The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-05-15
The Methodist Conference.

~ than ordinary interest. We say
estants, though if all the men,
OF Methodist households were
7aded in the count. as every in
'''h' born5of Rowan Catholic parents
numerated, the Methodist men,
ZIP would very decidedly lead
Npdies of Christians, without ex-
ION. 1t is the Methodist Episco-
/ Rt conference that meets here, but
Fame faith, and, in some in-
3.g fes, the same polity, are shared
III " ne Methodist Episcopal Church,
Z ra az the k'ree Iethodistss the. .Ves-u
Z gt.gS'is, tie Methodfst P~otestantssl
etc. These divisions, generally orig
mating in issues now wholly forgot
ten or fast becoming obsolete, are fast
disappearing, and the prevailing
force in all the branches of the great
Methodist family is strongly centrip.
.etal.
No thoughtful observer, be his
creed the furthest removed from that
of the conference, will fail to watch
its proceedings attentively. He will
find there abundant subject for re
flection, whether hts conclusions are
sympathetic or the reverse. That
Methodism is a power in our land
none can deny. 1t is a giant, tho a
young one, Less than century and
a half ago, the Wesleys were reluct-
antly compelled to carry that reform
work out of the Church of England
which they would gladly have per-
formed in it. Instead of awakening
Christians from their torpor, and
warning open sinners from coming
destruction, from consecrated affairs
and in regular ways, they preached
in church yards and on commons
and hilltops, and kindled such fire
as had not warmed England since
the days of the Reformation. The
OSt COHlillOu vi All HUH anu the
new birth as the only means of es-
cape, were themes upon which they
and their coadjutors continually
dWelt. There was need of empha-
sing these fundamental doctrines, if
Christianity was to he served. The
English deiSts were first in the field,
apd the later French and German
skeptfcs were largely borrowers from
them. One can find the outlines of
nearly all that Voltaire and Strauss
and Baur have taught in Woolsfon,
Tindal, Morgan and the crafty ra-
tlonalist. Conyers Middleton. Bishop
Butler himself said that educated
men had actually begun to think
that Christianity was beyond contro-
yersy false it was to them an effete
superstition.
While erudite prelates and divines
were preaching mere morality, con-
tenting themselves with opposing
unbe!ievers by only literary weap
ons, MethodiSm checked infidelity
by rousing the sleeping consciences
of learned and ignorant alike. 1t
flashed the light of etarnity into eyes
hitherto occupied only by earthly
prospects. The admirable organizing
power of John Wesley. aided by the
sweet melodies of his brother Charles,
the seraphic eloqrence of Whitfield,
and the self sacrificing labors of
scores of humble helpers, worked a
transformation which all the pro-
found apologies for revelation could
never have affected.
England and America were 50 leav.
ened with religious influences that
the revolutionary whirlwind which
drove France through a sea of blood
passed over them with comparatively
little damage. Yet Voltaire borrow
ed his anti Christian weapons from
England, and Voltairean unbeliei
was an important factor in the ex-
cesses of 1893. Had England pos
sessed a Voltaire and France a Yves
ley. the history of the last ninety
years would have been very differ
ent.
The work of Methodism is not tc
be limited by its UNCONVENTIONAL
spread, marvellous as that has been.
No denomination has failed to be
warmed by its fire, and none has dis
dained to borrow some of its ways.
Even the Establishment, which re-
jected its leaders. has been revived
by it. The renewed energy mani.
tested by the evangelieals of the Clap
ham school, and even by the Tracta
rians of Oxford, was borrowed from
M0thodism, or enkindled by the
force of example. Both of these ex-
tremes are far in advance of the cold
morality of the early Georgian era.
While melting the frozen hearts OF
respectable latitudinarans, and tam-
ing imbruted colliers and prize fight
ers at home, the triumphs of early