New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-10-09

opinions. The preliminary examination last
month resulted in his suspension from the
Methodist ministry and it is commonly be-
lieved that this action will be followed by his
expulsion from the Methodist Episcopal Church
at the end of the trial now in progress at
Sycamore, Ill. We are led to believe that this
proceeding will be approved by Methodists
generally. 1t is said that no ministers will
follow DR.. Thomas out of the Church. Tt is
even affirmed that, though he has preached
twelve years in Chicago, very few Methodist
laymen of standing in the community
will go out with him. This would seem
to furnish tolerably clear proof that DR..
Thomas does not represent move
ment--that his new views are personal and
not Methodstc, and ally him to people out
side of the Wesleyan communion and not
within any other That there is such an out
side body of people is proved by the fact that
DR.. Thomas has peoples church, meeting
in n theatre, and maintaining him in comfort
and dignity. Whether the expulsion of DIR.
Thomas involves an injustice may be learned
by practical test. There Is no place i'm
America where the public feeling is more gem
erous toward " hberaln minister than Chi
cagO Isl and this liberality is shared by the
MethOdists. If they believe that DIR. Thomas is
wronged by his expulsion-that he is still sound
Misunderstanding will undoubtedly follow him
out of the Church and support him in his new
pulpit. The fact that no considerable seces-
sion is expected is significant. 1t may not be
complimentary to Chicago Methodists and
again it may be- They certainly know the
facts in the case, and it is hardly Just to as
sumo that plain laymen could, in a matter of
this kind be dictated to by Il few clerical gen.
tlemen As much may be said, indeed, of the
body of ministers who are expected to exDel
DR.. Thomas. One should expect q score
or more of the two hundred to leave
the body in Indignation if the expulsion
appeared to them to be an act Of injustice
The Conference formally asked Dr. Thomas last
year to retire from its membership with their
good wishes. The ministers affirm that they
have tried him with great reluctance, because
they feel kindly toward him; but it is clear
that they believe him to be no longer a Meth
odist in doctrine. The two hundred min
listers who stay are entitled to some charity.
1t may be that DIR. Thomas is a good Meth
odist, but if his two hundred brethren are held
to be i'll error it may be wise to hold also
that they are sincere; and liberalism, which
asks respect for It's own sincerity, ought TO
accord what it asks for itself to conservative
ministers. 1t is entirely possible that DR..
he is still Il Methodist. When one gradually
moves to new position in thought he may
unconsciousy readiust his surroundings; and
we understand that Dr. Thomas assumes that
Methodist doctrine has undergone or ought to
undergo 1--WE cannot be quite certain
which, some rcadjustment to modern feel
ing. OF course, the many who decline
to follow him are a better authority than
he as to what current Methodist theo-
logical thinking atlirms for truth. 1t is
pleasant to reflect that no hardship will
attend DIR. Thomas's expulsion, except of
course, his feeling that he has been wronged
and in that matter it viii be we'll To remember
that his brethren also have feelings to he
wounded by his liberal preaching in their
pulpits. He will probably have larger church
and "A better salary. He will certainly interest
a class OF unchurchly people in religious ideas
he may even be a great moral force in Chicago
But we are obliged To believe that the really
hard, and absolutely necessary, work of wrestling
with sin and the devil in Chicago will con-
tinue to be done by ministers who believe that
there is n devil and-patience, o liberal reader
that there is a hell the final cxtinguishment
of whose fires they dare not even prophesy.
There are some obvious duties of onlookcrs
in a contest of this nature. Absolute freedom
of religious opinion prevails in this country,
and in conflicts of opinion among brethren OBJ
servers will do well to count noses when they
have not mastered the question Mt issue In
the present case there is a question whether
Mcthodism is a progressive theology, capable
of REIMBURSEMENT to very liberal views of Insni-
ration, the Atonement and future punshmcnt.
That question must be answered by the body
of MethodistS. Now, it is remarkable fact
that n careful study of between thirty and
forty Methodist periodicals does not disclose
the least tendency toward the views of Dr.
Thomas. And we should Judge, from consid-
cradle acquaintance with Methodist preaching,
that if this branch of the Christian Church
has any opinion better defined than another,
that opinion regards hell rs an easy place to
get into, and hard place to get out of-so
hard place to get ont of that they do not
perceive how the feat can ever be accom-
plished