The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1892-03-26

history oi the past existing troubles
In the Wilmington Conference, and
which are largely attributable to the
possibilities for evil incident to this
office.
The same spirit of revolt exhibit
ing Itself possibly, under less unwel
come conditions, is no less evident
in the Baltimore Conference. We
may not altogether approve the
method of demonstration of this
spirit, but the fact OF its existence is
no less assured.
AT a recent meeting OF the pastors
of Baltimore Methodist Episcopal
Churches, at which seventyhve
ministers were present, the severest
criticisms of cel tain methods OF ad
ministratlon now 100 prevalent
among presiding elders, were inter
rupted with applause.
The uncontradicted report OF the
proceedings of that meeting will
best interpret the spirit OF it, the
relation of the Bishop and the Elder
TO the minister being the subject
under discussion.
what responsibility has the Pre-
siding Elder" asked the Rev. Mr..
Rice. None. Yet he is the man
chosen to come between the minister
and the Bishop, and there is secret
meeting. He stabs you and me, my
brethren, in the back without the
courage to come forward and say SO,
or even the manhood to come to us
and invite us, so that we can defend
ourselves like men.
Il tell you, my brethren, in that
secret way many plots are laid
and carried out to ruin the reputa-
ton and character of the minister
by the Presiding Elder, while the
Bishop muzzles them by don't you
say dnNlnlIS ABOUT tHiS.
There is no law in the Church
that allows the Bishop to thus
muzzle the Elder, but it is the prac
tic that has been in vogue for years,
and is carried out to the very letter.
l heard of a secret meeting that went
on some six years ago in this self
appointed cabinet that, should l
expose it now, would be a very
bombshell in your midst.
AT that meeting charges were
laid against me by a Presiding Elder,
and never heard OF it until Satur
day last Just to think, for six years
this charge had been laid against
me, yet l never heard Off until now
They did not have the moral cour-
age to appeal to my manhood. but
sat there in that dark, secret cham
Der, and like towards, Matched up
this plot to stab me, while the Bishop
sat and listened and then said, don't
say anything
"My brethren, am a man, if
nothing else. Why did they not
come to me as such and give me a
chance to defend MYSELF"
Here the question was raised that
the speakers time had expired,
but unanimous consent was given to
continue.
There is only one way to do
away with the present order OF
things; that is, to bring the Bishop
and the ministers more cosely to
gether, give the latter a chance to
defend themselves, and allow no
more cabinet secret meetings to be
held"
Rev. Mr.. Rice said, further, that
he would like to see equality in the
appointment of Presiding Elders
Not two or three men Of weaker
minds and wills to be controlled by
two of stronger personality, but men
OF equal ability appointed to districts
OF equal desirability and influence,
SO there could be no controlling the
affairs by master minds. He closed
by stating thai, unless there is some
change in the policy Of the Church
in regard to this, as well as other
things, there would come a revolu,
ton in the ministry.
Some exception to DR.. Rice's
| charges and statements was taken
and motion was offered to request
the reporters present not to include
in their accounts some of the terms
used. On the other hand. it was
claimed that the words objected to
were no worse than some used by
Bishop Foster in conference, and il
was finally left to the judgement o.
the representatives of the press as to
what should be omitted or said.
Rev Mr.. Rice was frequently in
terrupted by applause from the IS
ministers. which showed that al
were in sympathy with him, and re
marks OF chats true" you are
right" could be heard from all parts
OF the room. AT a session Of tie
Baltimore Conference last week, a
memorial was adopted by a large
majority, asking the presiding
Bishop (Foster) not to appoint as
Presiding Elder any minister who
had previously held that office.
Such debates, are the sure indica-
ton Of the growing disfavor in which
an office no longer required by the
necessities of Modern Methodism,
is coming to be held, and which was
voiced in the Resolution recently
passed by the Lay Electoral Con-
vention at Wilmington, in this
pointed language:
ReS0l0ea. That we believe that
the present system OF presiding
elders in their appointment and
work is neither profitable nor salu
tary to the church, and we hereby
declare ourselves in favor of the
entire abolition of the said office.
The trend of Wesleyan sentiment
in this country points to an early
vacation OF the useless functions OF
this useless office.