The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1896-01-20
GOOD THINGSIN METH0DISM
LECTURE AZ THE CH URCH OF lIES-
SIIH By REF. ". n. .DICKERMAN.
Good Things About the Denomination
Work of the Wesleys-Strength of It's
Governments--Peculi of the Sect
Great Work Accomplished by 1t.

WORK OF tne Ntsleys-StrehSth VI A.'
Governments--PeoulIa of the Sect
Great Work Accomplished by 1t.
The subject of the Rev. f. w. Dick
erman's lecture at the Church of the
Messiah last evening was THE Good
Things of Methodism."
A large audience was present and
listened TO q very interesting and in
structive salk in regard to this large
and powerful denomination.
This denomination was given its
initial force by John Wesley, who, While
a student at college, became impressed
with the spiritual lifelessness in the
Church Of England
He, with his schoolmaster, instituted
a reform movement, which was more of
a religious revival than theological re-
form. These revivalists were maltreat-
ed and mobbed.
Wesley visited America, where he be-
came Impressed with the spirit of the
Moravian, whom he met here. He re-
turned to England, where the first
Methodist church. called the Foundry
church (because of it's meetings in a
| foundry was established
John Wesley was q man of much
| than ordinary ability and a great or
ganizer. His brother Charles who as
sisted him, was great writer of
| hymns, and many of his compositions
are in use to-day.
| The Methodist movement was not
scholastic one. although both the Wes-
lox-e Ill la1
mon.
Wesley was opposed to his followers
| leaving the fellowship of the establish
ed Church of England, and urged them
not to do So
| In 1776 the first church was estab-
lished in this country in New York, the
building which it occupied still remain
ing on John street
In accordance with the wishes of Mr..
| Wesley the church in America adopted
the polity of the Episcopal church. The
old time Methodist preacher had some
very striking peculiarities. He was very
democratic in his dress and manner,
and effected little of the clerical in
either He spoke and prayed as If he
knew God personally, and prayed so
| loud and vociserously as to shock the
ears os the more modest He was a
very earnest worker for the salvation of
souls, and labored constantly with in
dividuals for their conversion, One who
wishes 20 see this old time .Methodism
may do so by attending the services
of the Free Methodist church or the
Salvation army with the tamlborines
lef. out. Following the Episcopal polity
| hot OF bair boo %
subordinate 20 him are the presiding
elders, ministers and class leaders, the
whole forming very strongly central
ized organization. Their general con
ference meets every four years and
they also have an annual conference.
They secure good results by frequent
changes os ministers, If one does not
get stale in place.
There is also a great advantage in the
settlement oe local troubles by the pre-
siding elder and bishops.
| Their doctrines are taken from the
Episcopal church, twenty-five of the
thirty-nine articles of faith in that
church being found in the Methodist
creed.
Free grace is it's distinguishing doc
trine, being in direct opposition to the
foreordination doctrine taught by Cal
vim. and il must be said to the eternal
glory of Methodism that it spiked all
the guns of Calvanism.
The Methodists are very certain
about everything because they have
been converted. Their ministry of to-
day is much changed, and they are now
4 a well educated body of men. The
church is itself probably the most ag-
gressive of any church except the Cath
Ollie.
Wesley had much of the Universalist
about him. We are glad the Methodist
church has existence. We glory with
them in it's triulnphs. We wish them
the greatest success and God speed.
The subject next Sunday evening will
be Good Things of the Baptist"