Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-06-14
THE new MDHn0DSM.

NEW 1DTk ENeHlllG IuAt'
Tho recent General Conferences of the
Methodist Episcopal Church has been,
In some respects, tho most significant
ever held. Peculiar interest always at.
taohes to these great qundrennial
gatherings, not only from the repre-.
sentative character Of the men and
women composing them, but from the
world. wide Importance of the interests
discussed. In the case of tho confer
ence just closed, however, the indica-
tion of momentous changes long at
worl; in the denomination, and now
| finding expression in positive legisla-
tion, invests the proceedings with far
mora than ordinary interest, both
within and without the denomination
itself.
The Methodists have always been,
and have always prided themselves on
being, a peculiar people. Unlike
many Of its sister denominations,
Methodism was born, net of theologi-
cal dissent, but of protest against
J worldliness and spiritual deafness. Its
Rroat mission from the beginning has
been to cultivate spiritual fervor, and
/ to the attainment of that end it has
devoted itself with extraordinary zeal
aud still more extraordinary success.
With an administrative system superior
to that possessed by any other Protestant
sect except the Church of England, ii
has succeeded in carrying its theology
ard it's discipline into every quarter of
the world, and has long stood second in
numbers among Protestant faiths. 1t
has no superfuous and unemployed
ministers. and no unused churches.
Its missionary, philanthropic. and edu-
catIonal work is highly organized and
aggrsssively administered. If the
civilized world has not long since been
won to knowledge of the truth, it is
not from any failure of the Methodist
communion to try. so far as lay in its
power, to preach the gospel to every
creature.
Yet it has long been perceived that
this unparalleled success was being al
tanned, in part, by the use of some
methods dangerous in their tendency,
and Of which many thoughtful members
Of the denomination could not approve.
The time limit upon the pastorate,
while we'll enough for preachers who
could say in "a year all they were ever
likely to say at all, has come more and
more to be resented as the preacher has
become the pastor, and as congregations
have increased in permanence, cultiya-
/ tion aud wealth.. Revivalistic methods
, lifted to the spiritual estate of the
. ignorant and Indifferent became re
, Eulsive to men and women OF refine
, mont and taste; while the insistence
, upon emotional assurance as the
, supreme test of personal salvation had
| an unfailing tendency to degrade reason
ana to brand the mind Of man as carnal
) and unfit. The attempt to preserve the
: characteristics of a peculiar people"
j by putting various amusements under
/ the ban has resulted, like the attempts
, to enforce prohibitory liquor laws, in a
t pharisaical observance of the rule by
those having no need of it, and silent or
: open disregard of it by those for whose
, alleged benefit it was contrived. More
] over. in trying to make good the cain
: that the world is its parish, the church,
o especially of late,years, has multiplied
Q and even duplicated its officers, nct
!, because there was need Of them, but
, because the work of GENERALIZATION
5 must be visibly FASTENED
(; Viewed from this historic and tradi.
a tional standpoint, the action of til,
d recent General Conference was epoch
# making. To begin with, Tho time limi
a has been abolished. Hereafter, whilt
u ministers will continue to be appointed
g annually, there will be no restriction
on the number of times they may hi
, returned to the same church. A
Methodist church can now keep in
pastor as long as it chooses, or get rit
II acceptable. The rule against amuse
ments, while not formally repealed, ba
- been retained oi-@ after heated art
( acrimonious debate, and under circum
"a stances which rob it of the little bind
:, ing force that it still retained. Super
y tluous secretaries of missionary and edu
= oational societies. have been abolished
and non paying denominational periodi
i, Gals suspended.
3 No one who knows anything of tn
y Methodist denomination can fail TO ST.
~ that these changes affect the very hear
h ard essence of Methodist polity. TIL
4, serious question is. What effect ar
la they likely TO produce in the immt dat
10 futurey The answer Is not who'll
n clear. Whether, as Methodism become
II modernized and rationalized, it cal
- retain the extraordinary effectiveness
as religious propaganda which ha
characterized it in the East, il qucs
9. tiop of moie than speculative interest
Of The recent address of the bishops wou-'
ig seem to show that the denomination
" is not falling behind in numbers, Wi
10 at least losing something of spiritua
10 power.
~ Two or three things, however. seer
90 reasonably certain. The stronghold q
IN Methudism has always heen among tn
~ common people. and its methods hav
4, been adapted to that constituency.
pc it is not now gradually to lose its hold
ln 1T has before it the problem Of edu
I'd eating its masses 10 higher concepto
ns of Christian life than that which cor
20 tents itself with chltivatng a
SO emotional Estate of grace" Further
SO the progress of the church can no longC
r proceed on spasinodio lines, but mus
pn take account of the increased pei
ut manence and stability of moder
X. society. There will be more rationu
g propaganda, and that, in time. wi
On usher in a more rational tbeolog,
re Metbodism has known little, thus far {
y, theological controversy within its ow
Ii borders, though such cases as the recer
no one Of Prof Mitchell OF boston IN
! versity give hopeful indication thu
r heresies. as they ARISE, will be saael
dealt with. but the church cannC
long escape the undermining proeesst
which have for years heen at work
other denominations, Tint Methodist