Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-09-10

tcners 10 men of small talents for sectaiian-
ism will blind the eyes Of honest men, and
Calvinism will help men to swallow camels
Of almost any size.
Once here let me record my disapproba-
ton of their selfish, sectarian spirit that
claimed everything for the teacher of the
old Saybrook doctrine of election
and reprobation, and nothing for the
preachers of salvation by repentance and
faith in Jesus Christ to all men. Methodist
preachers were regarded as aggressors, were
denied the use of churches and sometimes of
school houses, and were often attacked by
the advocates of Denomination and DEGREES,
and commonly came off wiser than they
were
About 1900. Methodsm sprung up in
Charlotte. A charge was formed of five
members, preachers were sent on from New
York conference, which then extended into
Canada. Shadrach Bostwick, Henry Rion,
William Arson giants in the ministry
and later, John b. Stratton, Noah Levlngs,
Buel Goodsell, and others who gave good
evidence of their calling by their zeal and
ability in expounding the Divine Word.
MethOdism prospcred in Charlotte, camp
meetings were held on the farm of Jonathan
Breckenridge-on in 1906, and the last (of
four in alb about 1S20-and through the
liberality of Ammi Fuller and others a
church was built at Charlotte Four Corners,
and measure of religious prosperity was
the result of Methodist effort, notwithstand-
ing its unpopularity in years gone by
But litigation about Ammi Fuler's legacy
to the society, the burning of the old
church and parsonage--the discord and stub
Of of Il L,,.t
ing n new church, death and emigration has
so thinned the ranks of Methodism in
Charlotte that few gather at the altar where
in days gone by sinners sought pardon, and
saints heavenly beIediction.
While We, as Methodists, feel sad over its
decline in Charlotte, where it once prospered,
we rejoice at its general prosperity in other
places. Eighty years ago it had but small
beginning. To-day, it has more churches
more members, more ministers. more insti-
| tutions of learning than any other denomina-
| ton in the Union. 1t sent more soldiers to
put down a Democratic rebellion and more
| prayers to Heaven (since Abraham Lincoln)
to save the Nation, than any other denomi-
nation, and it has done more, it has had more
converts, many of which have found their
way to other churches; and has given
tone and character to all the preaching
in other (so-called) orthodox churches, not
only between the hills" but elsewhere,
so that church-goers of to-day are
seldom treated with the old theol-
ogy of election and reprobation. A
wonderful change has come over the
people of this day, in church arrangements.
Instead of two sermons day only one,
in some places, with kind of Episcopolian
stercotyped Introductory service, with Bible
classes and Sabbath schools preceding or
appended, that seems to have little more in
| fuence over teachers or scholars in every day
life, than counting beads or saying prayers
in an unknown tongue has over Catholic
devotee. There is such mixing and ming
ling Of those who profess to serve God and
those who do not, such likeness In dress
and department, such devotion to fashion,
not only in our church, but in all the
churches, that nothing but the church records
or the communion table tells whether they
belong TO the church or the world.
In the last forty years the country has
changed some, the people more. The farms
are better cultivated, some poor lands re-
claimed and made productive, many of the
old buildings replaced by new ones, and
other commodious and convenient added.
But the blowing walls and tottcring fences
seem to have some chronic disease that will
ultimately carry them of.
| The pioneers and most of my cotempora-
ries are gone and the few that are left are
hard pressed with infrmities and the
the weight of years, and are destined soon to
pass away, and leave the responsibilities of
the church and the Nation in other hands.
Many of the men and women of this genera
ton seem to be marvellously at leisure.
Camping on the lake shore, fishing and sail
ing. picnics and parties, uses up good deal
of time and treasure that might perhaps be
better employed, and the parties better pre-
pared to give an account of their steward
ship when the day of reckoning shall come.
One of the burdens of the age is mania for
pictures and flower beds, and enormous beds
without flowers, and other extravagancies of
dress and parade, that pays nothing and
leaves one half of life blank that never can
be filled.
| But all is not wrong in my native town
and State The better class are sound on tenn
perancc and,politics Republicans of course).
In Charlotte feeling of friendship and har-
mony prevails and have been received and
entertained cordially by old acquaintance and
new orrNs and shall return to my home in
the West with pleasant remembrances OF
my last visit with my friends and few ac-
quaintences in my native State, and with m
honest desire for their future prosperity and
welfare. NJ. BRECKENRIDGR.