New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-10

\
In TWO Volumes Octave. PIP. XIX Az; vii'' 4oi'
Harper & Brothers
Dr Buckley's work is for the most part the
annals or chronicles OF the Methodist Episcopai
church. the main body Of the seventeen or more
organizations that are described under the gem
era, term Of Methodlsm. It is succnct outline
Of the main facts. enlivened by many biographi-
cal notices IF eminent ~Methodists and Illus
trated with many portraits. Indeed. the Illus
trations occupy nearly ore-fourth or the totai
number OF pages. 1t is az once DOCK LOT tHc
people and a good reference book FOR search-
ers after facts. Great labor has been eXpehueu
In the Authorization Of statements, oates e'c'.
as well as in the selection and condensation VI
materials from an embarrassing abundance III
this respect and also as written up 10 nate' 1t
forms O. valuable supplement to classic WoTh
like DR. Steyens's which 1t by no means aims 10
supersede. ,,-.
The debt Of country TO me MethouiT'
Church is immense. Organized mere III i'or'
one wear after the war for independence ehueu'
the enthusiasm Of its members ana leaders maui
q n society for the propagation Of the Gospel
among the rude settlements extending mo 'ie
Western wilderness Added to this. their re-
rgious fervor communicated itself TO other ana
o,der churches. so as to infuse into them a
warmer and more active religious He Inc Te-
x,valstic spirit originally caught, at least IN
mar, from Jonathan Edwards by John wesley
,vhsn the latter was IN the crisis Of his religious
life was SO impaired by Wesley's disciples 10
those os Edwards that the prayer-meeuhS Hho
the revjvalism OF American Methoclsts nave
greatly modified the character ooth OF |o"sie
gationa!ism and Presbyterianism.
Tho transformation Of American Methodisnl
from monarchical society under the autocrat'c
rule Of its founder into popular church-a
transformation not yet accomplished as the
present agitation for an equality OF the lay with
the clerical representation in the conferences
shows-owes more TO Francis Asbury IMAM any
other one man. Wesley had said: I'VE are not
republicans AMI do not intend 10 ne Asoui!'
commissioned by Wesley in 1872 as director Of
the American work, was man Who' as III
Bacon says. knew how to insure obedience to
orders by making sure that the orders were such
os would he willingly obeyed. BY insight, tact
and selr-restraint as we'll apostolic zeal. AS
hurry retained his primacy til his death in 1916
e,pbt wears before which after long controversy
O scheme Of representative government was
adonted IT was long. however, before the right
Of the people to any representation IN the con-
ferences was established. After at least twenty
wears Of agitation, this was accordeu y! 'lo
General Conference 81 M Ihat IL shou'"
have been so long resisted and that there shou'o
still be reluctance on the part OF the cIels! 10
admit the laity to an equal voice with theih III
the government of the Church seem haruY
congruous with the claim sometimes maze lor
Methodism as the Church of the common people
One may search In vain through DR. BUCK
ley's pages for any sign that the theoioslca'
controversies which have agitated otner churches
have ruffied the waters of Methodlsm. ohe
finds no mention of the notable trial or Dr H.
w Thomas for heresy which resulted some
twenty years ago in his separation from the
Church. though there is A record Of the eXpul-
sion Of a hereto in 1898. on the other hand'
the ethical controversies concerning in'emper-
ance and slavery are fully treated The ethical
interest. indeed has been supreme from the
Nrs, as Wesley's rules evinCe. 1t is a curious
fact that the controversies OF Presbyterians nave
been on points Of doctrine but of the Metho-
dists on points Of practice or order Agitation
among Presbyterians has been Tor the read
iustrent Of ancient creeds TO modern beliefs.
Among Methodsts the demand for readjusiment
is ethical. Either conform your conduct to your
rules, it Is said. or conform your rules to your
conduct This chronic criticism Of the Book Of
Discipline which stil preserves it's antique char
acter. receives but little notice from DR.. BUCK
ley.
history
splendid history. 1t is but 100 years since
Wesley's death. and now twenty-four million
people in the world under Methodist teach
ing FIVE million Methodist communicates IN the
United States Except among Roman Cathohc''
no other religious body has so combined ferVor
OF spirit with solidity Of organization one may
reasonably think that the preponderance OF the
clerical element in its organization Goes not
strengthen 1t at present; that the popular ere
ment must be more largely admitted But DR.
Buckley is undoubtedly correct in attrioutins
its rapid and sturdy growth to "the power of
the fundamental principles of Christianity as
taught and preached by II, the attractiveness OF
its services and the haAd-to-hand conflicts
waged by pastors and people against the powers
of darkness" These are the characteristics by
which It has overcome the disadvantages OF Its
slow and still incomplete assimilation TO the
Democratic spirit Of American institutions.