The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-09-26
The QuenlIon or ItInernsr.

The question Of itineracy was up for dis
cussion among the Methodist preachers Of
Chicago at their weekly meeting last Mon
day. As this is a subject that has been
agitated good deal of late among the
Methodist brethren, and as 1t may be up
for consideration at their West Virginia
Conference next week at Morganow'. es-
pecially as they are then to choose dele
gates to the General Conference, which
meets at Cincinnati next year, we make
the following extract from the discretion
at Chicago:
DR.. Thomas opened the debate He
reviewed the customs Of the Mrlho-
eist Church with regard to the limitation
otlthe pastorate.s Iineracy had beeI the
rule always; FIRST, as in the days Of Wr,ley,
the preacheritraveled from place to Llace
then he was retained in one place for one
year before being sent to some other
church; then the term was made two
years., and finally three years, az 1t
was today The question nov was
whether the present Limitation should
not be considered the proper one.
He thought there might be an
objection raised against q positive limita-
ton Of the pastoraIe, for many reasous 1t
was often very inconvenient, 10 say the
least for pastor TO leave his charge. He
might have reasons that were almost i'm
parative why he should remain. He might
have sick family, and, II he occupied a
parsonage, he must vacate for the next
charge; he might also be in the midst Of
an important church work, a special dis.
pensation; or he might have large
number OF probationers in his church. A
new man coming in could scarcely be ex-
pected 10 take up the work where the
originator left of and keep up the same
amount OF interest. Another idea was the
young peoples interest, and the growth
OF affection between them and their pas
toe, In the ordinary days OF youth they
were liablei TO be subjected TO three
changes, and the speaker thought these
changes were far from beneficial.
Another thing 10 be considered was the
matter OF hard-working men and lazy
men. The latter acted as hired men or
renters, who came along and lived upon
what the hard workers had builded up,
remaining there until the place had run
down, when they moved of to settle
down upon another mans work. he said
the abolition OF itineracy would work an
evil; 1t would weed out many an eyangel.
ical worker who shot forward like a me.
teor,, working great deal OF good tenn.
poarily, but not being strong enough to
shine continually IN one particular point
Of the ministerial heavens. But II
might be possible that the good
would more than compensate for
the evil, in that It would weed
out the drones who were carried along
from year TO year through their lives by
the hard workers. In conclusion, Dr.
Thomas thought ftmight be we'll to retain
the itineracy Of the Methodist Church in
all It's power, but that the Limitation OF
the pastorate should he. taken of. Let a
man be installed ina church for one year;
II he succeeded and his people liked him
and wanted him with them longer, then
let him stay; it;he did not succeed, let him
go'to smother Held and try it " isR
The remarks Of DR.. Thomas ap ppeared 10
meet with considerable favor.
DR.. Hatfield did not wish to be misun-
derstood ip any OF his points. lie firmly
believed that, everything taken into con-
sideration, the Methodist method took pre-
cedence over the rules or any other de.
nomination; but he thought there should
be some restrictions placed upon some OF
their own rules. He pictured the disa-
greeable things connected with the timer
ant idea, and he thought that the system
Of allowing q minister an opportunity 10
stay In q place four or FIVE
years would stimulate improvement.
So. long as there were ten churches
in the conference whose officers habitu-
ally chose their own preachers, he thought
1t matteredliale whether the rest rotated
among the other churches from year TO
year, or whether they st4id In. one place.
The speaker had tried TO look upon this
subject from all points, and he was under
the conviction that q change should be
made, and his plan was identical with
that oil DR.. Thomas. S-&
Bishop Merrill was called upon. He
said he didnot wish TO take any consider.
able part In. this discussion, In many
things his ideas harmonizAd with those Of
both the bretheren who had spoken, bu.
the suggestions offered he aid mot regard
as practical. On the other hand, he
thought that they would work an injury
TO the interests ctths Church. He could
not see how. both an itineracy, and q SET.
tied pastorate could be maintained at one
and the same time. Abolish the llmita,
ton, and they abolish the itineracy.
DR.: Thomas suggested TO the Bishor
that he place the Limitation with q man
life, and DR.. Hatfield asked The speaker e
explain his position.
} Bishop Merrill said that hs could no