Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1896-02-20
METHODIST CHURCH.

church in Mineral Point in the choice
OF 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
for themselves, and make such ar
engagements as they thought best.
Then, on the motion of Rev. 5. r.
Chubb, the matter Of dissolution was
referred to the quarterly meetings,
and Il report was ordered to be made
to the third meeting of the conneX-
iOnal committee. This committee met
in Dodgeville last week, when it was
found that, out Of Il membership of
LOO IN the conference, most of the
smaller churches, having an aggre-
gate membership of over 900, fav-
orcd no change; while the larger
sired to dissolve the conference re-
lation and be free, or Were indiffer-
cnt. A motion recommending the
conference to continue was lost on a
tic vote. So the matter remains
pretty near as it did.
Those who favor IA change feel
there is future, and very encOur-
aging one, for their individual
churches, if they can retain their
young people by adopting an Ameri-
con name and come into connection
with present-day currents of sympa-
thy, methods of work, education and
ference as a denomination they do
not see any prosperous future. Where
1t can gather in the lost sheep of
English Primitive Methodism it has
some success. These, however, do
not often wander this way. The
prestige of this church in England,
and its successful work, are but little
known in this neighborhood. The
generation fast passing away were
not Primitives, but mostly Wesley
ans. They became Primitives be-
cause they understood they could in
that way have Il republican govern
ment, and the church doctrines and
ordinances they loved. For the close
corporation method or conference
tyranny they had and have no
use. Thirty years ago the Mineral
Point church, then ministcd to by the
Rev. {. Hendra, voted for the changes
that are still felt to be necessary.
The feeling is stronger now than it
was then, and the conference is
weaker, in both churches and mem
bers.
The choice of ministers for churches
and churches for ministers is so
small that there has been constant
friction within, and if Il minister is
imported from without, unless it hap
pens to be a small man for Il small
place, there is agitation that threat
ems dissolution. Many ministers,
feeling these limitations, have stayed
just long enough to acquire Il minis
tcrial standing and Il place in am
other church, others have felt when
no place was open tothem they must
go or lose their self respect. More
ministers have thus passed through
this conference in n few years than
are now found on its roll. The resid-
uum has not been the survival of
the tittest." That this will be in the
future as in the past is quite evident,
as some of those who are changing
front and talking, sometimes with
tears, about shedding on" are known
either to have sought or to be seek
ing places in other churches, and
make no secret among their friends
better themselves. They are "Primi-
tiveS' for revenue, or until they can
see revenue that is larger elsewhere.
This was plainly seen both at the
last conference and at the committee
meeting last week.
Many of those who have built and
sustained these churches, and expect
to continue in their communion with
their families, desire something diff
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 the local
churches have ever been careful to
retain in their own hands the owner
ship of their own church property.
They desire ministry that shall be
Instructive and profitable to them
selves and their families, to have
voice and a vote in the selection of
the minister and in the affairs of the
church. \ suggestion was offered in