Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1899-08-26
Gov. Dillingham; on Methodism.

UuN. DllIluSudm vi WStHUuioA.
Thursday was twentieth Century Day
at the Claremont Junction camp-meeting
The principal speaker o. the afternoon was
Ex.-Gov. w. P. Dillingham; of Montpelier
Gov. Dillingham; is known the state ovel
as Christian gentleman of pure motives
and sterling integrity, and, moreover, be il
Me,ho list whose Methodism is above
suspicion. His subject Thursday after
noon was, ''Wanted, Men" He began hi.
remarks by stating that all present were
Methodist and he hoped what he had to
say would be taken by way of suggestion
rather than of criticism. His remarks as a
whole, however, constituted pointed ar
raignment of Methodism, or, perhaps more
accurately, the methods of Methodism. He
said that he once attended the general con-
ference as a lay delegate, and it was the
only convention he ever attended where he
felt that he both entered and went out at
the back door. A few leaders dictate the
pclicy OF the conference with the same iron
hand that few bosses control the desti-
nies OF Tammany. Methodism during the
past FIVE years, despite all the figures that
can be mustered to the contrary, has been
at standstill land one reason is because
the people have practically nothing to say
in the administrative policy Of the church.
A small percentage of the clergy arrange
the program and carry it out.
The speaker referred to the condition of
the English people at the time Metbodi'm
was founded, and said the Discipline was
adapted to the conditions then existing but
had not since been revised to meet the re-
quirements of progress in social, religious
aud Intellectual lie. He strongly intimated
that in some respects Methodism is one
hundred and thirty years behind the times.
Matters of amusement, he thought, to a
reasonable extent, should be determined by
private Judgment, such as playing at cards
Tor social pastime, attending theatres, cir
cu.es, etc, and yet these amusemeuts are
prohibited absolutely by the Discipline.
Joining the church is made much too
difficult Predestination and total deprav-
ity are doctrines of the past; there is some
good in all men and this fact should be
recognized by the church. Conversion
should not be made to seem an uncanny
pre- cess to reasoning and thinking minds.
There ought to be greater freedom. Even
the press is throttled go that there cannot
be free and important discussion of the
great problems confronting the Methodism
of today. Not long since prominent
New York Methodist and publisher of a
law journal composed thoughtful article
on questions of church policy, and was
denied access to the columns OF the church
press.
The speakers purpose was to show some
of the changes in methods and~poEcy
which in his opinion would add to the
growth and power of Methodism, and his
address was in some respects remark
able effort, and not the less remarkable
was the frequent applause of both the
clergy and the laity present. Such a
scathing arraignment from a less dis
tinguished orator might have been Sc
verely condemned, but reform in the garb
of dignity and influence loses half its
ugliness.
Query: Does Gov Dillingham; represent
himself alone, or is there to be concerted
action all along the liner Is the Method
ism of the future to break lose from the
shackles of the past and absorb the spirit
of liberalism characteristic of our time and
apaP