Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-06-30
1T1NERACY AND METHoDIsM.
New York independently


1T1NERACY AND METHODISM.
New York independently
The present session Of the Methodist
quadrennial general conference has been
most memorable one. not for Its cleo
tions, but for its abolition of the time
limit of the pastorate. This IL OF vastly
greater Importance than the victory OF
this candidate or that for the bishOpric.
1t was a great victory for the pastorate.
for its value and dignity, when some
years ago the rule was changed to allow
a pastor to remain five years instead OF
three with one church. That worked 50
Well that now. at last, after much dis
cussion, the limit has been entirely re-
moved, and a pastor can remain with
his people just as long az he and they
may please. Hitherto it-has been Inn
possible for Methodist minister to
build up great personal influence In a
community. 1t can not be done in three
years or five. 1t requires ten, twenty
years, for character and ability to reach
Its full fuitage. SO when we speak of
the strong men in the pulpit they have
always been Presbyterians. Congrega-
tionalists, Baptists. Episcopalians, but
not Methodists. What would DR.. Storrs
or DR.. Hall or PHILIPPE Brooks have been
| If driven out of his parish after three or
five years. and compelled to begin again
with another church? 1t takes time for
ouch fruit to ripen.
New York Mmes.l
Methodlsm was to It's founders, not a
church but missionary society. Its or
ganization wae that Of missionary 40
ciety. To such a society the principle OF
itineracy was as appropriate as 1T liz to
an army and az It isSinappropriate to a
settled and independent church, such as
the Methodist long ago became. The
abolition of itineracy lie simply the tardy
recognition OF the actual condition Of
the Methodist church in our time.
New York Natior.l
One year or two years was long
I;enough for minister to spend in one
parish II allhe had to do was to warn
every man in it to flee from the wrath
to come. But the moment we arrive at
lpf the cumulative power Of personal
lcharacter. Of Influence which is neces-
Isarily the slow growth of years, the
need OF making longer pastorates pos
sible when desirable, becomes evident.
This the Methodist church has at last
|.recognized; and the change is both Sig
Initicant and wiee.
NEW GARB FOR OLD THOUGHT.
[Rev. r. w. Rogers
In an age OF religious progress and
change we often forget the old in our
Ieagernees to adopt .ttl,e new. Health
of mind loves the newness of growth in
theory. but the second thought of Wis
dom offers several reasons why we
should retain At least the essence Of old
lthirga
Important among the claims for re-
membering the old In religion is that all
the essentials Of our beliefs are Inherit
ed from the past Many are panied
when they hear OF the changes in re-
liigion. But religion itself never chan
ges; 1t is only its external forms that are
Ialtered. Progress s chiefly externaland
does not change principles. In all cen-
turtles the single purpose of the harvest
er has been that of cutting ripened
grain. And, altho we learn OF the change
lfrom sickle to reaper. from reaper to
binder, yet all are harvesters. and. tho
Invention still further alters the method
OF work, there Will always be no instru-
ment but he sharpened steel edge tocut
the wheat. So II the new thought of the
present gives to the believer the change
from high church TO liberty of thought.
from complicated doctrlnesto simplicity
of creed, these are but changes In exter-
mails or method of worship.
The vital truths-there Is God. a
Christ ana a right and wrong-are old
truths and can never be changed The
statement, I'VE are losing the religion of
our fathers" IL false. We are losing
their opinions about religion. but their
genuine worship of the Christ and God
is the desired heritage of all ages. Thru
study we may learn about the external
facts OF religion, OF denominations and
rituals. butt should be our highest am
bitlon toremember the helpful elements
Of religion. the old truths that lived in
the past, that live today and will live
tomorrow.
DRAWING NEARER TOGETHER
Hartford C0urant.J