The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-03-27
A Flurrz in Methodism.


A FURRY in Methodism.
Is the Methodist Episcopal church de-
parting from the faith of the fathers?"
This is a matter that is agltating peo-
pie in the communion OF that denomi-
nation more than the public at large.
But anything that powerful Protestant
organization does is OF interest to ev-
eryone. The question is suggested by
the discussion that is now going on in
the church papers over the recent spe-
clal meetings held In Denver by Bishops
Warren and Vincent and the pastor Of
Trinity church. that city. These meet
ings were specially for men. and con-
tinued one week, with services at noon,
in the afternoon and evening. The at
tendance was large. thousands Of men
crowdlng TO hear the distinguished
preachers. The subjects discussed were
Of the highest practical Importance.
reaching the essentials of practical
faith and living. Purity Of heart and
lip and life. submission to God and
thorough and constant obedience to His
law, fidelity to every duty upon us in
life-these were pressed home upon
those who heard with great emphasis.
The preaching is what the fathers
would have called CLOSE" and eminent
ly scrlptural.
These MEETINGS were not so unsual
except for the fact that departure was
made from the customary methods, in
that no invitations were given for
Seekers" and no effort made to COM
nit men publicly to a change Of life
through seeking the Lord. The truth
was preached and pressed home with
all fidelity, and there the matter was
left, so far as any public movement was
concerned. On this point the Pitts
burgh Christian Advocate, which
speaks ex-cathedra, says:
This plan will. Of course, meet some
criticism at the hands Of those who are
welded to the established methods of
pressing for immediate action: who be-
lIeve that people should be urged I'M
mediately to commit themselves pub
llcly by coming out as seekers of re-
llgIon. But II should b. remembered
that those engaged in this work were
making u test OF new method. Men
were not reached and moved by the
old methods. and without critlcising
these, or finding any fault with them
directly or indirectly, these ministers
sought by another plan to try to reach
them. This is thoroughly Methodisic
that is, the effort TO adapt the means
TO the end. Mr.. Wesley, after he had
gotten his experimental education in
the movement into which God so
strangely thrust him. was the furthest
possible remove from mere hard-and-
fast rules OF doing things. He was
ready always to De "all things to all
men" He had small respect for mere
machinery. He cared nothing as TO
how a man got into the kingdom of
God. SO he was there, Essentials were
everything, and non-essentials nothing.
He approved methods which were sue
cessful. bat he allowed himself to be
hampered by nothing His followers do
we'll when they follow his example.
AS to the wisdom OF the new depar-
ture OF which we write, We can tell
better when It's results are known, as
far as may be- But to condemn any
thing ofthaRd because 1t is new, is I'M
MethodIsic and foolish.
The main point in this matter seems
to be: was the Denver meeting meant
as the Inauguration OF a reform with
regard to what are called ''protracted
meetinEs"-a season that is always de-
voted for the reclamation OF sinners?
In other words, do Bishops Vincent and
Warren mean to abolish what is pro-
fanely called the ''mourn2rs bench?'
II that is the drift OF the Denver meet
ings. then Il would look as II Method
ism was approaching Journalism. which
would be sad day for that church, in.
deed-a church that blazed the way Of
the gospel through the wilderness OF
this country and erected the first affairs
of Christianity on the mountain tops.
But we do not believe that such con-
struction can be placed on the Denver
meetings. The Methodist church is
progressive. and now possesses more
culture and refinement than It did in
the rugged days of Peter Cartwright.
It is keeping pace with the advance OF
civilization and modern spiritual
thought and methods, BY that we do
not mean that 1t is bSdering on liberal
ism, but that it is conforming to the
needs Of the hour and seeking new
methods where good can be done that
was not attempted before. In other
words. 1t is a live church. and 1t means
to keep alive by keeping up with the
processlon. and not die Of dry rot and