Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1895-02-06
For the Herald and Tribune.
The American Methodist Church
Movement.


Movement.
AS this is the youngest child of the
great family of Methodists, not being
but few months old and as its origin,
object, doctrines and government are
not generally understood by the read.
ing public as yet, we thought few ar
ticles to the Herald and Tribune for
publication, on this line would not only
be of interest, but instructive to its
many readers. This movement is of
God, as we verify believe, and is one of
the greatest of two centuries past. 1t
has been favorably spoken of for sov-
eral years by leading Methodist divines,
both North and South, who have felt
very keenly the oppressiveness of the
Episcopal form of government. There
has been in the Episcopal Meshodism
more or less dissatisfaction with bish-
ops and presiding elders from the be-
ginning, and as result, we now have
numerous Methodist organizations,
numbering possibly in all, over 6,O0O,-
600. But when the reorganization of
the Methodist Episcopal Church took
place in this territory in '65, at Athens,
Tennessee. nearly all the Union men
who were Methodists went into it, and
the Methodists who were in favor of
secession went into the Methodist
Episcopal Church South-a lamen table
fact, that Christian men of both sides
would allow politics to determine their
church relations, and yet, such is the
case. This is also true of some other
denominations. The American Meth.
odist Church thinks it time to lay down
their old prejudices and unite our ef-
forts as Christians for the salvation of
men. What blessing this would be
to the cause of Christ. Many of the
grand men who identified themselves
with the Methodist Episcopal Church
have passed from the fields of toll to
their reward. Others have been lain
on the shelf" while many of their
sons and grandsons have been trying
to carry their work on to victory at even
great sacrifice, and at times with
much dissatisfaction, and yet they have
exhibited unsurpassed devotion to their
cause, and exercised great patience to-
ward their oppressors, for which they
deserve much credit. 1t is a known
fact to many that there has been a
faction" in the Holston Annual Con.
ference of the Methodist Episcopal
Church for years, composed chiefly of
transfers from the North. This has
created much disturbance, and the
church has suffered great loss in various
ways. Some of our men have gone to
other denominations, some have taken
a supernumerary relation, others have
located, some have died, while others
have withdrawn. So in one way or
another the natives and also the trans
fers, who have been with us, have
been thinned out until the faction has
had almost entire control of the con.
ference for more than two years. The
saying has almost become proverbial,
THAT no native can ever get any
where in the conference unless he joins
the faction" 1t is apparent to all
thinking and wide awake men that all
the best appointments are filled by
transfers, the second best by the ma.
tives who have Joined the faction and
the hard circuit work is done by those
who do not join the faction. The his
tory of things will show that every
prominent native who has spoken out
his convictions has had the misfortune
of being relegated, and in some instan
ces disgraced. We are looked upon by
the nonresident part of this faction
just as the English looked upon the
colonist as being an inferior class ol
people, and therefore not capable tc
look after the business OF the church
Hence they are here to "boss" us.
think that some of the same kind oi
blood which flowed through the veins
of our revolutionary fathers is to be
found tracing the veins of their sons
and grandsons, but after all the out
RACES which have had been perpetrated
upon us and our people we still love
God and the doctrines of the church
but feel unwilling to submit to every
thing that is thrust upon us. Our peo
pie must know the situation and theu
there will be mighty turning. The
first organization of the American
Methodist Church was affected in
Bradley County, Tennessee, a few
months ago by Rev. G. w. Jarvis, ex
presiding elder of the Holston Annual
Conference of the Methodist Episcopal
Church. Brother Jarvis is an able
minister, a brave man and will advo
cate the rights of our people at all haz
yards. Already number of classes
have been organized and the good worl
is continually gaining ground. The
American Methodist, a paper, will
make its appearance soon.
d. j. NELSON, Telford, Tenn
Ito be continued
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