The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1900-05-10
Changes in Methodism.


Adaptation to environment and elias
ITCHY in application to new needs and
new atmospheres of thought constitute
perhaps the distinguishing feature of
the Methodist Episcopal church. Some
of it's adherents may be enthusiasts
resolving to push a change or reform
before it's time, but the great body is
conservative seldom, perhaps never
forcing an evolution in policy or a
transformation in purpose until the
age is ready for it.
After a struggle which continued
with more or less earnestness, for near
1y hundred years, the great 1aw-rnak-
ing body of the church has placed the
1ayman on the same level as the min
lister, that is to say, the General Con-
ference will henceforth be composed
of an equal number of representative
from the pulpit and the pew. That
great body will now be less conserva-
tive and more progressive, less dog
matte and more practical. ..~.s,,
Other changes must necessarily fol-
low in the near future. Those who
study the logic of events discern very
plainly that the female members of
the Methodist church are rapidly step
ping to the plane of perfect equality
with the male members, and that they
too, in little while will be admitted to
seats in the Parliament of the Demon
ination. Once in that position it is
not incredible that a woman may be-
come an episcopos.
Ouadrennia1 Council will eventually
form itself into two Houses, an Upper
and Lower, or if you please, SEN
ate and House of Representatives. A
change in the Presiding Eldership is
not unlikely; that question has agi-
tated the pews for many years; those
sub-bishops who have more power than
the bishops themselves will be elected
by the churches and the Annual Con-
ferences and limited in their authority
and functions, or they will be e1inin-
ated from Methodist po1ity altogether.
The Bishops, who now retain their
bishoprics during life, may be COM
PEELED by the mere progress of demo
cratic principle, to forego their offices
and dignities after a term of years.
The time limit will surely be lifted
from the itinerancy; a few years hence
the period of service for a Methodist
preacher in any pulpit will not be five
years or three, but it will be shorter
or longer period, for time indefinite,
it will be determined, not by almanac,
but by the requirements of conditions
and circumstances. The Methodist
minister however will always be an
itinerant, receiving marching orders
at every annual conference, although
the itinerant will claim and doubtless
secure the right of voice in his own
appointment.
DIR. John Alexander Dowie, the mil
lionaire preacher and healer, the mer-
chant and money n1agnate OF the tenn
pie, the man who would build mag
nifcent Babylon and call it Zion, and
command the manufacture of and con-
troll the trade in Nottingham lace for
all America, declares that "the Metho-
dist Episcopal church is dead, the
members of the General Conference
are Priests of the Masonic Baa1, and
the Church IS not the Church of God,
but of towards, liars, hypocrites,
apostates and b1asphemers. Nor is
it perfect. Several evo1utions ere it
shall be absolute and without spot or
wrinkle" But with all it's confessed
imperfection and limitation, we ven
ture the assertion, and the hope of
humanity is behind our words, that
Methodism and Ma sonry too, will out
luster by many degrees and out-1ive by
many mi11enniums Dowie, his denun-
Citations and his doctrine.