The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-02-22

those have received into centensaryzs
church since I have been 9 n re ~ NJ s.:
probably come from sta tons e ana g =
cults served by men who have nol5p e, :. s.
sought after by commit II IS - -
surd to suppose Il mean@tha1 . -.
are dead TIMBER do not oe eaH ~
such men would be placed at any u 70
advantage If the custom prevalent a:l n,,nss
the city churches of asking the o l'sln.,
for particular men was TO become 81.
eral, ana think all the churches 5oustA
to enjoy equal rights in this nals ..l,o-o,
Fourth. Much has been made or my "cto
that the Methodist church IS IN d ~
period of its history. and soine peops
seem to imagine / said the Gu ~, III e,,oh
going to ruin. Suppose L had salu susii
a thing, is there anybody in virginia WIZ VIZ,
little enough sense to believe !. 81 nc
church is in a critical period OF It's ms
tory. It was critical Derlod IN lot.'
but instead Of going to rum: me cil7is
resulted, through wise reanJus shielit u
the administration and economy OF tue
church, in a great enlargement OIL Sdeln-
odism. 1t was in 4 critical period IN
1866 There were many prophets who pre-
dicted ruin then. There neve; was such
a radical General conference as that
which met in New Orleans just after the
war. The Introduction of the laltS into
the government of the church, the au-
thorizatlon of Nturgtcal service IN the
church, the extension of the pastoral
term, and sundry other radical meas
ures, almost made conservative Metho-
dists hold their breath. One Bishop.
Bishop Pierce. threatened to resign If the
time limit on the pastorate was removed.
Yet, out of that critical period the church
emerged with improved machinery and
fresh vigor to enter upon career of I'M
paralle!ed enlargement. Now. when I
say that we are in q critical period OF
our history I mean thatwe have reached
point where reform is needed and
Where we must look to judic!ous deg sla-
ton to meet the need. So far from the
church going to ruin if we may judge
the future from the past, it will emerge
from the present crisis to enter upon a
new err of progress. Such is my belief
such is my hope. I regard the wide
spread unrest h the church at present
as growing pain an indication that
we have reached 4 point again where a
REIMBURSEMENT Of our methods, and a mod
ltlcation OF our politE, is requisite to our
CROWN. Some have objected to my ex-
preston "Americanize our Institutions
but / see no sufficient reason tt. discard
IT, We AmertcaniZed our institutions.
that Is, brought our economy into closer
harmony with our American ideas of
eA'C when AS
purS declined TO accept the office Of Cen
eral Superintendent under Wesley,s m
po!ltlnent until he was elected 10 y hv
ne SURFACES of his brethren we st.il
hur'her Amerlcanized them when W.
ADOPTED the principle of lay represent,
tives. Eept
NOW. | think the time has come for us
10 further coordinate our ecclesiastical
pohty with those fundamental princioles
OF Tree
OIL America By extending the franchise to
me entire membership of the church.
making the Quarterly Conference an
elected body. I think also that we ought
10 separate the judicial from the execf,-
1--WE pranch of our government, because
1 beileVe it is dangerous to liberty to
unite in the same office the power to
execute and the authority to interpret
the law of the church. Such Il combina-
uon is inconsistent with the constitution
or 4 free republic, which l believe is the
form OF government best suited to the
doctrines and spirit of NIethodism. 1t is
easy to laud Mr.. Wesley, and with a GER
tain class of superficial and emotional
people, such convenient enthusiasm
passes for loyalty to Methodism, but it
requires very little reflection to see that
not much of Wesleys system remains.
AS regards the Episcopacy, for example,
various forms of polity have prevailed,
In England they have president elected
annually. In Canada a general superin-
tendent elected every four years. In the
Methodist Episcopal church.. bishops elect
ed for life, but who are only officers OF
the church. In the Methodist Episcopal
Church, South, bishops who are u third
order in the ministry, coordinate
branch OF government. combining in them
selves executive, legislative and judicial
functions. The truth is, the government
OF MethOdism is a development, the result
of experience and intelligent discussion
The Church has never hcsitated 10 alter
it, even in fundamental matters, when al
tered conditions made it wise to do so. The
obligatory attendance on class-meetlnS,
the bationnry term for membership,
the former methods of ministerial support,
the short term of the pastorate-in these,
and in many other respects, Methodism
has thought it wise to change its methods.
This being the case there is nothing
alarming in my utterances. All said is
that in my opinion other changes would
now be wise. 1 am very much obliged
10 my friends for the compliment they
pay me in attaching so much Importance
to a simple expression of my opinion on
these matters, but 1 must respectfully de-
cline to think that the views of even the
pastor of Centenary church imperil the
and vital to ,be endangered by a frank
discussion of its pOlity or its policy. One
of the most fundamental principles of the
system is ito think and let Think and
all rational thought carries with it the
right to be uttered.
S. A. STEEL.
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