried out
ALWAYS brings strength 10 the body
politic; the only question is when Il
apply it. That time has now come fo
| Meti,cdism? VIII it improve the op
p6rtdpity1