Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1896-02-20
Primitive Methodist Church.

prompted by a desire To oVerrule the
churchpn Mineral Point in the choice
OF a minister, the preachers held a
secret caucus at which they decided
TO dissolve the conference, expecting
to make the appointments for one
year and then leave the different
churches and preachers To look out
Tor themselves, and make such ar
engagements as they thought best.
| Then, on the motion of Rev. s. r.
| Chubb, the matter OF dissolution was
referred to the quarterly meetings,
and a report was ordered to be made
TO the third meeting OF the connex-
/ lonal committee. This committee met
IN Dodgevllle last week, when il was
found that, out OF membership of
Loo IN the conference, most of the
smaller churches, having an aggre-
gate membership of over 500, fav-
ored no change; while the larger
| churches, With over 200 members, de-
sired To dissolve the conference re-
lation and he free, or were inuitfer-
ent, A motion recommending the
conference 10 continue was lost on a
tie vote. so the matter remains
pretty near as 1t did.
! Those who favor a change feel
there Is n futnre, and Il very encour-
| aging one, for their individual
churches, II they can retain their
young people by adopting an Ameri-
con name and come into connection
with present-day currents Of syinpa-
| thy, methods OF work, education and
missionary movements. For the con-
ference as n denomination they do
/ not see any prosperous future. Where
| ~ can gather in the lost sheep OF
| English Primitive Methodlsm Il has
some success. These, however, do
| not often wander this way. The
| prestige OF this church in England,
and It's successful work, are but little
known IN this neighborhood. The
generation fast passing away were
! not PrlmitlNes, but mostly Wesley
ans. They became frimltivrs be-
cause they understood they could In
| that way have republicans govern
| ment, and the church doctrines and
ordinances they loved. For tho close
corporation method or conference
tyranny they had aud have no
use. Thirty years ago the Mineral
Point church, then ministed to by the
| heN, 4. Hendla, voted lur the changes
| that are still felt to be NEG, ssary.
The feeling is stronger now than it
was then, and the conference IL
weaker, IN both churches and mcm-
bers.
The choice Of ministers for churches
| AND churches for ministers is so
small that there has been constant
| friction within, and III minister Is
| imported from without, unless II hap
| pens to be small man for Il small
/ al a
| chs dissolution. Many ministers,
feeling these limitations, have stayed
| Just long enough TO acquire IA minis
| tertal standing aud Il place in am
| other church, others have felt when
no place was open 10 them they must
| 20 ~ lose Their self respect. More
| ministers have thus passed through
| this conference in Il few years than
are now found on Its roll The resid-
uum has not been the Survival Of
the iittcst." fhat this will be in the
| future as In the past Is quite evident
as some 81 thO,r who are changing
| front aud talking, sometimes with
tears, about "holptng on are known
either To have Sought or To be seek
| ing places ~ Dther churches, and
| make no secret atnong their friends
| y
| better themselves. They are "I'rimi-
tives" for revenue, or until they can
see a revenue that is larger elsewh here,
| This wars plainly seen both ut the
| last conference and at the committee
meeting last week.
Many Of those who have built and
sustained these churches, and expect
| To continue Ia their communion with
/ Itf l,I. "a
| ferent. They have no desire TO leave
the local associations that have be-
come SO dear, or the churches their
earnings have built. Upon these the
conference has no claim, for tile local
churches have ever been careful To
| retain IN their own hands.the owner
| ship OF their own church property.
They desire a ministry that shall be
instructive and profitable to them
| selves and their families, 10 have
voice and vote Ia the selection of
/ the minister and III tile affairs of the
| church. A suggestion WIS offered in
! the Dodgeyliie meeting that the
name Primitive be dropped, and that
hereafter such churches as desired
should adopt the name of Congrega-
| tiOnal Methodist. This seems 10
i
to bo Il likely solution Of the problem
that must be solved. The advantage
| of this name and character Is obvious.
II would indicate the doctrine and
government Of the church, would adj
init all 70 an equal participation III
its business, and be an advantage
over the present hybrid poIity, that
even sotne who cling to IL do not
fully understand, or clearly know
why they cling. ii would bring the
churches ana ministers into Il better
understanding Of and TO Il closer COM
munion with other bodies " Christ
i tians, who with larger advantages
are working for the same purposes.
IL would be gain Of privileges and
opportunities Tor the young III con-
Meeting them with the worlds
thought, sympathy and work. Yet
1t would not change or curtaii IN any
way the liberty, privileges ~ deso-
| ti0n 0f the aged. Com.
/ Closing Out Sal2.