Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1879-04-08
mEFHODIsT lTINEKANCY

1alS SUBJECT Is again agltated by IL
! ,i.tbod,sts OF the north. The party oppos
, 10 the CID itinerant system seem to gal,
strength with eech new conference of til
CHURCH, aud their success is a mere question
of time. There is evidently growing dis
{ satisfaction with the old system, and in fev
years minister will be retained where he i
doing more good thar he can do elsewhere
Where minister and the people are please
with each other the church is sure to prospe
A severance Of these relations is not ag, eea
Die ~ advantageous TO either preacher, con
Qregation or the church. The secular pres
Of New GprL has entered into discussion oi
tbs, ali .ct. E.e TOrld, in an article com.
mentins on The popularity of Rev. De-
Sealies, and the iGexorable rule which re
moved him from the church where he was
doing 50 much good, says:
He was loaih to leave, and the pew-hold
ers of his church were as loath to lose him
| but the rigid rules Of the conference on the
| subject OF itineracy compelled the severance
| OF tins tie which was so dear TO those whom
| It united A large number of the preachers
| and tie active iaymen of the Methods
church have lately protested, as Mr. Searles
| himself did recently, against ltIneracy as APP
| btiEO III our llulC 10 CLUES anu towns; IN |
there has OF late sprung up strong OPPOSE
| ton to tn arrangement which was originally
| devised TO meet the wants OF missionary
| chr.ch Ia missionary age, and which may
( very well have outliyed its usefulness simply
| because Of its success. For the usefulness Of
religious teacher obviously must depend, i'll
settled communities, and In an established
and prosperous communion, in no slight de =
gree, upon his personal acquaintance with
hrs people, and upon their knowledge md
appreciation CT his ability his sincerity and
hls ttGess to command their personal conf
dence. Our report describes the affecting
ieaVe-taking between Mr.. Searles and his
congregation IN a manner which suffices 10
show that 1t cannot be regarded as likely to
smcCth the way Of his successor. No matter
what the personal merits OF that successor
may be, months must be spent bv
him IN breaking down the po-
lite barriers between himself and his
congregation which will be insenshly set up
by their memories and their regrets. Whe:,
tins las been done and he also has become in
his turh beloved and useful, the inexorabie
ecclesiastical shears OF itlneracy will once
more slit the delicate band of sympathy arG
esteem, and the scene of yesterday will lie
renewed. In merely missionary work, and
II regions where the preachers coDorepi-
tons ara IS restless and rs itinerant as HIM
set, ibis custom OF the Methodists must no |
Gou6t long continue to be found potent for !
good. But IN the great cities and towns III |
the United States, the Methodists have,
ceased to be either peculiar or prosecuted |
or propagandlst sect. They are a great |
ecclesiastical denomination, building fine |
churches, often with a steeple and generally |
with an organ, with carpeted aisles AMI |
cusnloned pews, and ali the out ward sem
olanc7 OF powerful and steady social or.
ganization.
Such Is the voice of the secular press il
every part Of the country, which is worth
more than the opinions Of the old member. |
o. this denomination who are welded TO The
OF the church and opposed to any
change IN the system which they learned 10
owe il childhood. In discussing the sadness
md sorrow occaSiOned by the removal of Rev.
ur. Searies, Of New York, the Augusta (Cia.
loHstH1ti0HaiiSt says: Augusta has aft rded
n instance OF the workings OF the system.
l minister has been stationed here for the
oagest possible period the conference rule
towed-iour years. He won the affection
bis whole congregation, and the respec;
ua confidence Of all men OF all denomina-
oas and Of all nIer of no denomination.
lie had capacity to do great good, and his
'bors IN the vineyard of the Master never
eased. He might have spent a lifetime s
eye, nursing the sick, binding up the broken
1arteG and bringing sinners to repentance. :
at he se,ved four years and must he sent d
lvng strangers TO build his house a am, in a
der that 1t might be torn DOWN when con-
renee meets and sends him somewhere else.
ny not allow such men to remain in h
cir held OF usefulness until they grow weary ii
their congregation or their congregation II
come tired OF them? We do not wish t. ~
understood as attacking individuals, but b.
nplg as showing how badly rule operates Il
hch was framed IN another age and under ST
wholly different condition of circumstances a;
e minister to which we refer has been re. W
ICED by enc Of The noblest heroes in the tn
MES OF the Lord God. His bleaehed locks pr
q trembling frame testify to the arduous N
wees he has rendered under the banner of an
Prince Of the House OF David His record tn
The life of a man of God-of soldier who CTS
i die with his armour on and sword in ~ ~
id. But when he gets to know us aud his col
de begins to smite the cohorts of Satan, da
not the conference send him away to an to
'noWn land and strange people," oS St