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Vol. XXIX.—No. 3.
Co.tfribfions.
SB. GREEN’S MEMORIAL.-No. 3.
Says the memorialist: “It is patent to all
observant minds that for years there have
been defects somewhere in our system of
operation.” Yes, defects in our
system of operation, and they result from a
cause sad enough to make an angel weep.
It is this : Methodism is much too spirit
ual, too devout a system fir many connected
with it. Such a fact has existed before in
the history of Christ’s church.
In this number I invite the reader to
consider how this has become to be true of
the M. E Church, South, and of Method
ism generally. Methodism is the child of
Providence, ushered into the world as a re
sult of one of those gracious, extensive revi
vals with which the church has frequently
been blessed, and by means of which exist
ing organizations have been reformed and
new ones have come into being. The ten
dency, after the occurrence of every such
quickening and reformation, is to the same
condition of things that existed before its
occurrence. The state of facts which causes
fome “to sigh and to cry,” and that brings
forth the sanctified energies of such men as
Luther and Wesley, passing away as the
result of the labor bestowed and divine
blessing given, a reaction occurs which ends
in the prevalence of whatever forms of evil
may have previously obtained. It was not
the p evalence of doctrinal errors that im
pelled John Wesley to confront his church
and his age, cryirg aloud and sparing not,
and to endure the Herculean labors of more
than sixty years in the endeavor to reform
the church of God. It is true, the all-im
portant doctrine of justification by faith
only was neglected, preached but by a faith
ful few, though it. continued to be a part of
the creed of the Church of England and the
dissenting church generally; but it was the
fashionable dissipation, the dissoluteness of
the times, the formalism of professors of
..religion, the irreligion and immorality of
the clergy, and the ignorance and lack ot
religious instruction of the poor, which
moved the heart and nerved the arm of this
holy man and hia laborers. The results
of God's blessing upon these labors are too
well known to dwell upon at length. The
Methodist church in England and America
is not the least important of these results.
Years ago the reaction referred to above,
set in both in England and in this country,
and although our creed is not shortened,
our doctrines remain, they have fallen into
neglect, especially such as were most instru
mental in the great reformation of the past
century, and in building up the mighty
fabric of Methodism —namely, justification i
by Juith , the witness of the Spirit, and holi
ness of heart in this life. So that now swh
doctiinal preaching would bn relished or
even tolerated by few congregations in the
connection ; whilst formality, frivolity, dis
sipation of manners, and general irreligion
are fearfully increased among us.
But to be more specfic. This reaction
has involved our ministry largely in its
fearful influence, and has already resulted
in Methodism becoming much too spiritual
for many of them. Truth and the occasion
compel me to say that there is not that so
briety, prayerful ness, devoutness, zeal, ap
parent in our ministry generally, which a
hearty acceptance of the doctrines and sys
tem of Methodism —its whole system of
class meetings, love feasts, abstinence from
« evils of every sort,” and performance of
44 good of every kiud, both to the bodies
arid the souls of men,” under the blessing
of God, always will develope.
This involvement of the ministry in this
disastrous reaction, became apparent years
ago, when, under various pretexts, a purely
spiritual meeting, “ the band meeting,’’ was
tabooed by the General Conference, and
most manifestly in the last twenty years, by
their neglect to lead classes, and abandon
ment of love feasts, (also purely spiritual
meetings.) by their increasing unwilling
ness to eudure hardships for the gospel's
sake —by the fact that the ministry have
led the movement for a prolongat on of the
pastoral term, pewed churches, organs,
choirs, etc. ; in the mere perfunctory per
formance of duty by many of them ; in the
self seeking, often painfully apparent; by
the worldly, levitous spirit of many, and
the too frequent shameful immoralities
brought t> light; not failing to mention,
also, the hasty, superficial “examination”
of ministerial character with open doors,
■which now obtains at our annual confer
ences. The time was when such toils, such
reproaches, aye, such persecutions awaited
the Methodist itinerant, that whosoever be
oame one did so compelled by the conscious
ness “ Wo is me if 1 preach not the gospel,”
or under the influence of such consecration
as counted all things but loss for the excel
lency of the knowledge of the Lord Jems
Christ. But not so" for the past twenty
years especially. During that time a Meth
odisl itinerant h s been a respectable char
acter in the eyes of the world ; the church
has grown rich and influential; his labor
I- t%n generally light and pleasant; ami
ces and warm hearts, have greeted
mfortable homes have awaited his
id a decent competency has been
PUBLISHED BY J. W. BURKE & CO., FOR THE M. E. CHURCH, SOUTH
secured to him. Besides this, there has not
been the holiness there once was in the
ministry to awe the youth who may have
concluded that a useful, pleasant way to
spend his life was to preach —consequently,
many have run who were not sent', many
have commended to others what they did
not possess themselves; many have essayed
to be teachers who have proven to be any
thing but ‘ ensamples to the flock.’’ Thus
Methodism has become too spiritual for
many of its ministry, and good men, like
the memorialist,seeing that the system works
defectively somewhere , that its ministry and
membership reject many of its usages and
jegulations, cast about to know how the evil
can be remedied.
“Like priests, like people.” Consequent
ly, the class meeting is growing obsolete, the
love feast falling into disuse, and our “Gen
eral Rules ” are “ more honored in the
breach than in the observance.” Conse
quently, also, there is an itching for things
forbidden; a demand for larger liberty of
action ; a denial of the right to administer
discipline; a manifest disposition in our
towns and cities to imitate other churches
by a return to long abandoned modes of
worship and systems of operation—a dispo
sition to give up our strength for their
weakness.
Consequently, there is, also, extravagance
in dress, equipage, living—the illicit con
nection with “the lust of the flesh, the
lust of the eye, and the pride of life,” which
sadly tells of the absence of “the love of
the Father,” and verifies my proposition
that Methodism is much too spiritual for
many who compose its membership. This
has resulted from the reaction already re
ferred to; from the unfaithfulness of no
inconsiderable nor uninfluential portion of
our travelling ministers to the usages and
rules of Methodism; to their failure to con
stantly preach the more spiritual doctrines
of the church, and to the reception of large
numbers from probation to membership in
an unconverted state. “I speak the truth
and lie not;” these things are so. Can any
objector to Methodism as it is in the M. E.
Church, South, who closely observes the
signs of the times, deny ? Alas! are not
many of us compelled to confess that even
of ourselves , as individuals, it is too true '{
We are not spiritual-minded enough to rel
ish the means Methodism provides—not
sufficiently consecrated to Christ to keep
joyfully its rules and regulations !
in the next number, I will endeavor to
show that the memorialist’s proposed changes
in our polity are not remedial of this sad
state of facts.
A Member of the Ga. Conference.
MINISTERIAL STUDY.
A SbSM JN P&SACHiID BT RBCHJ33T BSPOEB THU GkOBOIA CON
FKRfcNOB.
BY THE REV. W. KNOX.
“That the mnn of God msiy he perfect thoroughly, fur
nishetl unto ail good works.”— Tim. Hi 17.
No one could bet f er appreciate the mean
ing and force of the text, and its immediate
context, than Timothy. “ From a child he
had known the Holy Scriptures,” and had
by them “ been made wise unto salvation.”
He had been well instructed in them by his
mother Eunice, and his grandmother Lois; he
knew that they were “ given by the inspi
ration of God;” and he had realized in his
own experience, that they “ are profitable
for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness, that the man of
God may be perfect , thoroughly furnished
unto all good works”
The phrase “ the man of God ” is to be
found in only one other place in the New
Testament, and that is in this same epistle,
where Timothy is addressed personally. It
is of frequent occurrence in the Old Testa
ment, and is most commonly applied to a
prophet or teacher. Although it may have
a wider application, yet, as used by our
Apostle, it unquestionably means a minister
oj Christ, a preacher of the Gospel.
The term here translated perfect occurs no
where else in the New Testament. There
are several Greek words which our transla
tors rendered “ perfect,” some of which are
of frequent occurrence. The present one is
found only in our text. It would perhaps,
havo been better for different Greek words,
to have had, when practicable, their proper
English, or Anglicised equivalents, as it
might have prevented a great deal of con
fusion of thought in respect of some pas
sages. The term may here be understood
as referring to doctrine , and as meaning thor
onah instruction in the doctrines of the Bi
ble.
The term rendered in our text, thoroughly
furnished, is to be found in only one other place
in the New Testament, where it is spoken of
Paul’s voyage to Rome, and is there trans
lated “ had accomplished” Thoroughly fur
nished, or prepared , is, perhaps, as good a
meaning an could be given. From its con
nection with the term works , it may be un
derstood as referring to duty ; and the mean
ing seems to be, thoroughly instructed in
every Christian principle , so as to be fully
prepared to instruct others in reference to
poery Christian duty.
The sense, therefore, in which I under
stand the text, * is, that the ministers of
Christ should be well instructed in the doctrines
of our holy Religion , and thoroughly quali
fed or prepared to instruct others in the prin
ciples of righteousness.
Macon, Ga., Friday, January 19, 1866.
The proposition, as thus unfolded, seems
to be too evident to require proof; for sure
ly it will be admitted, without controversy,
that the minister of Jesus Christ should
be “ perfect,” well instructed in t.he doctrines
of the Bible, and capable of teaching them
to his congregations; that the 44 preacher of
righteousness” ought to be “thoroughly
furn/shed unto all good works,” —ought him
self to be a pattern of good works, and
qualified to instruct the people in the prin
ciples of righteousness; and yet, as obvious
as all this would seem to be, it has not
always been received and acted upon.
An idea has obtained to some extent, that
learning, “much study,” is not of any great
importance to the ministry, but rather a hin
drance to its success. This monstrous ab
surdity has been strengthened, or attempt
ed to be strengthened, by an appeal to the
often misappUed words of the Saviour:
“Take no thought beforehand what ye shall
speak, neither do ye premeditate; but what
soever shall be given you in that hour, that
speak; for it is not ye that speak, but the
Holy Ghost.”—Mark xiii. ii.
This idea has been farther strengthened
by the practice of some ministers, and the
encouragement afforded them. There are
some preachers,—if it be not a misnomer to
call them such—-who do not evince any great
degree of learning, and who, more unfortu
nately still, do not give themselves to study,
and fail to make due preparations for the
pulpit. Their sermons, —if entitled to so
dignified an appellation,—are not expositions
of the sacred text, are not presentations of
the important doctrines of the Bible, and
the practical duties of religion; but they are,
for the most part, little more than incohe
rent ravings, strings of pretty sayings, or
tissues of anecdotes, —anecdotes not simply
of an illustrative and instructive character,
but such as are exciting only, and calculated
to get up a sort of religious fervor. The
excitement thus produced most commonly
dies away with the occasion, and is to the
soul what exciting stimulants and paraly
zing opiates are to the body,—well enough
when administered in properly regulated
doses, and when needed, but ruinous when
given in over-doses, or when not required.
Now, such preaching requires little or no
study, little or the .Bi
ble, little or no preparation for the pulpit.
The incumbent of the sacred desk may pay
numerous social visits, may jest with almost
every crowd, may laugh and talk, up to the
very hour of service; and yet such preachers
frequently meet with more encouragement,
are more flattered and admired, obtain lar
ger congregations, and are, perhaps, better
supported, than those who give themselves
to reading and study, and who are capable
of instructing, and who do instruct their
people, in the doctrines and principles of
our blessed Christianity ; and who, conse
quently have less time for social visiting,
and for pleasantry and mirth.
The last are often neglected, and their
labor unappreciated. They preach too slow
to suit this age of steam and electro-magne
tism. They are too calm and unexcited, as
though strength of lungs, or loudness of
voice,, were indications of genuine religious
feeling-indices of a proper religious zeal,
or the only means of producing conviction
in the mind.
It is sometimes thought, it is sometimes
said, that the people are already sufficiently
enlightened with regard to the doctrines and
duties of religion, and only need something
to excite them to action. Hence, that
preaching which is calculated to move upon
the feelings is deemed the best for the masses.
The effect of this, in many instances, would
be to make their religion an ephemeral
glory,—a mere periodic excitement, instead
of the knowledge and love of Ood.
If the pulpit fail to awaken an interest in
the doctrines and principles of the Bible,
such an interest will scarcely be felt; and
our congregations, instead of being well en
lightened in respect of these things, will be
most wofully ignorant of them, and altogeth
er unimpressed with their importance and
value. Theqjeople are not so well indoc
trinated, not so “ thoroughly furnished un
to all good works,” a3 is sometimes imagined;
and, if the above mistaken view be fully
carried out, they never will be; and the
preaching of the Gospel, as a means of en
lightenment, will cease to be effectual.
[To be Continued.]
WEEKLY SCRAPS.—No. V.
INCREASE OF BISHOPS.
By some, it is proposed to have a Bishop
for every Annual Conference in the M E.
Church, South. This J call No. 2to “de*
stroy the plan of our itinerant general su
perintendency.” If I had to put a caption
over the Discipline, with all the proposen
changes in it, I wou’d write it thus—“ M
ethodism made etsy.” If“I could then get
a few more things incorporated into our
economy on which I see some of our people
are acting, I would add, “ with cushioned
seats, music, etc.” I see from various places
that the pews are “to rent” on set days.
I see, in one case, “The official board in
have resolved to rent every alternate
pew in tbeis house of worship,” etc. Oh,
fiel Half way work. Come, brethren,
stand squarely up to it at once. A brother
preacher told me that his people have a
melodeon and a small choir, and although
he is opposed to such things, he adv : S3d
them, if they must have a choir and instru
mental music in the church, to get a first
rate organ and a large choir, as better than
this half-way work. He is a man afier my
own heart. If we must “ come up to the
scratch," let us hold up our heads and walk
rather than creep or crawl up to it.
Piease let us take a look at Methodism
improved (?) on the several place proposed.
Here is our Georgia Bishop. He belongs to
tu, and to us only. His diocese extends no
farther. What the Bishop of Florida or
Alabama is or may be, and what Method
ism is there, we can read in the newspapers,
and they, in the same way, may learn some
thing about us and our Georgia Bishop.
True, it is by some proposed to make “ the
Bishops subject to change, by the General
Conference, so as to maintain a general
superintendency.” I simply remark on
this, that those proposing this new feature
give evidence that they see in this pro
posed change danger of destroying 44 a gen
eral Euperintendency.”
Bat to return to the points wo set out
out with. We shall then need no “fifth
wheel to our carriage.” Instead of feeding
ten or a dozen Presiding Elders as “ over
seers” in one Conference, we can better
afford to feed one man, the bishop, who is,
of course, to be the pastor of the flock.
Give us, then, some big, popular preacher
in one of our pewed churches, with a big
organ and a large choir, and well cushioned
seats, and let the pastoral term be expend
ed, so that the bishop can continue him at
least “three years without change,” and
then indefinitely, if “ the annual confer
ence or a quarter’y conference ” shall “ by
resolution request” him “ to be continued
for a longer time.” Here is a fixture in
this bed of down. Please take your stand
then, and see men, women, children, boys,
gills and their “iwiethearts” all seated
in at least “everyalternate pew” together,
only annoyed by the poor and stragglers
wti»xus.y ehHuce V't o*oupy thMk*r “ «ltr >
nate” free seats.
Upon my word, if I Were to meet Meth
odism in the road, dressed up in such a
garb, I should not recognize it as the
church I joined 47 years ago. But, really,
I must be a Uttle more serious in my next.
Adif-u for this week. P.
Southern Methodist Publishing
House.
The history of this establishment, during
the past four years, has been somewhat sin
gular. Up to the 17th of February, 1862,
the house was very prosperous, doing a large
and profitable business. After the fall of
Fort Donelson and the occupancy of Nash
ville by the Federal troops, the property,
including the buildings, machinery’ and
printing materials, was attached for confis
cation and taken in hand by the Marshal of
Middle Tennessee. A replevin bond was
given and the keys were returned to the act
ing Agent. Subsequent to this, the house
was impressed bjt the military and appro
priated to the use of the Government, ex
cepting a few rooms In the second story
which were allowed to the Agent as a place
of storage for the bound books and sheet
stock. The machinery, presses, type and
fixtures, were used by the military as a
Government printing office, and the main
stores as shops for manufacturing purposes,
storage, etc.
Things thus remained till October last,
when the Attorney-General of the United
States, by the direction of the President,
ordered the dismissal of the 6uit on condi
tion the house paid the costs. It was dis
missed. Some weeks afterwards the prop
erty was evacuated by the military, aud
turned over to the commissioner of the
Freedman’s Bureau. The Commissioner of
the Bureau, about the middle of December
last, transferred the property back to the
Agent, who now holds it under the charter
for the use and benefit of the Church. The
amount of loss sustained we are not now
prepared to state; but it is serious, and will
require time and money to place the estab
lishment in the condition in which it was
prior to February, 1862. The Agent,
however, will use every effort in his power
to place the house in working trim, and re
port the whole to the approaching General
Conference.
We deem it due to the Church to which
the property belongs, to make this brief
statement of facts. —Nashville Advocate.
Progress of Missions in India.—
About a century has elapsed since the mis
sionary Schwartz recorded his hopes and
fears tor the one doubtful convert in the
fort of Palanicotti, South India; and now
we fiad the Bishop of Calcutta stating that,
there are no less than 49,000 native Chris
tians in the single province of Tinnevelly ;
and from this province the word of life has
spread westward into the independent
kingdoms of Travaucore, where there are
now over 30,000 Christians.
E H. MYERS, D.D., EDITOR.
Whole Number, 1467.
Betas front % Cjmrtjics.
Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
The late Convention of this Church recom
mend to all their Church sessions and Pres
byteries, ministers aud people, to adhere to
their old standards, and stand where the
founders of their Church stood, giving no
heed to the new doctrines and measures of
the belligerent loyalists of the day. The
Synod of Columbia, connected with the same
Church, call upon all their Presbyteries to
ignore the political deliverances of their
Assembly, and to be fully represented in
their Assembly next May.
Religious Interest in Charlotte,
N. C.—We rejoice to learn that the con
gregation of the “Village Church” at
Charlotte C. H , under the pastoral care of
the Rev. 11. C. Alexander, has been blessed
with a season of religious interest during a
protracted meeting, in which the pastor was
assisted by the Rev Thomas Wharey and
Rev. M. Lacy. Numbers were awakened,
ten or twelve remaining every night for
conversation with the Pastor and Elders,
among whom there were several cases of
conversion.— Christian Observer .
I
Greensboro, N. C.—A protracted meet
ing has been held in the Presbyterian
church, continuing three weeks. Upwards
of twenty have attended the inquiry meet
ings. ,
Revivals in the West. —A late num
ber of the Western Presbyterian contains
an account of a recent season of refreshing
in the churches of Washington and Mur
physville, in the bounds of Ebenezer Pres
bytery. In the former, after a season of
ten days’ special prayer and preaching of the
Word, eighteen persons were received into
the church ou profession of their faith in
Christ, and two back sliders were brought
back to the fold. In the latter church,
twenty-seven additions were made to the
church. Eighteen months ogo, this church
numbered but twelve members, to which
ten were added last year. It now numbers
forty-nine members.
Revival in Washington.—— ln the
l-ourth Presbyterian Church, in SToshlng
ton City, the Rev. j. C. Smith, D/jD., pas
tor, there is a deep religious interest. Eighty
•or ninety are believed to have been convert*
ed already, and the revival is still spread
ing. It is expect:d that, at the next com
munion season, over one hundred will join
thq. church. Twelve joined at the last
communion.
Baptists in the United States
The Baptist Almanac for 1866, (giving the
returns of the Southern churches for 1860,
in the absense of later,) gives, as the sum
total of the denomination in the country,
592 associations, 12,702 churches, 7,867
ordained ministers, and 1,140,303 commu
nicants ; with 33 colleges and 12 theologi
cal schools.
Statistics of Catholicism. —ln the
world there are over 200,000,000 Catholics.
There are 5,000,000 in the United States.
The government of the Church, in the
United States, is divided into 43 Dioceses
and B Vicariates-Apostolic, presided over
by 45 bishops—the diocese of Baltimore
being the Metropolitan See. There are 3,-
795 churches, 2,317 clergymen, 49 eccle*
siastical institutions, 29 colleges, 134
schools for girls. (In 1808, there were 2
bishops, 80 churches, and 68 clergymen,
and about 5 colleges.) There are over 66
asylums for orphans, 26 hospitals, with 3,-
000 beds, 4 insane asylums. (The latter
part of the statistics are much below the
real number.) There are in the Italian
States 23,500,000 Catholics; Spain, 17,-
000,000 ; France, 36,000,000 ; Great Brit
ain, 7,500,000; China, 1,000,000; Aus
trian Empire, 30,000,000; Prussia, 7,000,-
000 ; Bavaria, 3,600,000. In the German
States, 3,000,000 ; Poland, 4,00,000; Rus
sia, 3,000,000; Turkey, 1,000,000; Mexi
co, 8,000,000; Brazil, 8,500,000; Canada,
1,560,000. The Catholic population of
Europe is 149,194,000; Asia, 9.666,000;
Africa, 4,071,000; America, 47,970,000.
There are over 2,000 missionaries, (490 of
whom are Jesuits,) in foreign parts, from
Italy alone, one-half of whom are occupied
in China, Japan, Corea and India. They
travel without money, and depend entirely,
for their support, upon the natives. At
least one-fifth of them meet with a violent
death. In the district of Pekin alone there
are 70,000 Catholics, notwithstanding con
stant persecution.— The Catholic World.
The Missouri Test Oath. —The
Southern Methodists in Missouri, says the
Methodist , are effectively debarred from
preaching by the new constitutional oath.
Their services, consequently, consist of
praying and singing. At the conventio/'
of loyal ministers of North Missouri^hrl
at Mexico recently, resolutions wer * *
declaring that men in prominent pi
are not in sympathy with the govc
should always be regarded as dam:
izens, and that the oath of loyal r
by the new constitution, does r*®* ,
with the law of God, as i.<| cla«-
disloyal clergy.
I