The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-12-09
Why He is A METHODIST
The Rev. Mr.. Halleron's
Reasons for His Form
of Worship.

"Why am Methodist. /" was the sub
ject treated by the Rev. Mr.. Halleron of
St. Paul's NJ. E. Church at the morning
services in the Tabernacle yesterday.
The church was W ell filled and Mr.. Hal
leron's discourse was listened to with
deep attention.
''By the Grace of God I am what | am,
1st Or. XIV, 10, was Mr.. Halleron's text.
He began by saying that the diversity of
belief throughout Christendom, though
deprecated by many, was in accord with
the divine purpose. When diversity was
prohibited the church stagnated.
Suppose the question were how shall
reach Boston" " said the preacher. by
water, say my Baptist frien dis; by the
endless cable of the DEGREES, say my Pres
byterian friends; by the electric motor,
say my Congregational friends; by the
historical stage coach, lamps, trumpets
and pitchers say my Protestant Episco-
pal friends; by the lightning express, say
my Methodist friends. What matter, so
that each attains his destinations
THE CHURCH AS A MOTHER.
''In stating why am Methodist" the
preacher said, there are various causes
of church utilization, but my reason IS
that was converted at her altar, called
to preach the gospel by her and edu-
Gated at the institution OF the Methodist
Episcopal Church. 1t was the child seek
ling the warmth of mothers bosom, the
affection of mothers heart, the guild
ance of mothers hand On mature ex-
animation | cast in my lot with
Methodism for three grand reasops:-
First, Methodist theology; second, Meth
odist polity, and third, Methodist Gre
dentials.
Methodist theology is Armenian in dis
tinction from Calvinis1n. Its watchword
is a salvation as broad as the race and
deep as the wants of man. Its watchwoTd
yis 'Ho, every one that thirstest, come ye
to the waters And whosoever will let
him come This will is not to be under
stood in the Calvinistic sense, but is the
power of choice to OF from the proHered
salvation. This free salvation covers the
case of children who die in infancy and
idiots who have not the power OF choice
and yet are blessediy saved in heaven.
Methodism insists ON an experimental
religion it's tive grand doctrines being
regeneration and sanctification as based
upon the clear teachings of Gods word. =
The preacher said that Methodist
theology has permeated all Evangelical
human will, no pulpit today will preach
any but full salvation as taught from
the first by Methodism.
METHODIST CHURCH GOVERNMENT
'tThe polity of a church is its govern
ment and methods, which are largely
human, and so imperfection more or less
inheres, but for the specific ends for
which the church was founded, Methodist
polIty is best adapted, There are four
classes of conferences, namely:--General
Conference, which meets once in four
years, and is the legislative body of the
church, and is composed of ministers and
layYnen: second, annual conferences, COM
posed of ministers witnin territory
bounded by the General Conference;
third, district conferences, composed of
laymen and ministers in a specific dis
trict; fourth, quarterly conferences, by
the governing body of the local church,
composed of the pastor and the official
members of that church.
"Our system of superintendency on the
whole is as efficient as 1t can be, allowing
latitude for liberty of opinion among the
members. Our Superintendents are
bishops and presiding elders. Ours is an
itinerant ministry, as opposed to the sta
tionary. Our bishops are not lords over
Gods heritage, but are amendable for
their conduct to the body that creates
them, namely, the General Conference.
BY the system of itineracy no church is
without pastor for an hour and no effic-
lent pastor is without church"
On the subject of Methodist credentials
the preacher asked What are church s
credentialsY
"They are neither ritual nor architect
ural, for men have sometimes carved in
stone what they have failed in heart. The
church that calls men out of darkness
into Gods light and keeps men pure and
sweet in the largest numbers has the best
claim to apostolical recognition. Method
ism wants no ornate architecture, no
swinging censor nor dim religious light
through mullioned window and painted
glass, but apostolic simplicity, apostolic
power and apostolic heroism."
The preacher closed with a glowing
compliment to the Congregational
Church, in whose New England nome he
commenced his ministry.