Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1900-06-07

"''o ~ WV So"iltiy, cACccuinS Ill
membership the next largest, the
Southern Baptists, by one million,
and containing more members than
the Northern and Southern Baptists
put together, the Baptists being
second to the Methodist in member
ship. According to Dr. Carrolps
latest figures, the Northern Metho-
dists now have membership of
2,G9S,Sl0, although the church is now
worried because its membership is
not proportionately increasing.
The first change inaugurated by
the conference, representing this
great body of Christians, is the ad-
mission of women as delegates to
that body. After hard fight, lay
men were admitted to equal repre-
sentation and now comes this vic.
tory for the church's most devoted
and Jealous workers, the women,
which WAS effected by amending the
organic law by changing the word
"laymcn' to clay members" in defn-
ing the eligibility Of delegates. This
action must be ratified by q three
fourths vote in the Annual Confer
cnccs brsorc it is effective, but it's
advocates profess to believe that it's
ratification is not doubtful.
But still there is more startling
Innovation on the part of the North
crn Methodists. The conference has
abolished the time limit of pastorates,
which have been a distinctive fea-
ture of Methodist polity since the
days of its founder, Wesley, who
said owe have found by long and
constant experience that a frequent
exchange of teachers is best. This
preacher has one talent, that another.
No one whom | ever knew
has all the talents which are nccdful
for beginning, continuing and per-
fccting the work Of grace in a whole
congregation"
In the earlier days Of this coun-
try, the itncrant system contributed
in no small measure to the remarka-
bic success and growth of the Mctho-
diSts, but is it not 80 suitable for
large cities and churches and it is
doubtless for this reason that the
| Northern Conference has decided
upon ita abolition. The time limit
Of the pastOratc was first six months,
we believe, and has been gradually
extending to one, two, three and
then five years. 1t was in 1888 that
the extension to five years was made.
7 Now the conference has given up
the time limit and pastor may re-
main on "a charge" for life, if desired,
although the appointments are still
to be made annually by the Bishop
presiding over the local conference.
The Bishops in their address stated
that under the five years plan the
avcrag" length of the pastorates had
not been greatly increased and that
"only a small proportion Of our pas
tors remain in the same charge for
five years" Accordingly they re-
commended return to the three
year limit or the abolition Of the
time limit altogether and the con-
ference chose the latter.
The limit in the Methodist Episco-
pal Church, South, is now four years
and at present there does not seem
to be any probability of the South
crn Conference taking the step which
the Northern church has taken in
this matter. Nor is the Southern
Conference likely soon to follow the
other changes made by the Northern
body
In these matters, some critics pro.
fcss TO see change in the essential
character Of Mcthodism. 1t is argued
that "thc plain meeting house Of the
past has given place to prctcntious
church architecture, and with that
development have come in worldly
tastes and ambitions among the
Mcthodists. They are no longer a
peculiar people, and tho cnthusias.
tic fcrvor which once marked their
devotional exercises il now regarded
az being bad manners. Wesley
wonld hardly recognize them for
Mcthodists-for the grave and hum
blc-mindcd people to whom ridiculc
gave their designation because of
their plain and mcthodical manner
Of lifc'
There is same truth in this state.
mcnt, but it is too sweeping. The
changes arc natural and in accord