The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1888-06-08
METHODISM-OLD AND NEW.

What was said of old Methodism in
the TELEGRAPH last week was prom.
ised to be followed by notice of the
new condition of that influential chris
tan body. The late General Confer
ence Of the Methodist Episcopal church
has brought the denomination more
prominently, if possible, before the
country than before. Some of the
achievements of Methodism in later
years will be mentioned. If oId-time
Methodism was derided for it's litter
acy, it is now equal in learning with
the leading christian denominations.
Its institutions Of learning have been
largely on the increase for the past
quarter of a century. Clergymen of
other denominations who may have
pr ided themselves on their superior
learning would now find Methodist
clergymen their peers in the classics
and Biblical learning. If there be any
thing which a religious people have a
right to be proud of, it is the schools
and seminaries the Methodists now
have under their control. The time
when preachers prided themselves on
their want of school education has
passed away, and is now only tradition
al. The preacher who once spent so
much of his time in the saddle, riding
the circuit and known in every neigh.
borhood by his costume, has disappear
ed, except perhaps in the far-off
frontier settlements. Methodist women,
once distinguished for their simplicity
of attire, now dress in as expensive
and fashionable styles as those in other
congregations; for proof of this, let
any one visit the churches in Chicago
or other large cities. Loud, emotional
worshippers, who pounded the benches
in old-time meeting houses, have near
ly all gone to glory tit is hoped), and a
more sedate and less demonstrative
class of worShippers bow before the
majesty CT the Most High. Church
organs and artistically trained choirs
are as much in demand in Methodist
churches as in those of any other de-
nomination. Were it possible for an
0ld-time Methodist to be suddenly
transported in to one of the modern
churches of the denomination, with its
upholstered seats and brilliant chande-
Tiers, he would protest that he was not
in christian sanctuary, but in a place
contrived by the devil. to delude and
entrap souls. The old meeting houses,
as destitute of architectural show as a
farmers barn, have given place to
stately ediflces of grand design. Church
steeples, once regarded an exhibition
of religious pride, offensive to the
Deity. now rise as high from the
Methodist houses of worship as from
those of any other christian people.
In Washington, city of churches,
where the different denominations
have their representative churches,
the steeple on the Methodist Metro
politan church towers twenty feet
higher than any other in the city; be.
sides, it is the only one in the city that
has full chime of bells. Showing
the extraordinary advance of the
Methodist denomination in the matter
of education, the following is given
from recent paper:
!" The reports presented to the General
Conference at New York shows the
denomination has now fifteen theologi-
cal seminaries, fifty-four colleges and
100 academies and schools for higher
learning. representing a property of
$25,000,000. In the early part of the
century the need of the denomination
was for more men of large culture and
high scholarly attainments.