The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-02-15

stewards, which is the official body OF
the church, and this body may perpetu-
ate itself, with the aid of the pastor, by
rejoicing its own members from year
to year. The congregation has nothing to
do with it. No Methodist Sunday school
can elect its own superintendent. Inc
Individual churches are controlled by the
district conference, the district conference
is controlled by the annual conference,
the annual conference is controlled by
the general conference. and in most
things the bishops word IS law.
.Under the laws of the Methodist
Church. no congregation has anything TO
DO with the selection of its pastor, ana
every pastor is subject to the action OF
the bishop The bishop, who presides
over the annual conference. has the an-
thority to assign the pastors. so that
every pastor must go 4whithersoever ne
is sent and every church must accept the
pastor designated by the bishop, whether
or not the pastor be acceptable. The
bishop may. even after the general ap-
pointmcnts have been made, pick I'd a
preacher and transfer him from one
church to another. and neither the preach
CT nor the congregation from which ne
is transferred, nor the congregation 10
which he is transferred, HdS any EoiSo
whatever in the matter"
The article goes on to relate that this
has brought about a curious state. OF
things. Methodist churches of Importance
now send committees Of laymen to the
annual conference. asking that this or
that attractive minister shall be sent TO
them Frequently these requests are
granted. but sometimes they are ignored
Occasionally there is open revolt at the
- all yo-
membered case is that which occurred in
the Washington church in Peters
burg, when DR.. w G. Starr was trans
rerred TO Richmond. The Times men
tions, also. the case of the most pron1i-
nent church in Birmingham. whose stew
ards became so indignant because of the
action Of the bishop that theysresigned in
a body.
DR.. S. A. Steel, one of the most promi-
nent Methodist ministers in the Virginia
Conference in a published interview. ia
I-ors the plan of sending committees from
the churches to the bishop asking for
certain ministers. DR.. Steel thinks a
body of intelligent 1avmen know what
is needed in their church better than the
presiding elder, who comes among them
only four times a year. or the bishop, who
probably never comes at all lie says,
moreover that this innovation has be-
come necessary. lin view of the political
manipulaions at an annual conference.
DR.. Steel adds much more Of the same
sort, and thus speaks out in meeting: Il
know l am writing unwelcome truths.
but one thing is certain, until the preach
ers cease wire-pulling the laymen Will be
obliged to get the ear of the bishop
direct"
Somebody having suggested that. II the
custom of sending UP committees to ask
g al n q
Is established, "a great many would be
put at serious disadvantage. because no
church will ask for them DR.. Steel re-
sponds that this objection Is zone of the
strongest reasons in favor of the custom
I'VE are CARRYING he says. "a great
deal of dead timber in the Methodist min
istry-prea cheers who never would get a
call Finally, this distinguished Meth
odist saws: Heretofore we have been
able TO vindicate our economy because
OF the superior success that crowned our
lanors. This argument no longer avails,
for we have been losing instead of gain
ing ground
DR. w V Tudor, Presiding Elder Of
West Richmond District. thinks that no
great harm is likely to result from send
ing these delegations to the Annual Con-
ference to see the Bishop. He thinks it
natural ana reasonable for churches to
make representation to the Bishop. and
for ministers also to confer with him
Mr.. John +. Branch. a prominent Meth
odlst layman of Richmond. thinks the
custom of sending these delegations to
the Conference is wholly mischievous. He
seems TO long for the old days. He says:
Away back many years ago, when the
different Methodist preachers were shifted
from place to place every three months.
and when they got only 500 salary a
year. and $500 when they were married,
delegations and committees were I'M
Known. Speaking further of these dele
cations. Mr.. Branch says: Very often
these delegations succeed. and tSet the
man they want. Sometimes other dele
cations have more influence and make
stronger representations to the Bishop,
'*s and then there is almost a perfect
scramble for certain men," Mr.. Branch
further stated that in the last Conference
at PETERSBURG there were delegations
present from Richmond. Petersburg,
Lynchhurg. Norfolk. and other cities. and
that there was regular lobbying going on
in regard to the appointments.
OF course. any matter of great impor
lance which concerns a great communior
like the MethodistS cannot fail to be o.
interest to our readers. Hence we repro
duce What these leading and representa-
tive Menhodists have to say. 1t is char
acteristfc Of the spirit of our time tina
Dr. Steel says of the Methodist system
what could not be said by a member o.
another denomination without mourning
the odious charge of bigotry. We alrnos
hesitate to reproduce it. lest some one
should think lls lacking in brotherly love
OF course, We take no pleasure in in
ternal troubles among brethren Of othel
faiths; but we welcome cordially these
signs that a Democratic spirit is at worl
in Methodism. We yield to no one il
honor, and respect for this great. aggres
sive body of Christians. with whose aim:
and spirit Baotsts wye SO much II
common. But the system against which
DR. Steel is revolving. DESPITE the fac
that under it SO much has been accom-
plished. IS unnatural, artificial, ana mus
tend toward what in these articles which
We have oeen quoting is sometimes call
ed .,aristocracy.'' sometimes nlonarcsly,'
and sometimes Hierarchy John Yves
ley" says DR.. Steel. 1.-The founder Of
Methodism. was the greatest innoyato!
on established nsages since the apos
ties Now. might not tbs frank. out
spoken msnister have gone a step further
and added that he was also the creates
innovator on established apostolic ussges.
So It seems, TO Us, at any rate.